FAI FSS - TFR Overview

Temporary Flight Restrictions or TFRs, as the name implies, are temporarily designated areas where onlyauthorized aircraft are allowed to fly. There are many reasons a TFR may be issued, including, but not limited to: the presence of the President or other parties, designated disaster areas, toxic gas/fuel/nuclear spills, top secret flights, actual or possible volcanic eruptions, and forest fires.

TFRs are issued in the form of Center Area NOTAMs which means they are FDCNOTAMs that are not issued under a specific airport but rather under the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) whose airspace contains the TFR area. Anchorage Center (ZAN) controls the entire state of Alaska.

Every ARTCC in the U.S. has an associated 3-letter designator (for domestic use) beginning with the letter "Z" that is used as a code name for that facility. So to retrieve TFRs for Alaska, you would need to request ZANFDCNOTAMs. Depending on the system you are using, they may or may not be retrived automatically if you request a standard briefing for your route. As a side note, there are also 4-letter designators for international NOTAMs (ICAO), but TFRs may not show up under international NOTAMs.

TFRs are issued in text form but are also normally available in graphic form on the faa.gov website. For your convenience there is a link for Graphic TFRs located on our NOTAM page. There may also be private organizations that provide a similar display. Always contact an FSS within two hours of flight to check for the latest TFRs.

Weather Processors and Sensors - Non-Federal AWOS

Office Phone: (405) 954-8427
Email:non-federal-program@faa.gov

Our Mission

Serve as the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for the definition of Non-Federal AWOS acceptance criteria of Non-Federal AWOS in accordance with Advisory Circular 150/5220-16, Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) for Non-Federal Applications, for use in the National Airspace System (NAS). Our services support the safety mission within the FAA Administrator’s Strategic Plans and Goals.

Systems and Equipment

Provide engineering advisory circular compliance review approval of new Non-Federal AWOS systems, including hardware, software, firmware, configuration management, training materials and documentation, including test plans, procedures and results. Provide engineering reviews and approvals of manufacturer defined modifications and enhancements.
Provide review and suitable for use determination of standalone and backup weather equipment.

Engineering Support

• Actively participate, as required, in the engineering evaluation of Non-Federal AWOS systems and components.
• Provide engineering support to airports, consultants and others in the siting, installation and use of non-Federal AWOS systems and standalone and backup weather equipment.
• Provide engineering and programmatic support to active and potential manufacturers of non-Federal AWOS systems as well as third party training providers and others throughout the FAA.

Documentation Support

• Maintain and issue updates to the Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) for Non-Federal Applications Advisory Circular, 150/5220-16.
• Maintain and update non-Federal AWOS systems and manufacturers and the list of standalone and backup weather equipment found to be suitable for use.
• Maintain and issue updates to the Siting Criteria for Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) Order, 6560.20.

• Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) for Non-Federal Applications, Advisory Circular 150/5220-16
• Siting Criteria for Automated Weather observing Systems (AWOS), 6560.20
• List Non-Federal AWOS Systems and Manufacturers(PDF)
• Approval of Standalone and Backup Weather Equipment(PDF)

Spectrum Engineering & Policy - Spectrum Assignment and Engineering, AJW-1C2

• Radio Frequency Interference
• Radio Frequency Bands

The Spectrum Assignment and Engineering Office carries out those spectrum engineering functions that are the day-to-day operation of national radio systems, and acquiring NTIA authorization to radiate on a specified frequency at a designated location for each of the communications, navigation, and radar facilities operated by the agency.

This office is also responsible for continuing the development and the operation of the automated Frequency Management System, the Airspace Analysis Model, and for managing the Radio Frequency Interference Program.

How to Contact Spectrum Engineering & Policy

• Spectrum Engineering Services Group, AJW-19
• 800 Independence Ave, SW., Washington, DC 20591

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Spectrum Engineering Services by sending an email to 9-AJW-Spectrum-Engineering-Communications@faa.gov.

External Links

• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

Spectrum Engineering - Locations

• Frequency Management Offices

Your regional frequency management office plays an important role in supporting the goal of air safety within our Nation's airspace. We encourage you to contact either them or Spectrum Engineering, for any radio frequency requirements.

In this section you will find contact information for each frequency management office and FAA centers and regions.

Aeronautical Information Services

Aeronautical Information Services is the FAAs' civil aviation authority providing the foundations for flight in the national airspace system.

• Is the authoritative government source for collecting, storing, maintaining, and disseminating aeronautical data for the U. S. and its territories.
• Develops and maintains all public instrument flight procedures and airways.
• Serves as the FAA's aeronautical charting authority for the development, publication, and dissemination of aeronautical charts and products to support aviation and to meet demand for increased capacity, efficiency, and predictability in the airspace, routes, and airports of the National Airspace System (NAS).
• Provides the integrity of temporary aeronautical information through Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) within the National Airspace System (NAS), provides policy and guidance to maintain data integrity and to ensure timely dissemination of NOTAMs, and is the final authority on NOTAM formatting to ensure NOTAMs are issued in accordance with NOTAM Policy (USNOF).
• Conducts formal aeronautical studies on existing or proposed construction that meets notice criteria and determines whether it is a hazard to navigable airspace or airport capacity.
  • Obstruction Evaluation Program
  • File Notice of Construction

Chart Discrepancies

You are encouraged to bring charting errors to our attention. Every FAA Aeronautical product contains contact information and brief instructions for reporting charting errors. You may contact us by mail, telephone, and web portal:

Federal Aviation Administration
Aeronautical Information Services, Room 507-19
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Telephone: 800-638-8972 (toll free, U.S. only)
Aeronautical Inquiries or Website Issues

Management Services

The ATO is a performance-based organization, and Management Services makes sure that performance stays on track. As the organization manages the air traffic of today while making the improvements and advancements necessary to take on the air traffic of tomorrow, Management Services provides a framework for executing and integrating the ATO's plans, programs, and activities.

Management Services oversees a number of ATO offices, including: Budget Analysis & Formulation; Business Services; Customer Experience; Employee Development; Field Technical Requirements & Forecasting; HQ Administrative Services; Materiel Management & Procurement; Organizational Effectiveness; Policy Oversight; Strategic Planning; Technical Labor.

Address

Phone: (202) 267-5724

Filing Requirements for Assignment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes

New Implementation Date — June 29, 2008

This section provides guidance on information required by FAA for automatic assignment of RNAV Standard Instrument Departures (SID), RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STAR) and/or RNAV Point-to-Point (PTP). There are currently two (2) types of RNAV capability used in the domestic U.S.:

• RNAV 1 and/or RNAV 2 capability per Advisory Circular (AC) 90-100A, U.S. Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations, is required for assignment of RNAVSIDs and STARs (RNAV 1) and en route RNAV 2.
• Point to Point (PTP) capability per AC 90-45A, Approval of Area Navigation Systems for Use in the U.S. National Airspace System, is required for assignment of RNAVPTP routes.

Users must file in accordance with (IAW) FAA Form 7233-4(PDF) for automatic assignment of RNAVSIDs, STARs and/or PTP in U.S. domestic airspace and include additional information per the below guidance:

If you are RNAV 1 and/or RNAV 2 capable

• Item 10, Equipment — In addition to identifying all available and serviceable communication, navigation, approach aid and surveillance equipment carried on your aircraft, insert the character "Z".
• Item 18, Other Information — Insert "NAV/RNV" followed by the appropriate RNAV accuracy value(s) per the following:
  • To be assigned an RNAV 1 SID, insert the characters "D1".
  • To be assigned an RNAV 1 STAR, insert the characters "A1".
  • To be assigned en route extensions and/or RNAVPTP, insert the characters "E2".
  • To prevent assignment of an RNAV route or procedure, insert a numeric value of "0" for the segment of the flight. Alternatively, you may simply remove the segment of the flight indicator and numeric value from the character string.

Examples

• NAV/RNVD1 or NAV/RNVD1E0A0 (Same meaning)
• NAV/RNVA1 or NAV/RNVD0E0A1 (Same meaning)
• NAV/RNVE2 or NAV/RNVD0E2A0 (Same meaning)
• NAV/RNVD1A1 or NAV/RNVD1E0A1 (Same meaning)
• strong>NAV/RNVD1E2A1

If you are RNAVPTP capable but not RNAV 1 and/or RNAV 2 capable

• Item 10, Equipment — In addition to identifying all available and serviceable communication, navigation, approach aid and surveillance equipment carried on your aircraft, insert the character "Z".
• Item 18, Other Information — Insert "RMK/PTP" and "NAV/RNVE99"

Example: RMK/PTPNAV/RNVE99

Special Notes

• The following variations will be accepted in ERAS for automatic assignment of RNAV routes:
  • One or more spaces may follow "NAV/".

Example: NAV/ RNVD1A1

The "D", "E" and "A" characters may appear in any order following "NAV/RNV"

Examples

• NAV/RNVD1A1E2
• NAV/RNVA1D1E2

Additional items required by other automation systems may be filed after NAV/, in any order:

Examples

• NAV/RNP10 RNVD1E2A1
• NAV/RNVD1E2A1 RNP4
• NAV/RNAV1 RNAV5 RNVD1E2A1

If the Item 18 entries following "NAV/" do not follow the above instructions, the flight plan will be accepted by ERAS but you will not be automatically assigned RNAV. Common errors include:

• Putting spaces between RNV, D1, A1 and/or E2 — no spaces are allowed between the segments.
• Filing "RNAV" instead of "RNV" — RNAV is not acceptable in the U.S. domestic string after "NAV/"

ATO Safety

What We Do

The ATO Safety Service Unit influences and addresses risk in the NAS through:

• aligning data-driven changes in the operation
• monitoring mitigations and changes in the NAS
• informing stakeholders of our successful strategies to meet our safety goals

Our safety functions include:

• event investigation
• data analysis
• corrective actions
• policy development, performance measurement, and promotion of a positive safety culture

We accomplish this through the combined efforts of our three directorates (Safety, Policy & Performance, and Strategic Outreach) and through strong stakeholder partnerships.

Our Programs

• Runway Safety