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NOTAM or Notice to Airmen are notices distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.
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Information to be promulgated by NOTAM:
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- Establishment, closure or significant changes in operation of aerodrome(s) or runways;
- Establishment, withdrawal and significant changes in operation of aeronautical services;
- Establishment or withdrawal of electronic and other aids to air navigation and aerodromes;
- Establishment, withdrawal or significant changes made to visual aids;
- Interruption of or return to operation of major components of aerodrome lighting systems;
- Establishment, withdrawal or significant changes made to procedures for air navigation services;
- Occurrence or correction of major defects or impediments in the maneuvering area;
- Changes to and limitations on availability of fuel, oil and oxygen;
- Major changes to search and rescue facilities and services available;
- Establishment, withdrawal or return to operation of hazard beacons marking significant obstacles to air navigation;
- Changes in regulations requiring immediate action;
- Presence of hazards which affect air navigation (including obstacles, military exercises, displays, races, major parachuting events outside promulgated sites);
- Erecting, removal of or changes to significant obstacles to air navigation in the take-off/climb, missed approach, approach areas and runway strip;
- Establishment or discontinuance (including activation or deactivation) as applicable, or changes in the status of prohibited, restricted or danger areas;
- Establishment or discontinuance of areas or routes or portions thereof where the possibility of interception exists and where the maintenance of guard on the VHF emergency frequency 121.5 MHz is required;
- Allocation, cancellation or change of location indicators;
- Significant changes in the level of protection normally available at an aerodrome for rescue and fire fighting purposes;
- Presence or removal or significant changes in hazardous conditions due to snow, slush, ice or water on the movement area;
- Outbreaks of epidemics necessitating changes in notified requirements for inoculations and quarantine measures;
- Forecasts of solar cosmic radiation, where provided;
- Occurrence of pre-eruption volcanic activity, the location, date and time of volcanic eruptions and the existence, density and extent of volcanic ash cloud, including direction of movement, flight levels and routes or portions of routes which could affected;
- Release into the atmosphere of radioactive materials or toxic chemicals following a nuclear or chemical incident, the location, date and time of the incident, the flight levels and routes or portions thereof which could be affected and the direction of movement.
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Information NOT to be promulgated by NOTAM:
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- Routine maintenance work on aprons and taxiways which does not affect the safe movement of aircraft;
- Runway marking work, when aircraft operations can safely be conducted on other available runways, or the equipment used can be removed when necessary;
- Temporary obstacles in the vicinity of aerodromes/ heliports that do not affect the safe operation of aircraft;
- Partial failure of aerodrome/heliport lighting facilities where such failure does not directly affect aircraft operations;
- Partial temporary failure of air-ground communications when suitable alternative frequencies are known to be available and are operative;
- The lack of apron marshalling services and road traffic control;
- The unserviceability of location, destination or other instruction signs on the aerodrome/heliport movement area;
- Parachuting when in uncontrolled airspace under VFR, when controlled, at promulgated sites or within danger or prohibited areas; and
- Other information of a similar temporary nature.
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Value of a NOTAM
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- The value of a NOTAM lies in its "NEWS CONTENT" and its residual historical value is therefore minimal.
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Notifications of unserviceability
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- NOTAM notifying unserviceability of aids to navigation, facilities or communication services should give an estimate of the period of unserviceability or the time at which restoration of service is expected.
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Distribution of NOTAM
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- It should distributed, via AFTN, whenever information is of direct operational significant to addressees at least seven days prior notification, or at least two days or 48 hours advance notice.
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Duration of NOTAM
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- NOTAM should not remain in force for more than three months.
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Classification of NOTAMs
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 a. According to Distribution |
- NOTAM - Distribution by means of telecommunication or AFTN.
- AIP Supplement - Distribution by means other than telecommunication or AFTN, such as messenger or postal services.
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| b. According to Series |
- A - concern to long or medium range flights, and given selected international distribution;
- B - full information on all airports, facilities and procedures available for use in international civil aviation, and given international distribution to adjacent states only;
- C - information of concern to aircraft other than those engaged in international civil aviation, and given national distribution only;
- S - presence of removal of hazardous conditions due to snow, slush, or ice on aerodrome pavements or standing water associated with these conditions.
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