Aeronautical Information Manual

AIM 5-1-3

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System

This reproduces published FAA reference text for study. It does not replace the current official FAA publication or regulation.

General. The NOTAM system provides pilots with time critical aeronautical information that is temporary, or information to be published on aeronautical charts at a later date, or information from another operational publication. The NOTAM is cancelled when the information in the NOTAM is published on the chart or when the temporary condition is returned to normal status. NOTAMs may be disseminated up to 7 days before the start of activity. Pilots can access NOTAM information online via NOTAM Search at: https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/ or from an FSS.

Preflight. 14 CFR § 91.103, Preflight Action directs pilots to become familiar with all available information concerning a planned flight prior to departure, including NOTAMs.Pilots may change their flight plan based on available information. Current NOTAM information may affect: Aerodromes.

Runways, taxiways, and ramp restrictions.

Obstructions.

Communications.

Airspace.

Status of navigational aids or radar service availability.

Other information essential to planned en route, terminal, or landing operations.

ARTCC NOTAMs. Pilots should also review NOTAMs for the ARTCC area (for example, Washington Center (ZDC), Cleveland Center (ZOB), etc.) in which the flight will be operating. You can find the 3 letter code for each ARTCC on the FAA's NOTAM webpage. These NOTAMs may affect the planned flight. Some of the operations include Central Altitude Reservation Function (CARF), Special Use Airspace (SUA), Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR), Global Positioning System (GPS), Flight Data Center (FDC) changes to routes, wind turbine, and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). NOTE-

NOTAM information is transmitted using ICAO contractions to reduce transmission time. See TBL 5-1-2 for a listing of the most commonly used contractions, or go online to the following URL:

https://www.notams.faa.gov/downloads/contractions.pdf . For a complete listing of approved NOTAM Contractions, see FAA Order JO 7340.2, Contractions.

Destination Update. Pilots should also contact ATC or FSS while en route to obtain updated airfield information for their destination. This is particularly important when flying to the airports without an operating control tower. Snow removal, fire and rescue activities, construction, and wildlife encroachment, may pose hazards to pilots. This information may not be available to pilots prior to arrival/departure.

NAVAID NOTAMs . Pilots should check NOTAMs to ensure NAVAIDs required for the flight are in service. A NOTAM is published when a NAVAID is out of service or Unserviceable (U/S). Although a NAVAID is deemed U/S and planned for removal from service, it may be a long time before that NAVAID is officially decommissioned and removed from charts. A NOTAM is the primary method of alerting pilots to its unavailability. Pilots using VFR charts can also review the Aeronautical Information Services' (AIS) website concerning Safety Alerts, Charting Notices, and Digital Product Notices at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/safety_alerts/ for additional chart information.

GPS NOTAMs. The FAA issues information on the status of GPS through the NOTAM system. Operators may find information on GPS satellite outages, GPS testing, and GPS anomalies by specifically searching for GPS NOTAMS prior to flight. The NOTAM system uses the terms UNRELIABLE (UNREL), MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE (AVBL), and NOT AVAILABLE (AVBL) when describing the status of GPS. UNREL indicates the expected level of service of the GPS and/or WAAS may not be available. Pilots must then determine the adequacy of the signal for desired use. Aircraft should have additional navigation equipment for their intended route. NOTE-

Unless associated with a known testing NOTAM, pilots should report GPS anomalies, including degraded operation and/or loss of service, as soon as possible via radio or telephone, and via the GPS Anomaly Reporting Form. (See 1-1-13 .)

GPS operations may also be NOTAMed for testing. This is indicated in the NOTAM language with the name of the test in parenthesis. When GPS testing NOTAMS are published and testing is actually occurring, ATC will advise pilots requesting or cleared for a GPS or RNAV (GPS) approach, that GPS may not be available and request the pilot's intentions. TBL 5-1-1 lists an example of a GPS testing NOTAM.

NOTAM Classification. NOTAM information is classified as Domestic NOTAMs (NOTAM D), Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMs, International NOTAMs, or Military NOTAMs. NOTAM (D) information is disseminated for all navigational facilities that are part of the National Airspace System (NAS), all public use aerodromes, seaplane bases, and heliports listed in the Chart Supplement. NOTAM (D) information includes taxiway closures, personnel and equipment near or crossing runways, and airport lighting aids that do not affect instrument approach criteria (i.e., VGSI). All NOTAM Ds must have one of the keywords listed in TBL 5-1-1 , as the first part of the text after the location identifier. These keywords categorize NOTAM Ds by subject, for example, APRON (ramp), RWY (runway), SVC (Services), etc. There are several types of NOTAM Ds: Aerodrome activity and conditions, to include field conditions.

Airspace to include CARF, SUA, and general airspace activity like UAS or pyrotechnics.

Visual and radio navigational aids.

Communication and services.

Pointer NOTAMs. NOTAMs issued to point to additional aeronautical information. When pointing to another NOTAM, the keyword in the pointer NOTAM must match the keyword in the original NOTAM. Pointer NOTAMs should be issued for, but are not limited to, TFRs, Airshows, Temporary SUA, major NAS system interruptions, etc.

FDC NOTAMs are issued when it is necessary to disseminate regulatory information. FDC NOTAMs include: Amendments to published IAPs and other current aeronautical charts.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) restrict entrance to a certain airspace at a certain time, however, some TFRs provide relief if ATC permission is given to enter the area when requested. Online preflight resources for TFRs provide graphics and plain language interpretations.

High barometric pressure warning.

Laser light activity.

ADS-B, TIS-B, and FIS-B service availability.

Satellite-based systems such as WAAS or GPS.

Special Notices.

International NOTAMs are published in ICAO format per Annex 15 and distributed to multiple countries. International NOTAMs issued by the U.S. NOTAM Office use Series A followed by 4 sequential numbers, a slant “/” and a 2-digit number representing the year the NOTAM was issued. International NOTAMs basically duplicate data found in a U.S. Domestic NOTAM.

Not every topic of a U.S. Domestic NOTAM is issued as an International NOTAM by the U.S. The U.S. International NOTAM will be linked to the appropriate U.S. Domestic NOTAM when possible.

International NOTAMs received by the FAA from other countries are stored in the U.S. NOTAM System.

The International NOTAM format includes a “Q” Line that can be easily read/parsed by a computer and allows the NOTAM to be displayed digitally. Field A: ICAO location identifier or FIR affected by the NOTAM.

Field B: Start of Validity.

Field C: End of Validity (both in [Year][Month][Day][Hour][Minute] format).

Field D: (when present) Schedule.

Field E: Full NOTAM description.

Field F: (when present) Lowest altitude, or “SFC.”

Field G: (when present) Highest altitude, or “UNL.”

For more on International format, please see Annex 15.

Military NOTAMs are NOTAMs originated by the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine, or Navy, and pertaining to military or joint-use navigational aids/airports that are part of the NAS. Military NOTAMs are published in the International NOTAM format and should be reviewed by users of a military or joint-use facility.

Security NOTAMS: U.S. Domestic Security NOTAMS are FDC NOTAMS that inform pilots of certain U.S. security activities or requirements, such as Special Security Instructions for aircraft operations to, from, within, or transitioning U.S. territorial airspace. These NOTAMS are found on the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) NOTAM Search website under the location designator KZZZ.

United States International Flight Prohibitions, Potential Hostile Situations, and Foreign Notices are issued by the FAA and are found on the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) NOTAM Search website under the location designator KICZ. TBL 5-1-3 NOTAM Keywords Keyword

Definition

RWY

Example

Runway

!BNA BNA RWY 18/36 CLSD YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

TWY

Example

Taxiway

!BTV BTV TWY C EDGE LGT OBSC YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

APRON

Example

Apron/Ramp

!BNA BNA APRON NORTH APN E 100FT CLSD YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

Example

Aerodrome

!BET BET AD AP ELK NEAR MOVEMENT AREAS YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

OBST

Example

Obstruction

!SJT SJT OBST MOORED BALLOON WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 1NM RADIUS OF SJT 2430FT (510FT AGL) FLAGGED YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

NAV

Example

Navigation Aids

!SHV SHV NAV ILS RWY 32 110.3 COMMISSIONED YYMMDDHHMM-PERM

COM

Example

Communications

!INW INW COM REMOTE COM OUTLET 122.6 U/S YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM EST

(Note* EST will auto cancel)

SVC

Example

Services

!ROA ROA SVC TWR COMMISSIONED YYMMDDHHMM-PERM

AIRSPACE

Example

Airspace

!MHV MHV AIRSPACE AEROBATIC ACFT WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 4.3NM RADIUS OF MHV 5500FT-10500FT AVOIDANCE ADZ CTC JOSHUA APP DLY YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

ODP

Example

Obstacle Departure Procedure

!FDC 2/9700 DIK ODP DICKINSON - THEODORE ROOSEVELT RGNL, DICKINSON, ND. TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND (OBSTACLE) DEPARTURE PROCEDURES AMDT 1... DEPARTURE PROCEDURE: RWY 25, CLIMB HEADING 250 TO 3500 BEFORE TURNING LEFT. ALL OTHER DATA REMAINS AS PUBLISHED. THIS IS TAKEOFF MINIMUMS AND (OBSTACLE) DEPARTURE PROCEDURES, AMDT 1A. YYMMDDHHMM-PERM

SID

Example

Standard Instrument Departure

!FDC x/xxxx DFW SID DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTL, DALLAS, TX. PODDE THREE DEPARTURE... CHANGE NOTES TO READ: RWYS 17C/R, 18L/R: DO NOT EXCEED 240KT UNTIL LARRN. RWYS 35L/C, 36L/R: DO NOT EXCEED 240KT UNTIL KMART YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

STAR

Example

Standard Terminal Arrival

!FDC x/xxxx DCA STAR RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL,WASHINGTON, DC. WZRRD TWO ARRIVAL... SHAAR TRANSITION: ROUTE FROM DRUZZ INT TO WZRRD INT NOT AUTHORIZED. AFTER DRUZZ INT EXPECT RADAR VECTORS TO AML VORTAC YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

CHART

Example

Chart

!FDC 2/9997 DAL IAP DALLAS LOVE FIELD, DALLAS, TX. ILS OR LOC RWY 31R, AMDT 5... CHART NOTE: SIMULTANEOUS APPROACH AUTHORIZED WITH RWY 31L. MISSED APPROACH: CLIMB TO 1000 THEN CLIMBING RIGHT TURN TO 5000 ON HEADING 330 AND CVE R-046 TO FINGR INT/CVE 36.4 DME AND HOLD. CHART LOC RWY 31L. THIS IS ILS OR LOC RWY 31R, AMDT 5A. YYMMDDHHMM-PERM

DATA

Example

Data

IAP

Example

Instrument Approach Procedure

VFP

Example

Visual Flight Procedures

!FDC X/XXXX JFK VFP JOHN F KENNEDY INTL, NEW YORK, NY. PARKWAY VISUAL RWY 13L/R, ORIG...WEATHER MINIMUMS 3000 FOOT CEILING AND 3 MILES VISIBILITY. YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

ROUTE

Example

Route

!FDC x/xxxx ZFW ROUTE ZFW ZKC. V140 SAYRE (SYO) VORTAC, OK TO TULSA (TUL) VORTAC, OK MEA 4300. YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM EST

SPECIAL

Example

Special

!FDC x/xxxx JNU SPECIAL JUNEAU INTERNATIONAL, JUNEAU, AK. LDA-2 RWY 8 AMDT 9 PROCEDURE TURN NA. YYMMDDHHMM-YYMMDDHHMM

SECURITY

Example

Security

!FDC x/xxxx FDC ...SPECIAL NOTICE... THIS IS A RESTATEMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ADVISORY NOTICE. IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, PILOTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID THE AIRSPACE ABOVE, OR IN PROXIMITY TO SUCH SITES AS POWER PLANTS (NUCLEAR, HYDRO-ELECTRIC, OR COAL), DAMS, REFINERIES, INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES, MILITARY FACILITIES AND OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES. PILOTS SHOULD NOT CIRCLE AS TO LOITER IN THE VICINITY OVER THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES.

GPS TESTING

Example

Global Positioning System Testing

!GPS 01/028 ZAB NAV GPS (YPG_AZ GPS 21-06)(INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADS-B) MAYNOT BE AVBL WI A276NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 332347N1142221W

(BLH108023) FL400-UNL,

232NM RADIUS AT FL250,

164NM RADIUS AT 100000FT

160NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL

126NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

DLY 1830-2230

2101281830-2101292230

PRN (GPS)

Example

Pseudo-random noise code used to differentiate GPS satellites. This code allows any receiver to identify exactly which satellite(s) it is receiving.

!GPS GPS NAV PRN 16 U/S 2109231600-2109242300EST

TBL 5-1-3 Contractions Commonly Found in NOTAMs A

ABN

Aerodrome Beacon

ACFT

Aircraft

ACT

Active

ADJ

Adjacent

AGL

Above Ground Level

ALS

Approach Light System

Airport

APN

Apron

APP

Approach control office or approach control or approach control service

ARST

(specify (part of) aircraft arresting equipment)

ASDA

Accelerate Stop Distance Available

ASPH

Asphalt

AUTH

AVBL

AVGAS

Aviation gasoline

AWOS

Automatic Weather Observing System

AZM

Azimuth

Braking action

BCN

(aeronautical ground light)

BCST

Broadcast

BDRY

Boundary

BLDG

Building

BLW

Below

BTN

Between

(preceded by runway designator number to identify a parallel runway)

Clearance delivery

CIV

Civil

Centerline

CLSD

Close or closed or closing

COM

Communication

CONC

Concrete

COND

Condition

CONS

Continuous

CONST

CPDLC

Controller Pilot Data Link Communications

CTC

Contact

CUST

Customs

Decision altitude

DEG

Degrees

DEP

DER

Departure end of the runway

Decision Height

DIST

Distance

DLY

Daily

Dew Point Temperature

DPT

Depth

DTHR

Displaced Runway Threshold

Eastbound

EMERG

Emergency

ENE

East-northeast

EQPT

Equipment

ESE

East-southeast

EST

Estimate or estimated or estimation (message type designator)

EXC

Except

Flight level

FREQ

Frequency

FRI

Friday

FSS

Flight Service Station

FST

First

(dimensional unit)

Green

General aviation

GLD

Glider

GND

Ground

Glide Path

GRVL

Gravel

HEL

Helicopter

HGT

HLDG

Holding

HLP

Heliport

HVY

Heavy

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

ILS

Instrument Landing System

Inner Marker

INOP

Inoperative

INT

Intersection

Knots

(preceded by runway designator number to identify a parallel runway)

LAT

Latitude

LDA

Landing Distance Available

LDG

Landing

LEN

Length

LGT

LGTD

Lighted

LOC

Localizer

LONG

Longitude

MAINT

Maintenance

MBST

Microburst

MIL

Military

MIN

Minutes

MNT

Monitor or monitoring or monitored

MON

Monday

MOV

Move or moving or movement

North

NAVAID

Navigational aid

Northbound

NDB

Nondirectional Radio Beacon

Northeast

NEB

Northeast bound

Nautical Mile/s

NNE

North-northeast

NNW

North-northwest

NOV

November

Northwest

NWB

Northwest bound

OBSC

Obscure or obscured or obscuring

OBST

Obstacle

OPN

Open or opening or opened

OPS

Operations

PAPI

Precision Approach Path Indicator

PARL

Parallel

PAX

Passenger/s

PCL

Pilot Controlled Lighting

PCT

Percent

PERM

Permanent

PJE

Parachute Jumping Activities

PLA

Practice Low Approach

PPR

Prior Permission Required

PRN

Pseudo-random Navigation

Procedure Turn

Red

(preceded by runway designator number to identify a parallel runway)

RAI

Runway Alignment Indicator

RCL

Runway Centerline

RCLL

Runway Centerline Light

REDL

Runway Edge Light

RLLS

Runway Lead-in Light System

RMK

Remark

RTS

Return to Service

RTZL

Runway Touchdown Zone Light(s)

RVR

Runway Visual Range

RWY

Runway

Receive/Receiver

Sand

SAT

Saturday

Southbound

Southeast

SEC

Seconds

SFC

Surface

Snow

Sunrise

Sunset

SSR

Secondary surveillance radar

SSW

South-southwest

STD

Standard

SUN

Sunday

Southwest

SWB

Southwest bound

TAR

Terminal area surveillance radar

TAX

TDZ

Touchdown Zone

TEMPO

TFC

Traffic

THR

Threshold

THU

Thursday

TKOF

Takeoff

TODA

Take-off Distance Available

TORA

Take-off Run Available

TRG

Training

TUE

Tuesday

TWR

Aerodrome Control Tower

TWY

Taxiway

Taxilane

U/S

Unserviceable

UAS

Unmanned Aircraft System

UNL

Unlimited

UNREL

Unreliable

VIS

Visibility

VOR

VHF Omni‐Directional Radio Range

VORTAC

VOR and TACAN (collocated)

VOT

VOR Test Facility

Westbound

WDI

Wind Direction Indicator

WED

Wednesday

Within

WID

WIP

Work in progress

WNW

West-northwest

Wind shear

WSW

West-southwest

Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 20, 2026.