Appendix B. International NOTAM (Q) Codes
This appendix is to be used to interpret the contents of coded international NOTAMs. A NOTAM code group contains five letters.
l. The first letter is always the letter “Q” to indicate a code abbreviation for use in the composition of NOTAMs.
m. The second and third letters identify the subject being reported. (See Second and Third Letter Decode Tables).
n. The fourth and fifth letters identify the status of operation of the subject being reported. (See Fourth and Fifth Letter Decode Tables).
Second and Third Letter Decode Tables
ATM Airspace Organization (A) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
AA |
Minimum altitude (specify en route/crossing/safe) |
mnm alt |
AC |
Class B, C, D, or E Surface Area |
ctr |
AD |
Air defense identification zone |
adiz |
AE |
Control area |
cta |
AF |
Flight information region |
fir |
AH |
Upper control area |
uta |
AL |
Minimum usable flight level |
mnm usable fl |
AN |
Area navigation route |
rnav rte |
AO |
Oceanic control area |
oca |
AP |
Reporting point (specify name or coded designator) |
rep |
AR |
ATS route (specify) |
ats route |
AT |
Terminal control area |
tma |
AU |
Upper flight information region |
uir |
AV |
Upper advisory area |
uda |
AX |
Significant point |
sig |
AZ |
Aerodrome traffic zone |
atz |
CNS Communications and Surveillance Facilities (C) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
CA |
Air/ground facility (specify service and frequency) |
a/g fac |
CB |
Automatic dependent surveillance — broadcast (details) |
ads-b |
CC |
Automatic dependent surveillance — contract (details) |
ads-c |
CD |
Controller-pilot data link communications (details) |
cpdlc |
CE |
En route surveillance radar |
rsr |
CG |
Ground controlled approach system (GCA) |
gca |
CL |
Selective calling system (SELCAL) |
selcal |
CM |
Surface movement radar |
smr |
CP |
Precision approach radar (PAR) (specify runway) |
par |
CR |
Surveillance radar element of precision approach radar system (specify wavelength) |
sre |
CS |
Secondary surveillance radar (SSR) |
ssr |
CT |
Terminal area surveillance radar (TAR) |
tar |
AGA Facilities and Services (F) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
FA |
Aerodrome |
ad |
FB |
Friction measuring device (specify type) |
Friction measuring device |
FC |
Ceiling measurement equipment |
ceiling measurement eqpt |
FD |
Docking system (specify AGNIS, BOLDS, etc.) |
dckg system |
FE |
Oxygen (specify type) |
oxygen |
FF |
Fire fighting and rescue |
fire and rescue |
FG |
Ground movement control |
gnd mov ctl |
FH |
Helicopter alighting area/platform |
hel alighting area |
FI |
Aircraft de-icing (specify) |
acft de-ice |
FJ |
Oils (specify type) |
oil |
FL |
Landing direction indicator |
ldi |
FM |
Meteorological service (specify type) |
met |
FO |
Fog dispersal system |
fog dispersal |
FP |
Heliport |
heliport |
FS |
Snow removal equipment |
snow removal eqpt |
FT |
Transmissometer (specify runway and, where applicable, designator(s) of transmissometer(s)) |
transmissometer |
FU |
Fuel availability |
fuel avbl |
FW |
Wind direction indicator |
wdi |
FZ |
Customs/immigration |
Cust/immigration |
CNS GNSS Services (G) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
GA |
GNSS airfield-specific operations (specify operation) |
gnss airfield |
GW |
GNSS area-wide operations (specify operation) |
gnss area |
CNS Instrument and Microwave Landing System (I) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
IC |
Instrument landing system (specify runway) |
ils |
ID |
DME associated with ILS |
ils dme |
IG |
Glide path (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils gp |
II |
Inner marker (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils im |
IL |
Localizer (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils loc |
IM |
Middle marker (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils mm |
IN |
Localizer (not associated with ILS) |
loc |
IO |
Outer marker (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils om |
IS |
ILS Category I (specify runway) |
ils cat I |
IT |
ILS Category II (specify runway) |
ils cat II |
IU |
ILS Category III (specify runway) |
ils cat III |
IW |
Microwave landing system (MLS) (specify runway) |
mls |
IX |
Locator, outer (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils lo |
IY |
Locator, middle (ILS) (specify runway) |
ils lm |
AGA Lighting Facilities (L) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
LA |
Approach lighting system (specify runway and type) |
als |
LB |
Aerodrome beacon |
abn |
LC |
Runway centre line lights (specify runway) |
rcll |
LD |
Landing direction indicator lights |
ldi lgt |
LE |
Runway edge lights (specify runway) |
redl |
LF |
Sequenced flashing lights (specify runway) |
sequenced flg lgt |
LG |
Pilot-controlled lighting |
pcl |
LH |
High intensity runway lights (specify runway) |
high intst rwy lgt |
LI |
Runway end identifier lights (specify runway) |
rwy end id lgt |
LJ |
Runway alignment indicator lights (specify runway) |
rai lgt |
LK |
Category II components of approach lighting system (specify runway) |
category II components als |
LL |
Low intensity runway lights (specify runway) |
low intst rwy lgt |
LM |
Medium intensity runway lights (specify runway) |
medium intst rwy lgt |
LP |
Precision approach path indicator (specify runway) |
papi |
LR |
All landing area lighting facilities |
ldg area lgt fac |
LS |
Stopway lights (specify runway) |
stwl |
LT |
Threshold lights (specify runway) |
thr lgt |
LU |
Helicopter approach path indicator |
hapi |
LV |
Visual approach slope indicator system (specify type and runway) |
vasis |
LW |
Heliport lighting |
heliport lgt |
LX |
Taxiway centre line lights (specify taxiway) |
twy cl lgt |
LY |
Taxiway edge lights (specify taxiway) |
twy edge lgt |
LZ |
Runway touchdown zone lights (specify runway) |
rtzl |
AGA Movement and Landing Area (M) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
MA |
Movement area |
mov area |
MB |
Bearing strength (specify part of landing area or movement area) |
bearing strength |
MC |
Clearway (specify runway) |
cwy |
MD |
Declared distances (specify runway) |
declared dist |
MG |
Taxiing guidance system |
tgs |
MH |
Runway arresting gear (specify runway) |
rag |
MK |
Parking area |
prkg area |
MM |
Daylight markings (specify threshold, centre line, etc.) |
day markings |
MN |
Apron |
apron |
MO |
Stopbar (specify runway) |
rag |
MP |
Aircraft stands (specify) |
acft stand |
MR |
Runway (specify runway) |
rwy |
MS |
Stopway (specify runway) |
swy |
MT |
Threshold (specify runway) |
thr |
MU |
Runway turning bay (specify runway) |
rwy turning bay |
MW |
Strip/shoulder (specify runway) |
Strip/shoulder |
MX |
Taxiway(s) (specify) |
twy |
MY |
Rapid exit taxiway (specify) |
Rapid exit twy |
COM Terminal and En Route Navigation Facilities (N) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
NA |
All radio navigation facilities (except...) |
all rdo nav fac |
NB |
Nondirectional radio beacon |
ndb |
NC |
DECCA |
decca |
ND |
Distance measuring equipment (DME) |
dme |
NF |
Fan marker |
fan mkr |
NL |
Locator (specify identification) |
l |
NM |
VOR/DME |
vor/dme |
NN |
TACAN |
tacan |
NO |
OMEGA |
omega |
NT |
VORTAC |
vortac |
NV |
VOR |
vor |
Other Information (O) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
OA |
Aeronautical information service |
ais |
OB |
Obstacle (specify details) |
obst |
OE |
Aircraft entry requirements |
acft entry rqmnts |
OL |
Obstacle lights on ... (specify) |
obst lgt |
OR |
Rescue coordination centre |
rcc |
ATM Air Traffic Procedures (P) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
PA |
Standard instrument arrival (specify route designator) |
star |
PB |
Standard VFR arrival |
stc vfr arr |
PC |
Contingency procedures |
contingency proc |
PD |
Standard instrument departure (specify route designator) |
sid |
PE |
Standard VFR departure |
stf vfr dep |
PF |
Flow control procedure |
flow ctl proc |
PH |
Holding procedure |
hldg proc |
PI |
Instrument approach procedure (specify type and runway) |
instr apch proc |
PK |
VFR approach procedure |
vfr apch proc |
PL |
Flight plan processing (filing and related contingency) |
fpl |
PM |
Aerodrome operating minima (specify procedure and amended minimum) |
opr minima |
PN |
Noise operating restriction |
noise opr restrictions |
PO |
Obstacle clearance altitude and height (specify procedure) |
oca och |
PR |
Radio failure procedure |
rdo failure proc |
PT |
Transition altitude or transition level (specify) |
ta/trl |
PU |
Missed approach procedure (specify runway) |
missed apch proc |
PX |
Minimum holding altitude (specify fix) |
mnm hldg alt |
PZ |
ADIZ procedure |
adiz proc |
Navigation Warnings: Airspace Restrictions (R) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
RA |
Airspace reservation (specify) |
airspace reservation |
RD |
Danger area (specify) |
..d.. |
RM |
Military operating area |
moa |
RO |
Overflying of ... (specify) |
overflying |
RP |
Prohibited area (specify) |
..p.. |
RR |
Restricted area (specify) |
..r.. |
RT |
Temporary restricted area (specify area) |
tempo restricted area |
ATM Air Traffic and VOLMET Services (S) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
SA |
Automatic terminal information service |
atis |
SB |
ATS reporting office |
aro |
SC |
Area control centre |
acc |
SE |
Flight information service |
fis |
SF |
Aerodrome flight information service |
afis |
SL |
Flow control centre |
flow ctl centre |
SO |
Oceanic area control centre |
oac |
SP |
Approach control service |
app |
SS |
Flight service station |
fss |
ST |
Aerodrome control tower |
twr |
SU |
Upper area control centre |
uac |
SV |
VOLMET broadcast |
volmet |
SY |
Upper advisory service (specify) |
upper advisory ser |
Navigation Warnings: Warnings (W) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
WA |
Air display |
air display |
WB |
Aerobatics |
aerobatics |
WC |
Captive balloon or kite |
captive balloon/kite |
WD |
Demolition of explosives |
demolition of explosives |
WE |
Exercises (specify) |
exer |
WF |
Air refueling |
air refueling |
WG |
Glider flying |
gld fly |
WH |
Blasting |
blasting |
WJ |
Banner/target towing |
banner/target towing |
WL |
Ascent of free balloon |
ascent of free balloon |
WM |
Missile, gun or rocket firing |
Missile/gun/rocket/frng |
WP |
Parachute jumping exercise, paragliding, or hang gliding |
Pje/paragliding/hang gliding |
WR |
Radioactive materials or toxic chemicals (specify) |
pje |
WS |
Burning or blowing gas |
burning or blowing gas |
WT |
Mass movement of aircraft |
mass mov of acft |
WU |
Unmanned aircraft |
formation flt |
WV |
Formation flight |
formation flt |
WW |
Significant volcanic activity |
formation flt |
WY |
Aerial survey |
model flying |
WZ |
Model flying |
model flying |
Fourth and Fifth Letter Decode Tables
Availability (A) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
AC |
Withdrawn for maintenance |
withdrawn maint |
AD |
Available for daylight operation |
avbl day ops |
AF |
Flight checked and found reliable |
fltck okay |
AG |
Operating but ground checked only, awaiting flight check |
opr but gnd ck only, awaiting fltck |
AH |
Hours of service are now…(specify) |
hr ser |
AK |
Resumed normal operations |
okay |
AL |
Operative (or reoperative) subject to previously published limitations/conditions |
Opr subj previous cond |
AM |
Military operations only |
mil ops only |
AN |
Available for night operation |
avbl night ops |
AO |
Operational |
opr |
AP |
Available, prior permission required |
avbl, ppr |
AR |
Available on request |
avbl o/r |
AS |
Unserviceable |
u/s |
AU |
Not available (specify reason if appropriate) |
not avbl |
AW |
Completely withdrawn |
withdrawn |
AX |
Previously promulgated shutdown has been canceled |
promulgated shutdown cnl |
Changes (C) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
CA |
Activated |
act |
CC |
Completed |
cmpl |
CD |
Deactivated |
deactivated |
CE |
Erected |
erected |
CF |
Operating frequency(ies) changed to |
opr freq changed to |
CG |
Downgraded to |
downgraded to |
CH |
Changed |
changed |
CI |
Identification or radio call sign changed to |
Ident/rdo call sign changed to |
CL |
Realigned |
realigned |
CM |
Displaced |
displaced |
CN |
Canceled |
cnl |
CO |
Operating |
opr |
CP |
Operating on reduced power |
opr reduced pwr |
CR |
Temporarily replaced by |
tempo rplcd by |
CS |
Installed |
instl |
CT |
On test, do not use |
on test, do not use |
Hazard Conditions (H) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
HA 1) Poor 3) Medium 4) Medium/Good 5) Good |
Braking action is ... |
ba is… |
HB |
Friction coefficient is ... (specify friction measurement device used) |
friction coefficient is |
HC |
Covered by compacted snow to depth of |
cov compacted snow depth |
HD |
Covered by dry snow to a depth of |
cov dry snow depth |
HE |
Covered by water to a depth of |
cov water depth |
HF |
Totally free of snow and ice |
free of sn and ice |
HG |
Grass cutting in progress |
grass cutting inpr |
HH |
Hazard due to (specify) |
hazard due |
HI |
Covered by ice |
cov ice |
HJ |
Launch planned ... (specify balloon flight identification or project code name, launch site, planned period of launch(es)-date/ time, expected climb direction, estimate time to pass 18 000 m (60 000 ft), or reaching cruise level if at or below 18 000 m (60 000 ft), together with estimated location) |
launch plan |
HK |
Bird migration in progress |
bird migration inpr |
HL |
Snow clearance completed |
sn clr cmpl |
HM |
Marked by |
marked by |
HN |
Covered by wet snow or slush to a depth of |
cov wet sn/slush depth |
HO |
Obscured by snow |
obscured by sn |
HP |
Snow clearance in progress |
sn clr inpr |
HQ |
Operation canceled ... (specify balloon flight identification or project code name) |
opr cnl |
HR |
Standing water |
standing water |
HS |
Sanding in progress |
sanding inpr |
HT |
Approach according to signal area only |
apch according signal |
HU |
Launch in progress ... (specify balloon flight identification or project code name, launch site, date/time of launch(es), estimated time passing 18 000 m (60 000 ft), or reaching cruising level if at or below 18 000 m (60 000 ft), together with estimated location, estimated date/time of termination of the flight, and planned location of ground contact when applicable) |
launch inpr |
HV |
Work completed |
work cmpl |
HW |
Work in progress |
wip |
HX |
Concentration of birds |
bird concentration |
HY |
Snow banks exist (specify height) |
sn banks hgt |
HZ |
Covered by frozen ruts and ridges |
cov frozen ruts and ridges |
Limitations (L) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
LA |
Operating on auxiliary power supply |
opr aux pwr |
LB |
Reserved for aircraft based therein |
reserved for acft based therein |
LC |
Closed |
clsd |
LD |
Unsafe |
unsafe |
LE |
Operating without auxiliary power supply |
opr wo aux pwr |
LF |
Interference from |
interference fm |
LG |
Operating without identification |
opr without ident |
LH |
Unserviceable for aircraft heavier than |
u/s acft heavier than |
LI |
Closed to IFR operations |
clsd ifr ops |
LK |
Operating as a fixed light |
opr as f lgt |
LL |
Usable for length of...and width of... |
usable len…/wid… |
LN |
Closed to all night operations |
clsd to all ngt ops |
LP |
Prohibited to |
prohibited to |
LR |
Aircraft restricted to runways and taxiways |
acft restricted to rwy and twy |
LS |
Subject to interruption |
subj intrp |
LT |
Limited to |
ltd to |
LV |
Closed to VFR operations |
clsd vfr ops |
LW |
Will take place |
will take place |
LX |
Operating but caution advised due to |
opr but ctn adz due to |
Other (XX) |
||
---|---|---|
Code |
Signification |
Uniform Abbreviated Phraseology |
XX |
Where 4th and 5th letter Code does not cover the situation, use XX and supplement by plain language |
(plain language following the NOTAM Code) |