Section 4. Terms of Reference

1. WORD USE IN THIS ORDER

As used in this order:

1. “Must” means a procedure is mandatory.
2. “Should” means a procedure is recommended.
3. “May” or “need not” means a procedure is optional.
4. “Must not” means a procedure is prohibited.
5. Singular words include the plural.
6. Plural words include the singular.
7. Miles means nautical miles unless otherwise stated.
8. Feet means mean sea level unless otherwise stated.

1. NOTES

Statements of fact of an introductory or explanatory nature and relating to the use of directive material have been identified and worded as NOTE.

1. EXAMPLES

An illustration which serves to explain subject material is identified as an EXAMPLE which represents the format discussed in each section and is used as an aid to support policy. Not all components of the NAS will be illustrated with an example. The examples throughout Appendix A contain the keyword and the subject of the NOTAM. All other data is assumed from the NOTAM sentence structure and is eliminated from examples.

1. REFERENCES

When another paragraph of this order is referenced in the text, the referenced paragraph number will be printed out in full. When a paragraph is referenced in a Reference subparagraph, the referenced paragraph's title, followed by its number, will be printed in regular type. When other documents and directives are referenced in a Reference subparagraph, the document/directive and the paragraph number will be printed in regular type. All references to other FAA orders reflect the current edition of the order.

1. MANUAL CHANGES

When revised, reprinted, or additional pages are issued, they will be marked as follows:

1. Each revised or additional page will show the change number and effective date of the change.
2. Vertical lines in the margin of the text will mark the location of substantive procedural, operational, or policy changes; that is, when material which affects the performance of duty is added, revised, or deleted.

1. DEFINITIONS

The terms below as used in this order are defined in this section.

1. Accountable Organization. The accountable organization is responsible for accurately reporting the condition considered to be a hazard or potential hazard to flight operations. Reporting the condition must be accomplished by ensuring that procedures are developed to establish NOTAM origination and coordination responsibilities.
2. Accountability Location. This is the location identifier of the location in the NOTAM computer that keeps track of the NOTAM numbering.
3. Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN). This interface will be used to support the exchange of Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN) formatted messages between NADIN and a common set of external TCP/IP users utilizing the Communications, Flight Service and Weather Engineering Group's (CFWG) Common Message Handling Protocol (CMHP).
4. Aeronautical Information. Any information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any component (facility, service, or procedure of, or hazard) of the NAS. This information is published and/or disseminated by means of aeronautical charts, publications, and/or NOTAMs.
5. Airport Operating Certificate. A certificate issued by the FAA, pursuant to 14 CFR Part 139, to airports serving or expected to serve scheduled air carrier operations in aircraft with a seating capacity of more than thirty passengers. These airports are maintained and operated in accordance with an Airport Certification Manual (ACM) prepared by airport management and approved by the FAA.
6. Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Code. A computer code within the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) used to identify the start of a new NOTAM. The ADP equipment is programmed to accept and begin processing a NOTAM upon receipt of the ADP code, which is an exclamation point (!).
7. Certificated Airport. An airport certificated under 14 CFR Part 139. These airports are identified in the Chart Supplement.
8. Certified Source/NOTAM Originator. The party (e.g., airport, Tech Ops AIS/Service provider, FSS, etc.) who enters/submits a NOTAM to the NOTAM System (NS) on behalf of the accountable organization using an approved direct entry tool or interface.
9. Chart Supplement. A series of civil/military flight information publications issued by FAA every 56 days consisting of the Chart Supplement Alaska, Chart Supplement Pacific and Chart Supplement U.S.

1. Chart Supplement Alaska. A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to the public including communications data, navigational facilities, airport diagrams, certain special notices, and non-regulatory procedures. Also included in this publication are selected entries needed to support the unique geographical operational conditions of Alaska. This publication is issued in one volume for the state of Alaska.
2. Chart Supplement Pacific. A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to the public including communications data, navigational facilities, airport diagrams, certain special notices, and non-regulatory procedures. Also included in this are publication Instrument Approach Procedures (IAP), Departure Procedures (DP), and Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) charts along with selected entries needed to support the unique geographical operational conditions of the Pacific Oceanic region. This publication is issued in one volume for the Hawaiian Islands and other selected Pacific Islands.
3. Chart Supplement U.S. A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts that contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to the public including communications data, navigational facilities, airport diagrams, certain special notices, and non-regulatory procedures. This publication is issued for the conterminous U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands in seven volumes according to geographical area.

1. Distribution. Forwarding of NOTAM information from the NS to NADIN.
2. Fix/Radial/Distance (F/R/D). Is a VOR identifier followed by 3-digit degrees magnetic and minimum of a 3-digit distance in nautical miles with no spaces between characters (AML360020.1 would be 360-degree radial, 20.1 NM from AML VOR/DME).
3. Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAM. The classification of NOTAMs containing flight information that is normally regulatory in nature including, but not limited to, changes to IFR charts, procedures, and airspace usage. FDC NOTAM numbers are assigned consecutively by the NS, beginning with 0001 each year. The year of issuance and the serial number are separated by a forward slash; for example, Y/1323.
4. International NOTAM. The classification of NOTAMs received from other counties and stored in the NS. These NOTAMs are numbered consecutively by accountability, location, and series beginning with S0001 each year, where S stands for a generic series a country may have. The NOTAM number and year of issuance are separated by a forward slash; for example, S0211/YY, S0002/YY.
5. Location Identifier. Used to designate an affected airport, air route traffic control center (ARTCC), or facility.
6. Military NOTAM. The classification of NOTAMs issued by the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard against navigational aids and airports. Military units issue NOTAMs pertaining to their bases and airspace based on the guidelines set forth in Air Force Instruction Interservice Publication 11-208/AR 95-10/OPNAVINST 3721.20, DoD Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System. These NOTAMs are numbered consecutively by accountability, location, and series beginning with S0001 each year, where S stands for a generic series the military may have. The NOTAM number and year of issuance are separated by a forward slash; for example, S0211/15, S0002/15.
7. Movement Area. The term Movement Area as used for the purpose of NOTAMs, include Runways, Taxiways, Ramps, Aprons, helipads, heliports and maneuvering areas.
8. NADIN. The National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN), also referred to as NMR (NAS Messaging Replacement), Message Switch Network (MSN) receives, processes, and distributes domestic and international flight planning, flight movement, weather observation/forecast, NOTAM, and search and rescue messages between the NAS, commercial/general aviation, U.S. Government agencies, aviation information service providers, and international Civil Aviation Authorities.
9. NAVAID. Any visual or electronic device airborne or on the surface which provides point-to-point guidance information or position data to aircraft in flight.
10. NMR. NAS Messaging Replacement also known as NADIN.
11. NOTAM D. The classification of NOTAMs containing information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any aeronautical facility, en route navigational aids, services, procedures, hazards and civil public-use airports listed in the Chart Supplement. NOTAM Ds are numbered consecutively each month by the NS starting with 001 for each accountability, for example: DAY 01/001 would be the first NOTAM in the month of January for Dayton Accountable Location.
12. NOTAM System. A safety-critical system that collects, maintains and distributes NOTAMs for the aviation community.
13. Out of Service/Unserviceable (U/S). When a piece of equipment, a NAVAID, a facility or a service is not operational, certified (if required) and immediately “available” for air traffic or public use.
14. Pointer NOTAM. NOTAM D issued to point to additional aeronautical information. When pointing to another NOTAM, use the affected facility/location of the original NOTAM. The keyword in the pointer NOTAM must match the keyword in the original NOTAM. If the NOTAM is pointing to a publication, choose the most appropriate keyword for the situation. For example, a pointer NOTAM at a specific airport is used to highlight or “point out” an FDC NOTAM, or additional aeronautical information from the Domestic Notices or Chart Supplement. At the request of an Air Traffic facility, a NOTAM originator, or as deemed necessary by FSS, issue Pointer NOTAMs to highlight events of significance. Pointer NOTAMs should be issued for, but are not limited to, TFRs, Airshows, Temporary SUA, major NAS system interruptions, etc.
15. Prior Permission Required (PPR) means prior permission required to have full operational use of a runway, taxiway, apron, or airport facility/service. Means of communication to the airport can be telephone and/or radio. If PPR and another exception are used in same NOTAM, the PPR should come first.
16. Radio Navigation Aid. As used in this policy, the word radio is added further describe those navigation aids such as ILS, LOC, VOR or other NAVAID that is used in assisting the pilot with approaches, departures, and enroute operations.
17. Supervisory Authority. The supervisory authority is the organization responsible for managing the regulatory standards for the particular hazard being advertised in a NOTAM. The supervisory authority establishes organizational responsibilities to include particular or potential hazards, time parameters for origination, cancellation, and/or duration of NOTAMs, and particularly, exceptions to the policies and procedures provided in this document. Each supervisory authority must ensure that the authoritative provider is notified of all offices to which accountable and certified source authority has been granted. The supervisory authority is responsible for ensuring compliance with this directive.
    aa. Taxilanes (TXL). Designed for low speed and precise taxiing. Taxilanes usually provide access (to and) from taxiways (usually an apron taxiway) to (and from) aircraft parking positions and other terminal areas.
    ab. Tie-In Station. A flight service station designated to provide prescribed services for civil, military, national and international facilities; for example, NOTAM purposes and flight information messages.
    ac. Unusable. The NAVAID is not available for operational use because it may provide potentially unsafe or erroneous signals, or signals of unknown quality.
    ad. Virgule (/). For US NOTAM purposes - a diagonal symbol used to separate similar alternatives.
    ae. Visual Navigation Aid. As used in this policy, the word visual is added to further describe those navigation aids such as PAPI, ALS, VASI, etc., or any other lighting aid that is used in assisting the pilot with approaches or departures.
    af. WMSCR. Weather Message Switching Center Replacement is one of the FAA's gateway for the receipt and distribution of weather within the National Airspace System (NAS).