Mastering NOTAMs: Your Essential Guide for Safe Flight Planning

NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) are official alerts that inform pilots of temporary or time-sensitive information affecting flight safety. They cover everything from runway closures and navigational aid malfunctions to airspace restrictions and special events. By reviewing NOTAMs, pilots can make informed decisions, ensure regulatory compliance, and anticipate hazards before and during flight. Understanding NOTAMs is a critical skill for both student and experienced pilots alike. In fact, checking NOTAMs isn’t just good practice, it’s part of your required preflight action under 14 CFR 91.103, which requires the pilot in command to become familiar with all available information before every flight.

Key Takeaways

• A NOTAM alerts pilots to temporary or time-sensitive changes involving airports, airspace, facilities, procedures and other flight hazards.
• Major NOTAM categories include Domestic (NOTAM D), FDC, International and Military NOTAMs, with additional notices covering specific operational information.
• Pointer NOTAMs direct pilots to other important aeronautical information, such as TFRs or major National Airspace System interruptions.
• FICON NOTAMs report runway, taxiway and apron surface conditions, while GPS NOTAMs warn of GPS testing or outages.
• Under 14 CFR 91.103, the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information relevant to the planned flight, including applicable NOTAMs.
• Pilots can check NOTAMs through FAA NOTAM Search, Flight Service, EFBs and other approved aviation information sources.
• FIS-B can deliver many NOTAMs in flight through ADS-B In, but it should supplement rather than replace a complete preflight review.

Types of NOTAMs Every Pilot Should Know

• Domestic NOTAMs (D NOTAMs): Updates on airport facilities, runways, obstructions, and navigation aids. For example, a NOTAM D might report that Runway 18/36 is closed for maintenance.
• FDC NOTAMs (Flight Data Center): Regulatory changes, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), or amendments to instrument approaches. For example, an FDC NOTAM could establish a TFR around a major event.
• Military NOTAMs: Issued for military operations and airfields, sometimes relevant for civilian pilots nearby. A civilian pilot operating near a military installation, for example, may encounter a NOTAM describing a temporary change affecting that facility.
• International NOTAMs: Crucial information for flights crossing international boundaries, covering airports, airspace, and navigational aids. A SNOWTAM is a specialized series used internationally to report significant runway surface conditions involving snow, ice, slush, standing water or related contamination.
• Graphical NOTAMs: A visual display of NOTAM information available online, not a separate type, but a helpful tool for interpreting complex airspace data, helping pilots understand the geographic location of affected airspace or hazards without changing the underlying notice itself.
• Pointer NOTAMs: Direct pilots to another piece of important aeronautical information rather than repeating all of its details. For example, a Pointer NOTAM associated with an airport may direct the pilot to an FDC NOTAM containing a nearby TFR.
• FICON (Field Condition) NOTAMs: Report surface conditions on runways, taxiways and aprons. A FICON could report compacted snow on a runway along with runway condition codes that help pilots assess takeoff and landing performance.
• GPS NOTAMs: Warn pilots about planned GPS testing, interference or service availability that could affect GPS-based navigation. For example, a GPS testing NOTAM may identify an area and time period in which GPS signals could be unreliable or unavailable.

NOTAM Type	What It Covers	Example
NOTAM (D) / Domestic	Airports, runways, taxiways, NAVAIDs, lighting, services and other NAS conditions	Runway closed for maintenance
FDC	Regulatory information, procedure changes and TFRs	Temporary restriction around a major event
SAA / Military	Military airports, airspace or special activity affecting operations	Temporary military airspace activity
Pointer	Directs pilots to another important NOTAM or related information	Airport NOTAM pointing to an FDC NOTAM
FICON	Runway, taxiway and apron surface conditions	Runway reported with compacted snow
GPS	GPS testing, interference, outages or degraded availability	GPS potentially unreliable within a specified area
International / SNOWTAM	International aeronautical information; SNOWTAMs specifically report significant runway contamination	Snow or ice affecting a runway at an international airport

How to Check NOTAMs Before Every Flight

Reviewing NOTAMs is a required part of preflight planning under 14 CFR 91.103 — the rule that a pilot in command “become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.” Pilots have several reliable ways to pull them:

• FAA NOTAM Search: The FAA’s official NOTAM Search allows pilots to retrieve active notices for airports, routes and other facilities.
• Flight Service: Pilots can obtain NOTAMs as part of a preflight briefing through Flight Service, including online through 1800wxbrief.com.
• Electronic Flight Bags: Apps such as ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot integrate NOTAM information into digital flight-planning workflows, making it easier to review notices alongside charts, weather and route information.
• ATIS: Automatic Terminal Information Service can communicate significant current airport conditions and operational information, but it does not replace a complete preflight NOTAM review.
• FIS-B through ADS-B In: FIS-B broadcasts several NOTAM products, including NOTAM-D and FDC NOTAM information, to compatible cockpit equipment. It is useful for updated information in flight but should supplement the pilot’s preflight briefing.

Checking NOTAMs before every flight ensures pilots are aware of changing airspace conditions, runway availability, and other operational hazards. Want to work through raw NOTAM text line by line? See our companion guide on how to read a NOTAM.

Tips for Student Pilots and MzeroA Ground School

Mastering NOTAMs is a habit every pilot should develop. Here are some practical tips:

1. Review NOTAMs before each flight: integrate into your preflight checklist. 
2. Learn to interpret different formats: practice reading complex NOTAMs regularly. 
3. Cross-check sources: verify information across multiple platforms.
4. Ask for guidance: if a NOTAM is unclear, seek advice from instructors or experienced pilots.

MzeroA Online Ground School teaches how to incorporate NOTAMs into their preflight planning, enhancing safety, situational awareness, and real-world decision-making skills. 

“Skipping NOTAMs is how prepared pilots get surprised. Make the check as routine as the walkaround.”
– Deirdre Wilson, CFII, MEI – Director of Content and Curriculum

Why Checking NOTAMs Matters for Flight Safety

In aviation, knowledge is safety. NOTAMs provide pilots with crucial updates on airspace changes, hazards, and regulatory requirements. Making them a routine part of flight planning helps pilots:

• Avoid unexpected obstacles and restricted airspace.
• Plan safer and more efficient routes.
• Maintain compliance with FAA regulations. 
• Build confidence and situational awareness in every flight. 

Skipping this step has real consequences: AOPA documents an accident caused by a missed NOTAM in which a pilot landed on a closed runway. A two-minute check would have prevented it.

Ready to Ace Your Checkride?

NOTAMs are one small piece of confident, safe flying. MzeroA Online Ground School teaches you to read the whole picture (weather, airspace, and preflight planning) for comprehension, not memorization. Start your 7-day free trial today.