Why NOTAM Integration Matters

Flight planning is a complex process that requires synthesizing information from multiple sources: weather forecasts, airport data, aircraft performance, fuel requirements, and more. NOTAMs are a critical component of this puzzle, yet they're often treated as an afterthought—something to check at the last minute rather than an integral part of the planning process.

Effective flight planning integrates NOTAMs from the very beginning, allowing them to influence route selection, alternate airport choices, fuel calculations, and approach planning. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to incorporate NOTAMs into every phase of your flight planning workflow.

The Flight Planning Timeline

Understanding when to check NOTAMs during the flight planning process is crucial. Different phases require different levels of detail and different types of NOTAMs. Here's the professional approach:

Phase 1: Initial Planning (24-48 Hours Before Flight)

Objective: Get a general picture of any significant issues that might affect your flight.

What to Check:

• Departure airport NOTAMs (any significant closures or restrictions)
• Destination airport NOTAMs (runway availability, major restrictions)
• Planned alternate airports (basic viability check)
• Major en-route facilities (critical navigation aids)
• Known TFRs along your planned route

Key Actions:

• Identify any deal-breakers (complete airport closures, etc.)
• Consider alternate routes if major restrictions exist
• Note any NOTAMs that require special preparation
• Begin thinking about approach options if instrument procedures are affected

Time Investment: 15-20 minutes for a comprehensive initial review

Phase 2: Detailed Planning (2-4 Hours Before Flight)

Objective: Incorporate NOTAM information into your detailed flight plan.

What to Check:

• All departure runway NOTAMs (lighting, markings, closures)
• Departure procedures and SIDs
• All en-route NOTAMs for your specific route
• Navigation aids along your route
• Destination approaches and STARs
• All destination runway NOTAMs
• Comprehensive alternate airport review
• FIR NOTAMs for your entire route

Key Actions:

• Update your flight plan based on NOTAM information
• Calculate fuel requirements considering any routing changes
• Brief planned approaches and identify any restrictions
• Note specific frequencies or procedures affected
• Prepare kneeboard cards with critical NOTAMs
• Plan contingencies for known issues

Time Investment: 30-45 minutes for thorough detailed review

Phase 3: Final Check (30 Minutes Before Departure)

Objective: Catch any last-minute changes and verify critical information.

What to Check:

• New NOTAMs issued since your last check
• Verify all critical NOTAMs are still active
• Double-check departure runway status
• Confirm weather-related NOTAMs match current conditions
• Review any NOTAMs affecting your first hour of flight

Key Actions:

• Update flight plan if anything significant changed
• Brief crew on any new developments
• Adjust fuel if routing changed
• Make go/no-go decision with complete information

Time Investment: 5-10 minutes for final verification

Step-by-Step NOTAM Integration Process

Step 1: Route Planning

Start by checking NOTAMs before finalizing your route. Many pilots make the mistake of planning their route first and then discovering NOTAMs that affect it. Instead:

1. Identify your general route corridor (e.g., direct, airways, VOR-to-VOR)
2. Check FIR NOTAMs for any major airspace restrictions
3. Look for TFRs along potential routes
4. Identify navigation aid outages that might affect your options
5. Adjust your route based on this information
6. Finalize the route with NOTAM considerations built in

Example: You're planning to fly IFR from KJFK to KORD. Initial route planning suggests the BREZY-ARD-OBK route. Before finalizing, you check NOTAMs and discover the Oberlin (OBK) VOR is out of service. You adjust to use a GPS route or alternate airways, saving yourself from discovering this problem during flight.

Step 2: Departure Planning

NOTAMs can significantly affect your departure planning:

1. Check all runway NOTAMs
   • Which runways are available?
   • Any length restrictions?
   • Lighting or marking issues?
2. Review taxiway NOTAMs
   • Closed taxiways affecting your route to the runway?
   • Construction requiring specific routing?
3. Check SID NOTAMs
   • Are your planned departure procedures available?
   • Any altitude or routing restrictions?
4. Consider takeoff performance
   • If your preferred runway is closed, does the alternate provide adequate performance?
   • Any obstacles or restrictions affecting climb?

Pro Tip: Always have a backup runway plan. If your primary departure runway shows any NOTAMs, be prepared to use an alternate runway and know how that affects your performance calculations.

Step 3: En-Route Considerations

En-route NOTAMs require careful attention during planning:

Navigation Planning

• VOR/NDB Status: Plot all VOR and NDB outages on your chart
• GPS NOTAMs: Check for any GPS interference or outage notices
• Backup Navigation: Ensure you have alternate navigation means if primary aids are affected
• DME Requirements: Verify DME availability for routes that require it

Airspace Planning

• TFRs: Map all temporary flight restrictions
• Military Operations: Note active MOAs, restricted areas, or warning areas
• Airspace Changes: Look for temporary airspace boundary modifications
• Altitude Restrictions: Identify any temporary altitude limitations

Communication Planning

• Frequency Changes: Note any temporary frequency assignments
• Facility Closures: Check if any ATC facilities are closed or operating with restrictions
• ATIS/AWOS: Verify weather information services are operational

Step 4: Destination and Approach Planning

This is where NOTAM integration becomes most critical:

1. Runway Analysis
   • Available runways and their conditions
   • Landing distance requirements with current NOTAMs
   • Lighting availability (critical for night operations)
   • Any contamination or friction coefficient issues
2. Approach Procedure Review
   • Which approaches are available?
   • Any navigation aid outages affecting approaches?
   • Lighting system status (VASI/PAPI, approach lights)
   • Minimum altitude changes or restrictions
3. Weather Equipment
   • ATIS/AWOS/ASOS operational status
   • Wind information availability
   • Altimeter setting source
4. Ground Operations
   • Taxiway availability for arrival routing
   • FBO or parking restrictions
   • Fuel availability
   • Ground service limitations

Critical Decision Point: If your planned approach is not available due to NOTAMs, you must brief an alternate approach before departure. Never plan to "figure it out in the air."

Step 5: Alternate Airport Selection

Alternate airports require the same thorough NOTAM review as your destination:

1. Weather Requirements: Verify approaches needed for forecast weather are available
2. Runway Suitability: Ensure adequate runways are open and operational
3. Fuel Availability: Confirm fuel services are available (not always in NOTAMs, may need to call)
4. Time Restrictions: Check for operating hours or curfew restrictions
5. Distance: Ensure alternate is within range with adequate reserves

Pro Tip: Always have two alternates in mind, even if regulations only require one. If your primary alternate has concerning NOTAMs, that second option could save your flight.

Creating Your NOTAM Briefing Package

Professional pilots create a NOTAM briefing package for each flight. Here's how to build yours:

Essential Components

1. NOTAM Summary Sheet
   • List of all critical NOTAMs affecting the flight
   • Organized by phase of flight (departure, en-route, arrival)
   • Include NOTAM number for reference
   • Note effective times in both UTC and local
2. Route Modifications
   • Document any route changes made due to NOTAMs
   • Note navigation aid outages
   • Mark TFRs on your chart
3. Approach Plates
   • Annotate approach plates with relevant NOTAMs
   • Note any component outages (ILS, lighting, etc.)
   • Mark any altitude or procedure changes
4. Kneeboard Card
   • Critical NOTAMs for quick reference in flight
   • Departure runway restrictions
   • Arrival runway and approach limitations
   • Any time-critical information

Digital vs. Paper

Modern flight planning often involves digital tools, but smart pilots maintain both:

Digital Advantages:

• Easy to update as NOTAMs change
• Searchable and filterable
• Can include links to additional information
• Shareable with crew members

Paper Advantages:

• Always accessible (no battery concerns)
• Quick reference in busy situations
• Can be annotated on the fly
• Backup if electronic devices fail

Best Practice: Use digital tools for planning and preparation, but maintain paper copies of critical NOTAMs for in-flight reference.

Integration with Other Planning Tools

Weather Integration

NOTAMs and weather forecasts must be considered together:

• Runway Selection: Weather favors runway 27, but NOTAMs show it's closed—you need runway 09
• Approach Selection: Weather requires precision approach, but ILS is out per NOTAM—plan RNAV approach
• Alternate Planning: Forecast shows destination might go below minimums—verify alternates have working approaches
• Icing/Convection: Route around weather might conflict with TFR NOTAMs—need coordinated solution

Aircraft Performance

NOTAMs can affect performance calculations:

• Runway Length: Displaced threshold or partial closure reduces available runway
• Weight Limitations: Shorter runway might require reduced payload
• Altitude Restrictions: Temporary altitude limits might affect climb performance planning
• Navigation Equipment: Backup navigation might require more fuel for less direct routing

Fuel Planning

NOTAMs can have significant fuel implications:

• Route Changes: Routing around TFRs or avoiding NAVAID outages increases distance
• Alternate Selection: NOTAM issues at preferred alternate might require more distant option
• Holding Considerations: Anticipating delays due to runway closures
• Fuel Availability: Destination fuel services restricted might require tanking extra fuel

The Professional NOTAM Checklist

Use this comprehensive checklist for every flight:

Initial Planning (24-48 Hours Out)

Detailed Planning (2-4 Hours Before)

Final Check (30 Minutes Before)

Common Integration Mistakes

Even experienced pilots make these errors when integrating NOTAMs into flight planning:

1. Checking NOTAMs Last: Looking at NOTAMs only after the flight plan is complete, forcing last-minute changes
2. One-and-Done: Checking once and never rechecking before departure
3. Ignoring the Impact: Reading NOTAMs but not considering how they affect your specific flight
4. Poor Documentation: Not writing down critical NOTAMs for in-flight reference
5. Failing to Brief: Not sharing NOTAM information with crew members
6. No Contingency Planning: Not having backup plans for known NOTAM issues

Tools and Resources

NOTAM Viewer Features

NOTAM Viewer helps streamline the integration process:

• Quick Filtering: Search by keyword (RWY, ILS, TWY) to find relevant NOTAMs fast
• Color Coding: Visual parsing makes important fields stand out
• Active/Expired Status: Instantly see which NOTAMs affect your flight time
• Multiple Airport Search: Check departure, destination, and alternates efficiently
• Mobile Access: Review NOTAMs anywhere, anytime

Integration Workflow Tips

1. Create Templates: Develop standard forms for documenting NOTAMs for different flight types
2. Use Highlights: Color-code NOTAMs by priority (red=critical, yellow=important, green=informational)
3. Set Reminders: Use phone alerts to trigger NOTAM rechecks at appropriate times
4. Build Libraries: Keep records of recurring NOTAMs at your frequent airports
5. Share with Crew: Use shared documents or apps for multi-crew operations

Conclusion: Making NOTAMs Part of Your Process

Successful flight planning doesn't treat NOTAMs as a separate checkbox item—it weaves them throughout the entire planning process. By checking NOTAMs early, often, and systematically, you ensure that this critical information influences every decision from route selection to go/no-go.

The key is developing a consistent workflow that integrates NOTAM checking at multiple points, documents critical information effectively, and ensures all crew members are informed. With practice, this integration becomes second nature, making your flight planning more thorough and your operations safer.

Remember: NOTAMs aren't just information—they're intelligence that should actively shape your flight planning decisions. Use them wisely, check them often, and fly safely.