NOTAMs

A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen): notice of the establishment, condition, or change of any aeronautical facility, service, procedure, or hazard, when timely knowledge matters to flight (TC AIM MAP 3.1). Temporary or short-notice only, not permanent facts.

Typical NOTAM content (TC AIM MAP 3.6):

• Closed runway or aerodrome change
• Unserviceable navaid or runway lighting
• New obstacle (a crane)
• Activation of a restricted, danger, or advisory area
• Planned laser display that could impair night vision
• Temporary laser activity, with location and time (TC AIM AIR 4.15.2)
• Radio frequency change at a field on the route (TP 1102)
• Military flying area along the route (TP 1102)
• Search and rescue operations in progress along the route (TP 1102)
• Aerodrome field condition report (TP 1102): review very carefully

Airport NOTAM office usually in or adjacent to the Flight Service Station (FSS).

Not a NOTAM:

CFS updated every 56 days (TC AIM RPA 3.2.15.2).

Issue types (TC AIM MAP 3.3):

Pilot duties:

• PIC must be familiar with all available information appropriate to the flight before departure, including NOTAMs (CAR 602.71).
• Covers both aerodrome and FIR NOTAMs (TC AIM MAP 3.4).
• Pilot may report a hazard to a FIC or FSS for NOTAM distribution (TC AIM RAC 1.1.2.3).

Cross-country check (TP 1102): check NOTAMs for:

• Aerodromes to be used
• Notices affecting the route

Look for changes that upset the plan already on the chart and in the CFS.

No NOTAM available (some aerodromes carry none):

• Unsure of field conditions: call ahead by telephone or radio for current information
• Phone numbers: CFS (TP 1102)

Trap: expecting permanent facility data or current weather in a NOTAM; they live in CFS/chart and METAR/TAF. And no NOTAM is not proof the field is fine; the aerodrome may not be in the NOTAM system.

Practice