A NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions, formerly Notice to Airmen) is an official notice that alerts pilots to information affecting a specific airspace or airport's operations. That can include runway closures, navigation aid outages, a newly established TFR, laser light shows, and much more.
NOTAMs are used worldwide, but the examples and links on this page follow the United States (FAA). Rules and tools differ by country, so for other countries see our country-by-country drone regulations and the EU/EASA overview.
Key takeaways
- The FAA describes a NOTAM as time-critical aeronautical information that is temporary, or information to be published on charts later.
- A TFR is one kind of NOTAM. Every TFR is a NOTAM, but most NOTAMs have nothing to do with drones.
- The FAA says pilots must always check NOTAMs before a flight, and that applies to drone pilots, too.
- You don't have to file a NOTAM for an ordinary Part 107 flight, but you do have to read the ones that affect you.
What a NOTAM is
The international definition, from ICAO, calls a NOTAM a notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information about the establishment, condition or change of any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations. The US system follows the same idea.
The FAA name was changed from Notice to Airmen to Notice to Air Missions. The acronym stayed the same.
Common US NOTAM types
| Type | What it covers (per the AIM) |
|---|---|
| NOTAM (D), domestic | Navigation facilities, public airports, seaplane bases and heliports: taxiway and runway items, lighting, and similar |
| FDC NOTAM | Regulatory information, including amendments to instrument approach procedures, TFRs, laser activity and satellite system status |
| Pointer NOTAM | Points to other aeronautical information, particularly TFRs, airshows and temporary special use airspace |
| Military NOTAM | Originated by the US Armed Forces for military or joint-use facilities |
How it relates to a TFR
TFRs are communicated to pilots through NOTAMs. The FAA's UAS pages say drone operators can check active TFRs on the FAA TFR list, in LAANC, and in the B4UFLY app. For the details of TFRs, see the TFR guide.
What drone pilots should know
- The FAA provides NOTAM Search, part of the Federal NOTAM System, and Flight Service Stations can also provide NOTAMs.
- If you plan to fly near an airport or airfield, check for active NOTAMs for that location and time window before launch. The pre-flight airport checks guide lists what else to confirm.
- The FAA's FAQ says a NOTAM is not required under Part 107 flights. An operator flying under a Certificate of Authorization may have a NOTAM requirement written into that authorization.
- The FAA's pilot guidance notes that NOTAMs and TFRs are primarily designed around manned aviation needs, so a missing NOTAM is not proof that a location is free of hazards.
- NOTAMs are often written in dense aviation shorthand. You don't need to master it: look for your location, your altitude and your time window, and for words that tell you what is restricted or closed.
A simple check routine
- Search by the airport or location you will fly near.
- Look at the dates and times and see whether your flight falls inside.
- Separate airport items (runway, taxiway) from airspace restrictions (TFR, temporary special use airspace).
- Re-check shortly before launch, because NOTAMs are issued for time-critical, temporary information.
FAQ
What does NOTAM stand for?
Notice to Air Missions. It was formerly Notice to Airmen, and the abbreviation did not change.
Is every TFR a NOTAM?
Yes. TFRs are communicated through NOTAMs, though many NOTAMs are not TFRs.
Do I need to file a NOTAM before a drone flight?
Not for Part 107 flights, per the FAA's FAQ. Operators with a Certificate of Authorization should read their authorization for any NOTAM requirement.
Where do I find NOTAMs in the US?
On the FAA's NOTAM Search, from a Flight Service Station, and, for TFRs, through the FAA TFR list, LAANC and B4UFLY.