By Kathy Fox
Recently, COPA expressed some concerns to me
about the unavailability of U.S. NOTAMs from Canadian Flight Service Stations/
Flight Information Centres.
NOTAM dissemination practices in the U.S.A. are explained in the American
Information Manual (AIM) Chapter 5, Section 1. The AIM states that “local” NOTAM
information is not disseminated by electronic means nor provided in pilot
briefings in the U.S.A.
Pilots must call the FAA FSS responsible for NOTAMs at the destination aerodrome
prior to the flight departure or while en route to obtain local NOTAM service.
NOTAM information already published in the Notices to Airmen Publication (NTAP)
is not available via telecommunications and the information is not routinely
provided in pilot briefings in the U.S. unless specifically requested by pilots.
The NTAP is issued every 28 days and is available by mail and on the FAA
Internet site (http://www2.faa.gov/ NTAP/index.htm).
The NTAP is not normally available at Canadian FSSs and FICs.
Canadian FSSs and FICs can retrieve some limited NOTAM information stored in the
U.S. NOTAM system via telecommunications upon site-specific requests using a
location identifier. This is essentially the only NOTAM information provided in
pilot briefings in Canada and the U.S. alike.
The FAA Internet site specifies that “…notices, restrictions and advisories may
change at any time without notice.
(Pilots) should not attempt any operation in the U.S. National Airspace System
without first obtaining a thorough pre-flight briefing.”
Since September 11, 2001, it would be prudent for pilots intending to fly in the
U.S. to contact a FAA FSS for detailed NOTAM information, either before
commencing the flight or while enroute to obtain complete and updated flight
planning information for the U.S. portion of the flight.
Unfortunately, the toll free numbers listed at
www.dayafss.jccbi.gov/afssphone.htm are not available from Canada. Pilots
may wish to consider landing at the nearest suitable U.S. airport after crossing
the border, call the 800-WX-Brief number and ask for a local number for the
destination FSS to obtain current NOTAM information.
We will work with our FAA counterparts to try and find other ways to enhance or
facilitate the availability of U.S. NOTAMs for the benefit of pilots heading
from Canada to the U.S.
Kathy Fox is Assistant Vice President of Air Traffic Services for NavCanada.