What is a NOTAM and how does it impact flight planning?

A Notice to Air Missions commonly known as NOTAM, is a crucial communication tool that plays a significant role in ensuring the safety of aviation. The information may include a wide range of items, such as changes in weather conditions, runway closures, equipment failures, and airspace restrictions. Aviation authorities issue NOTAMs to ensure that pilots are aware of any potential hazards or changes that could impact their flight. These notices are updated regularly. Pilots must check the relevant NOTAMs before every flight to ensure they are aware of any relevant information that may affect their flight. They must also follow the guidance provided in the NOTAMs to ensure that they operate their flight safely and efficiently.

Un NOTAM traite de beaucoup de sujets mais ils ont tous un point commun : la sécurité. Quand on est pilote on n'aime pas les mauvaises surprises donc on lit les NOTAM.

NOTAM o Notificación para los Hombre del Aire. para mi entender, es un mensaje administrativo mediante el cual se emiten información necesaria para las operaciones aéreas. En los mismos se trasmite cualquier información que pueda ser útil para la preparación de un vuelo proyectado, como por ejemplo, información sobre retrasos en le transito aérero, condiciones particulares de un aeropuerto o una situación que pueda restringir las operaciones aéras o aeroportuarias. De igual manera, se trasmiten mediante el NOTAM aluna información sobre radio ayudas inoperativas o la restricción temporal de un espacio aéreo.

los NOTAM se emiten por la red AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network) o Red Aeronáutica de Telecomunicaciones Fijas). Es una red internacional de telecomunicaciones que se utiliza para intercambiar mensajes e información relacionada con tráfico aéreo (NOTAM) El centro de comunicaciones de AFTN opera dentro de la organización ANSP (Air Navigation Service Provider) que está compuesta por los Servicios de Tránsito Aéreo; Sistemas de Navegación, Comunicación y Supervivencia; Servicios Meteorológicos; Búsqueda y Rescate

La structure des NOTAM est très cadrée ce qui rend plus facile leur interprétation ; certains éléments de cette structure sont plus rarement utilisés par exemple pour décrire un phénomène qui se déroule à certains horaires pendant une période !

This explanation doesn't tell the whole story, because, unfortunately, not all pilots read NOTAMs. Yep, it's true! This is usually through complacency, sometimes because of a lack of diligence or laziness, and sometimes a simple human error. There's really no excuse because it's fairly easy to access them now. Mind you, on long routes there can be a lot of NOTAMs to read, and it's easy to miss a really important one, especially if you're under time pressure. So don't think because a NOTAM has been issued that those who need to get the intended message about the safety hazard will receive it - try to have layers of risk mitigation and means of pilot awareness.

Are there priority, safety NOTAMs, so that the flight crew may give priority to the more important NOTAMs? As has been assured, "there can be a lot of NOTAMs to read, and it's easy to miss a really important one, especially if you're under time pressure".

When dispatching flights, I would include a brief of the NOTAMs to crews, not only does it bring to the attention of the crew matters that may affect EDTO and the flight in general, it also gives them confidence I had planned the flight correctly. It also worked in feedback loop, where a few times they would pick on something I had missed, so together we made sure the flight was planned safely.

A Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, is a way of communicating important information to pilots who are planning to fly. A NOTAM can alert pilots of any potential hazards or changes that may affect their flight, such as weather conditions, airspace restrictions, runway closures, or equipment failures. NOTAMs are issued by aviation authorities and are updated regularly. Pilots must check the relevant NOTAMs before every flight and follow their guidance to ensure safety and efficiency.