Register

Have You Checked the NOTAMs Today?

Notices to Air Missions, or NOTAMs, are issued to notify pilots of potential hazards at local airports.

NOTAMs can cover everything from ramp closures and navaids out of service to TFRs for VIPS. [Screenshot Courtesy of FAA.gov]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • NOTAMs (Notices To Air Missions) are vital, timely notices providing essential information on changes, conditions, or hazards in the national airspace system, crucial for safe flight operations.
  • Pilots are legally obligated (FAR 91.103) to check NOTAMs before every flight, as failure to do so can lead to dangerous situations, such as landing on a closed runway.
  • Various types of NOTAMs exist, including NOTAM (D), FDC, and TFRs, which update pilots on everything from local airport conditions and facility outages to regulatory changes and temporary flight restrictions.
See a mistake? Contact us.

“Someone just landed on the closed runway.”

Imagine the surprise of the crew repainting the runway numbers when they saw a Cessna 172 with two people on board coming in for a landing. There were traffic cones blocking the approach end of the runway. There was an X made with tarps, signifying a closed runway in place, yet the aircraft kept coming. The work crew scrambled out of the way, some wondering if the 172 was experiencing an emergency—but when the aircraft performed a touch and go, the situation became clear—the pilot had not checked the NOTAMs and therefore wasn’t aware that the runway was closed for repainting that day, although you would think the big X, the presence of the traffic cones, and work crew with long handled brushes and 10-gallon buckets of paint would have been a clue.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE