22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

BACKTOTHENOTAMPAGE

BirthofaNOTAM
NOTAMstartlifeasmessagesontheAeronauticalFixedSystem(AFS).They
are received centrally at the UK NOTAM office at London Heathrow from
originatorswithintheUKandfromforeignNOTAMoffices.AISstaffcheck
and edit the NOTAM if necessary and they are then placed in the transmit
queue for transmission to all UK NOTAM recipients. These include ATC
offices,someairlines,briefingservicesetc.
There is no central worldwide NOTAM database, databases are built up
individuallybyusersfromtheincomingmessagestream.

ICAONOTAMformat
TheformatofNOTAMisdefinedinAnnex15totheInternationalConvention
onCivilAviation.Anexplanationoftheformatcanbefoundhere.Hereisa
typicalNOTAManditsdecode.
A1484/02NOTAMN
Q)EGTT/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5129N00028W005
A)EGLL
B)0208231540
C)0210310500EST
E)RWY09R/27LDUEWIPNOCENTRELINE,TDZORSALSLIGHTINGAVBL

NotamDecoder
A1484/02 one letter to indicate the Series, a 4digit NOTAM number
followedbyastrokeandtwodigitstoindicatetheyear.
NOTAMNSuffixNIndicatesthisisanewNOTAM.OtheroptionsareRfor
NOTAMreplacinganotherorCforonecancellinganother.
Q)EGTT/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5129N00028W005
Thisisthe"Q"orqualifierline,italwaysstartsQ)andcontainsthefollowing
fields,eachseparatedbyastroke.
FIR(hereEGTT,LondonFIR)
NOTAM Code, a 5 letter code starting with Q, defined in Annexe 15. Here
QMRindicatesthatitconcernsaRunway.XXindicatesthatremainingdetail
is in Plain Language. In this particular case the text shows that certain
runway lighting is unavailable. Strictly speaking under ICAO rules this
shouldhaveappearedasseparateNOTAMforeachtypeoflighting.QLCAS
is the code for centreline lighting u/s QLZAS is the code for Touch Down
Zonelightingu/sandQLAASisthecodeforApproachLightingu/s(notein
http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

1/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

allcasesASindicatesunserviceable).TheuseofQMRXXhereisasensible
compromisethatreducesthenumberofNOTAMfromthreetoone.Afulllist
of codes is included in ICAO document 8126 (Aeronautical Information
ServicesManual).
IVIndicatesthatthisissignificantforIFRandVFRtraffic
NBOindicatesforimmediateattentionofaircraftoperators,forinclusionin
PIB'sandOperationallysignificantforIFRflights
A Indicates scope, here Aerodrome, others are E (enroute) or W (nav
warning)
000/999 lower and upper limits expressed as a flight level. In this case it
hasbeenleftasthedefaultasitisnotapplicable.
5129N00028W005 Indicates the geographical centre and radius of
influence,alwaysthisnumberofdigits.Inthiscasetheradiusis5n.m.
A)EGLLICAOindicatoroftheaerodromeorFIR(LondonHeathrow)can
includemorethanoneFIR
B)0208231540Date/timegroup(UTC)whenthisNOTAMbecomeseffective
C)0210310500ESTDate/timegroup(UTC)whentheNOTAMceasestobe
effective.Note"EST"means"estimated"(NOTEasternStandardTime!).All
NOTAMwithESTremaininforceuntilcancelledorreplaced.
E)RWY09R/27LDUEWIPNOCENTRELINE,TDZORSALSLIGHTINGAVBL
textofthenotamusingICAOabbreviations.
Decode of this is "Runway 09/27 due to work in progress no centreline,
touchdownzoneorsimpleapproachlightingsystemavailable"
Here'sthewholethingagain
A1484/02NOTAMN
Q)EGTT/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5129N00028W005
A)EGLL
B)0208231540
C)0210310500EST
E)RWY09R/27LDUEWIPNOCENTRELINE,TDZORSALSLIGHTINGAVBL
andhere'sthesamethingasitappearsinthePIBproducedbyANAIS
AGA:FROM02/08/2315:40TO02/10/3105:00ESTA1484/02
E)RWY09R/27LDUEWIPNOCENTRELINE,TDZORSALSLIGHTING
AVBL
You can see that the Q line is omitted entirely, A) has been stripped out
becauseitappearsastheheadertothesectionandB)andC)havebeen
http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

2/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

reformatted and placed in the first line. AGA has been derived from the Q
Code"QMR"(seeAnnex15)
INTERNATIONALNOTAM(Q)CODES
ThisappendixistobeusedtointerpretthecontentsofcodedinternationalNOTAM's.
a.ANOTAMcodegroupcontainsfiveletters.Thefirstletterisalwaysthe
letter"Q''toindicateacodeabbreviationforuseinthecompositionof
NOTAM's.
b.Thesecondandthirdlettersidentifythesubjectbeingreported.(See
SecondandThirdLetterDecodeTables).
c.Thefourthandfifthlettersidentifythestatusofoperationofthesubject
beingreported.(SeeFourthandFifthLetterDecodeTables).

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
AGALightingFacilities(L)
Code Signification
LA
LB
LC
LD
LE
LF
LH
LI
LJ
LK
LL
LM
LP
LR
LS
LT
LV

Approachlightingsystem(specifyrunwayand
type)
Aerodromebeacon
Runwaycenterlinelights(specifyrunway)
Landingdirectionindicatorlights
Runwayedgelights(specifyrunway)
Sequencedflashinglights(specifyrunway)
Highintensityrunwaylights(specifyrunway)
Runwayendidentifierlights(specifyrunway)
Runwayalignmentindicatorlights(specify
runway)
CategoryIIcomponentsofapproachlighting
system(specifyrunway)
Lowintensityrunwaylights(specifyrunway)
Mediumintensityrunwaylights(specifyrunway)
Precisionapproachpathindicator(PAPI)
(specifyrunway)
Alllandingarealightingfacilities
Stopwaylights(specifyrunway)
Thresholdlights(specifyrunway)
Visualapproachslopeindicatorsystem(specify
typeandrunway)

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
apchlgt
abn
rwycentrelinelgt
ldilgt
rwyedgelgt
sequencedflglgt
highintstrwylgt
rwyendidlgt
rwyalignmentindicator
lgt
categoryIIcomponents
apchlgt
lowintstrwylgt
mediumintstrwylgt
papi
ldgarealgtfac
swylgt
thrlgt
vasis

3/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

LW
LX
LY
LZ

Heliportlighting
Taxiwaycentrelinelights(specifytaxiway)
Taxiwayedgelights(specifytaxiway)
Runwaytouchdownzonelights(specifyrunway)

heliportlgt
twycentrelinelgt
twyedgelgt
rwytdzlgt

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
AGAMovementandLandingArea(M)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
MA Movementarea
movarea
MB Bearingstrength(specifypartoflandingarea bearingstrength
ormovementarea)
MC Clearway(specifyrunway)
cwy
MD Declareddistances(specifyrunway)
declareddist
MG Taxiingguidancesystem
taxguidancesystem
MH Runwayarrestinggear(specifyrunway)
rwyarstgear
MK Parkingarea
prkgarea
MM Daylightmarkings(specifythreshold,centre
daymarkings
line,etc.)
MN Apron
apron
MP Aircraftstands(specify)
acftstand
MR Runway(specifyrunway)
rwy
MS Stopway(specifyrunway)
swy
MT Threshold(specifyrunway)
thr
MU Runwayturningbay(specifyrunway)
rwyturningbay
MW Strip(specifyrunway)
strip
MX Taxiway(s)(specify)
twy

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
AGAFacilitiesandServices(F)
Code Signification

FA
FB
FC

Aerodrome
Brakingactionmeasurementequipment(specify
type)
Ceilingmeasurementequipment

FD

Dockingsystem(specifyAGNIS,BOLDS,etc.)

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

Uniform
Abbreviated
Phraseology
ad
bameasurement
eqpt
ceiling
measurementeqpt
dckgsystem
4/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

FF
FG
FH
FL
FM
FO
FP
FS
FT
FU
FW
FZ

Firefightingandrescue
Groundmovementcontrol
Helicopteralightingarea/platform
Landingdirectionindicator
Meteorologicalservice(specifytype)
Fogdispersalsystem
Heliport
Snowremovalequipment
Transmissometer(specifyrunwayand,where
applicable,designator(s)oftransmissometer(s))
Fuelavailability
Winddirectionindicator
Customs

fireandrescue
gndmovctl
helalightingarea
ldi
met
fogdispersal
heliport
snowremovaleqpt
transmissometer
fuelavbl
wdi
cust

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
COMCommunicationsandRadarFacilities(C)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
CA Air/ground(specifyserviceandfrequency)
a/gfac
CE Enroutesurveillanceradar
rsr
CG Groundcontrolledapproachsystem(GCA)
gca
CL Selectivecallingsystem(SELCAL)
selcal
CM Surfacemovementradar
smr
CP Precisionapproachradar(PAR)(specifyrunway) par
CR Surveillanceradarelementofprecisionapproach sre
radarsystem(specifywavelength)
CS Secondarysurveillanceradar(SSR)
ssr
CT Terminalareasurveillanceradar(TAR)
tar

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
COMInstrumentandMicrowaveLandingSystem(I)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
ID
DMEassociatedwithILS
ilsdme
IG
Glidepath(ILS)(specifyrunway)
ilsgp
II
Innermarker(ILS)(specifyrunway)
ilsim
IL
Localizer(ILS)(specifyrunway)
ilsliz
IM
Middlemarker(ILS)(specifyrunway)
ilsmm
http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

5/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

IO
IS
IT
IU
IW
IX
IY

Outermarker(ILS)(specifyrunway)
ILSCategoryI(specifyrunway)
ILSCategoryII(specifyrunway)
ILSCategoryIII(specifyrunway)
Microwavelandingsystem(MLS)(specify
runway)
Locator,outer(ILS)(specifyrunway)
Locator,middle(ILS)(specifyrunway)

ilsom
ilsI
ilsII
ilsIII
mls
ilslo
ilslm

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
COMTerminalandEnRouteNavigationFacilities(N)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
NA Allradionavigationfacilities(except...)
allrdonavfac
NB Nondirectionalradiobeacon
ndb
NC DECCA
decca
ND Distancemeasuringequipment(DME)
dme
NF Fanmarker
fanmkr
NL Locator(specifyidentification)
l
NM VOR/DME
vor/dme
NN TACAN
tacan
NO OMEGA
omega
NT VORTAC
vortac
NV VOR
vor
NX Directionfindingstation(specifytypeand df
frequency)

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
RACAirspaceOrganization(A)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
AA Minimumaltitude(specifyen
mnmalt
route/crossing/safe)
AC ClassB,C,D,orESurfaceArea
ctr
AD Airdefenseidentificationzone(ADIZ)
adiz
AE Controlarea(CTA)
cta
AF Flightinformationregion(FIR)
fir
AH Uppercontrolarea(UTA)
uta
AL Minimumusableflightlevel
mnmusablefl
http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

6/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

AN
AO
AP
AR
AT
AU
AV
AX
AZ

Areanavigationroute
Oceaniccontrolarea(OCA)
Reportingpoint(specifynameorCoded
designator)
ATSroute(specify)
ClassBAirspace
Upperflightinformationregion(UIR)
Upperadvisoryarea(UDA)
Intersection(INT)
Aerodrometrafficzone(ATZ)

rnavroute
oca
rep
atsroute
tma
uir
uda
int
atz

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
RACAirTrafficandVOLMETServices(S)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
SA Automaticterminalinformationservice
atis
(ATIS)
SB ATSreportingoffice
aro
SC Areacontrolcentre(ACC)
acc
SE Flightinformationservice(FIS)
fis
SF Aerodromeflightinformationservice
afis
(AFIS)
SL Flowcontrolcentre
flowctlcentre
SO Oceanicareacontrolcentre(OAC)
oac
SP Approachcontrolservice(APP)
app
SS Flightservicestation(FSS)
fss
ST Aerodromecontroltower(TWR)
twr
SU Upperareacontrolcentre(UAC)
uac
SV VOLMETbroadcast
volmet
SY Upperadvisoryservice(specify)
advisoryser

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
RACAirTrafficProcedures(P)
Code Signification
PA
PB
PC

UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
Standardinstrumentarrival(STAR)(specifyroute star
designator)
StandardVFRarrival
stdvfrarr
Contingencyprocedures
contingencyproc

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

7/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

PD
PE
PF
PH
PI
PL
PK
PM
PN
PO
PP
PR
PT
PU
PX
PZ

Standardinstrumentdeparture(SID)(specify
routedesignator)
StandardVFRdeparture
Flowcontrolprocedure
Holdingprocedure
Instrumentapproachprocedure(specifytypeand
runway)
Obstacleclearancelimit(specifyprocedure)
VFRapproachprocedure
Aerodromeoperatingminima(specifyprocedure
andamendedminimum)
Noiseoperatingrestrictions
Obstacleclearancealtitude
Obstacleclearanceheight
Radiofailureprocedure
Transitionaltitude
Missedapproachprocedure(specifyrunway)
Minimumholdingaltitude(specifyfix)
ADIZprocedure

sid
stdvfrdep
flowctlproc
hldgproc
instapchproc
ocl
vfrapchproc
oprminima
noiseoprrestrictions
oca
och
radiofailureproc
transitionalt
missedapchproc
mnmhldgalt
adizproc

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
NavigationWarnings:AirspaceRestrictions(R)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
RA Airspacereservation(specify)
airspacereservation
RD Dangerarea(specifynationalprefixand
..d..
number)
RO Overflyingof...(specify)
overflying
RP Prohibitedarea(specifynationalprefixand ..p..
number)
RR Restrictedarea(specifynationalprefixand ..r..
number)
RT Temporaryrestrictedarea
temporestricted

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
NavigationWarnings:Warnings(W)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviatedPhraseology
WA Airdisplay
airdisplay
WB Aerobatics
aerobatics
http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

8/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

WC
WD
WE
WF
WG
WJ
WL
WM
WP
WS
WT
WV
WZ

Captiveballoonorkite
Demolitionofexplosives
Exercises(specify)
Airrefueling
Gliderflying
Banner/targettowing
Ascentoffreeballoon
Missile,gunorrocketfiring
Parachutejumpingexercise(PJE)
Burningorblowinggas
Massmovementofaircraft
Formationflight
modelflying

captiveballoonorkite
demolitionofexplosives
exer
airrefueling
gliderflying
banner/targettowing
ascentoffreeballoon
frng
pje
burningorblowinggas
massmovofacft
formationflt
modelflying

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
SECONDANDTHIRDLETTERS
OtherInformation(O)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviatedPhraseology
OA Aeronauticalinformationservice ais
OB Obstacle(specifydetails)
obst
OE Aircraftentryrequirements
acftentryrqmnts
OL
Obstaclelightson...(specify)
obstlgt
OR Rescuecoordinationcentre
rcc

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
FOURTHANDFIFTHLETTERS
Availability(A)
Code Signification
AC
AD
AF
AG
AH
AK
AM
AN
AO
AP

UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
Withdrawnformaintenance
withdrawnmaint
Availablefordaylightoperation
avbldayops
Flightcheckedandfoundreliable
fltckokay
Operatingbutgroundcheckedonly,awaiting oprawaitingfltck
flightcheck
Hoursofservicearenow
hrser
Resumednormaloperations
okay
Militaryoperationsonly
milopsonly
Availablefornightoperation
avblnightops
Operational
opr
Available,priorpermissionrequired
avblppr

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

9/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

AR
AS
AU
AW
AX

Availableonrequest
Unserviceable
Notavailable(specifyreasonifappropriate)
Completelywithdrawn
Previouslypromulgatedshutdownhasbeen
cancelled

avblo/r
u/s
notavbl
withdrawn
promulgatedshutdowncnl

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
FOURTHANDFIFTHLETTERS
Changes(C)
Code Signification
CA
CC
CD
CE
CF
CG
CH
CI
CL
CM
CO
CP
CR
CS
CT

UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
Activated
act
Completed
cmpl
Deactivated
deactivated
Erected
erected
Operatingfrequency(ies)changedto
freqchange
Downgradedto
downgradedto
Changed
changed
Identificationorradiocallsignchanged identchange
to
Realigned
realigned
Displaced
displaced
Operating
opr
Operatingonreducedpower
oprreducedpwr
Temporarilyreplacedby
temporplcdby
Installed
installed
Ontest,donotuse
ontest,donotuse

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
FOURTHANDFIFTHLETTERS
HazardConditions(H)
Code

Signification

HA

Brakingactionis...

1)Poor

Uniform
Abbreviated
Phraseology
bais

2)Medium/Poor
3)Medium
4)Medium/Good

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

10/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

5)Good

HB
HC

HD
HE
HF
HG
HH
HI
HJ

HK
HL
HM
HN
HO
HP
HQ
HR
HS
HT

HU

HV

Brakingcoefficientis...(specifymeasurement
deviceused)
Coveredbycompactedsnowtodepthof

brkg
coefficientis
cov
compacted
snowdepth
Coveredbydrysnowtoadepthof
covdrysnow
depth
Coveredbywatertoadepthof
covwater
depth
Totallyfreeofsnowandice
freeofsnow
andice
Grasscuttinginprogress
grasscutting
Hazarddueto(specify)
hazarddue
Coveredbyice
covice
Launchplanned...(specifyballoonflightidentification launchplan
orprojectCodename,launchsite,plannedperiodof
launch(es)_date/time,expectedclimbdirection,
estimatetimetopass18,000m(60,000ft),together
withestimatedlocation)
Migrationinprogress
migration
inpr
Snowclearancecompleted
snowclrcmpl
Markedby
markedby
Coveredbywetsnoworslushtoadepthof
covwetsnow
depth
Obscuredbysnow
obscuredby
snow
Snowclearanceinprogress
snowclrinpr
Operationcancelled...(specifyballoonflight
oprcnl
identificationorprojectCodename)
Standingwater
standing
water
Sandinginprogress
sanding
Approachaccordingtosignalareaonly
apch
according
signalarea
only
Launchinprogress...(specifyballoonflight
launchinpr
identificationorprojectCodename,launchsite,
date/timeoflaunch(es),estimatedtimepassing
18,000m(60,000ft),orreachingcruisinglevelifat
orbelow18,000m(60,000ft),togetherwith
estimatedlocation,estimateddate/timeof
terminationoftheflight,andplannedlocationof
groundcontactwhenapplicable)
Workcompleted
workcmpl

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

11/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

HW
HX

Workinprogress
Concentrationofbirds

HY

Snowbanksexist(specifyheight)

HZ

Coveredbyfrozenrutsandridges

wip
bird
concentration
snowbanks
hgt
covfrozen
rutsand
ridges

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
FOURTHANDFIFTHLETTERS
Limitations(L)
Code Signification
UniformAbbreviated
Phraseology
LA Operatingonauxiliarypowersupply
oprauxpwr
LB Reservedforaircraftbasedtherein
reservedforacftbasedtherein
LC Closed
clsd
LD Unsafe
unsafe
LE Operatingwithoutauxiliarypower
oprwithoutauxpwr
supply
LF
Interferencefrom
interferencefrom
LG Operatingwithoutidentification
oprwithoutident
LH Unserviceableforaircraftheavierthan u/sacftheavierthan
LI
ClosedtoIFRoperations
clsdifrops
LK Operatingasafixedlight
oprasflgt
LL
Usableforlengthof...andwidthof...
usablelength/width
LN Closedtoallnightoperations
clsdnightops
LP Prohibitedto
prohibitedto
LR Aircraftrestrictedtorunwaysand
acftrestrictedtorwyandtwy
taxiways
LS Subjecttointerruption
subjintrp
LT
Limitedto
limitedto
LV ClosedtoVFRoperations
clsdvfrops
LW Willtakeplace
willtakeplace
LX Operatingbutcautionadviseddueto
oprbutcautiondue

THENOTAMCODE
DECODE
FOURTHANDFIFTHLETTERS
Other(XX)
Code Signification

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

Uniform
Abbreviated
12/13

22/03/2015

NOTAMDECODE

XX

Where4thand5thletterCodedoesnotcoverthe
situation,useXXandsupplementbyplainlanguage

Phraseology
(plainlanguage
followingthe
NOTAMCode)

Thissitewaslastupdated02/27/12

http://www.flyingineurope.be/notam_decode.htm

13/13