U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Section 2. Scope

1-2-1. PURPOSE

Authorized personnel assigned to facilities that collect, originate, and/or disseminate NOTAMs must be familiar with the provisions of this order that pertain to their operational responsibilities.

a. The United States NOTAM Office (USNOF) is the authority ensuring NOTAM formats. To ensure NOTAMs are issued consistent with NOTAM policy, submitters must comply with USNOF personnel directions.

b. All NOTAMs will be processed, stored, and distributed by the United States NOTAM System (USNS).

c. NOTAMs must have one of the following keywords as the first part of the text. A keyword is used to make it easier to sort and locate the specific data needed.

RWY, TWY, APRON, AD, OBST, NAV, COM, SVC, AIRSPACE, ODP, SID, STAR,CHART, DATA, IAP, VFP, ROUTE, SPECIAL SECURITY or (O).

NOTE-
Examples of keywords (RWY, TWY, APRON, AD, OBST, NAV, COM, SVC) are shown in chapter 5; AIRSPACE in chapter 6; (IAP, ODP, SID, STAR, ROUTE, and SPECIAL) relating to instrument flight procedures in chapter 7.

1. RWY (Runway). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard associated with landing and takeoff surfaces to include runway lighting, markings, signage, and other airport services or attributes associated with a specific runway.

2. TWY (Taxiway). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard pertaining to taxiway lighting, markings, and signage.

3. APRON (Apron/Ramp). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard associated with an apron or ramp, apron/ramp lighting, markings, and signage.

4. AD (Aerodrome). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard or potential hazard on or within 5 statute miles of an airport, heliport, helipad, or maneuvering area that is not associated with a specific movement area surface. Such hazards may include (but are not limited to) aerodrome closures, lighting not associated with a specific movement area surface, aerodrome services (fuel, customs, ARFF), helicopter platforms, wildlife hazards, and meteorological equipment (wind indicators) or services.

5. OBST (Obstructions). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard caused by a moored balloon, kite, tower, crane, stack, obstruction, obstruction lighting outage, obstruction status, or telecommunication tower light outage.

6. NAV (Navigation Aids). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard caused by the changes in the status of ground­based radio navigational aids and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) (except for area navigation (RNAV) approach anomalies).

7. COM (Communications). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard caused by communication outlet commissioning, decommissioning, outage, unavailability, and air­to­ground frequencies.

8. SVC (Services). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard associated with change in service levels, such as operating hours, air traffic management services, or airport services.

9. AIRSPACE (Airspace). Keyword used to describe an airspace restriction or activity warning which impacts, restricts, or precludes use of airspace.

10. ODP (Obstacle Departure Procedure). Keyword used when a NOTAM applies to a textual or graphic obstacle departure procedure.

11. SID (Standard Instrument Departure). Keyword used when a NOTAM applies to a published standard instrument departure.

12. STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival). Keyword used when a NOTAM applies to a published standard terminal arrival.

13. CHART (Chart). Keyword used to describe a U.S. Government chart correction, followed by name of chart and word “CORRECT” that becomes effective before the next publication cycle.

14. DATA (Data). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard associated with a data set change followed by the name of the data set to be changed; for example U.S. DOD DAFIF, DACS, or NFD.

15. IAP (Instrument Approach Procedure). Keyword used when a NOTAM applies to a published instrument approach procedure.

16. VFP (Visual Flight Procedure). Keyword used when a NOTAM applies to visual flight procedures such as Charted Visual Flight Procedure and RNAV Visual Flight Procedure.

17. ROUTE (Route). Keyword used to describe a temporary change or hazard or change associated with published ATS routes and related information.

18. SPECIAL (Special). Keyword used when a NOTAM applies to a special instrument flight procedure.

19. SECURITY (Security). Keyword used for Department of State advisories, Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFARs), advisories of national emergency, national security actions, special security instructions, air defense identification zone (ADIZ) procedures.

NOTE-
Keyword SECURITY is not used for NOTAMs that describe a defined restricted area or TFR. Such NOTAMs would use keyword AIRSPACE.

20. (O) - Other Aeronautical Information. Aeronautical information received from any authorized source that may be beneficial to aircraft operations and does not meet defined NOTAM criteria. Any such NOTAM will be prefaced with “(O)” as the keyword following the location identifier.

NOTE-
Keyword (O) should not be used for NOTAMs pertaining to a movement area as described in this Order.

d. (U) – Unverified. (U) is used preceding a keyword as described in paragraph 5­1­2.

e. The United States Department of Defense (DOD) will append the keywords IAP, SPECIAL, ODP, SID, and STAR with “U.S. DOD” to indicate that a published procedure is for military use only (not for civil use). For example, STAR U. S. DOD, SID U. S. DOD, IAP U. S. DOD.

1-2-2. PROCEDURAL APPLICATIONS

Apply the procedures in this order except when other procedures are contained in a Letter of Agreement or other appropriate FAA documents, provided they only supplement this order and that any standards they specify are not less than those in this order. FAA Order JO 7210.3, Facility Operation and Administration, contains administrative procedures for developing and executing those letters and documents.

1-2-3. AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION

Before issuing a NOTAM on any NOTAM criteria data, check all appropriate charts and publications to assure the information does not duplicate or fall within the published data. Do not issue a NOTAM on information that duplicates or falls within published data unless a NOTAM is required by a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization from Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) issued by the FAA.