Introduction to Flying

• Affected Location (the identifier of the affected facility Flight information publications outlining baseline data: or location) • Notices to Airmen (NTAP)—Published by System • KEYWORD (one of the following: RWY, TWY, Operations Services, System Operations and Safety, RAMP, APRON, AD, COM, NAV, SVC, OBST, Publications, every 28 days) AIRSPACE, (U) and (O)) • Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility • Surface Identification (optional—this shall be the Directory) runway identification for runway related NOTAMs, • Pacific Chart Supplement the taxiway identification for taxiway-related NOTAMs, or the ramp/apron identification for ramp/ • Alaska Supplement apron-related NOTAMs) • Alaska Terminal • Condition (the condition being reported) • Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) • Time (identifies the effective time(s) of the NOTAM condition) NOTAMs are available in printed form through subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, from an FSS, or Altitude and height are in feet mean sea level (MSL) up to online at PilotWeb (www.pilotweb.nas.faa.gov), which 17,999; e.g., 275, 1225 (feet and MSL is not written), and in provides access to current NOTAM information. Local flight levels (FL) for 18,000 and above; e.g., FL180, FL550. airport NOTAMs can be obtained online from various When MSL is not known, above ground level (AGL) will be websites. Some examples are www.fltplan.com and www. written (304 AGL). aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html. Most sites require a free registration and acceptance of terms but offer pilots updated When time is expressed in a NOTAM, the day begins at 0000 NOTAMs and TFRs. and ends at 2359. Times used in the NOTAM system are universal time coordinated (UTC) and shall be stated in 10 Safety Program Airmen Notification System (SPANS) digits (year, month, day, hour, and minute). The following In 2004, the FAA launched the Safety Program Airmen are two examples of how the time would be presented: Notification System (SPANS), an online event notification system that provides timely and easy-to-assess seminar !DCA LDN NAV VOR OTS WEF and event information notification for airmen. The SPANS 0708051600-0708052359 system is taking the place of the current paper-based mail system. This provides better service to airmen while reducing costs for the FAA. Anyone can search the SPANS system !DCA LDN NAV VOR OTS WEF and register for events. To read more about SPANS, visit 0709050000-0709050400 www.faasafety.gov/spans. NOTAM Dissemination and Availability Aircraft Classifications and Ultralight The system for disseminating aeronautical information is Vehicles made up of two subsystems: the Airmen's Information System The FAA uses various ways to classify or group machines (AIS) and the NOTAM System. The AIS consists of charts and operated or flown in the air. The most general grouping uses publications and is disseminated by the following methods: the term aircraft. This term is in 14 CFR 1.1 and means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air. Aeronautical charts depicting permanent baseline data: • IFR Charts—Enroute High Altitude Conterminous U.S., Ultralight vehicle is another general term the FAA uses. Enroute Low Altitude Conterminous U.S., Alaska This term is defined in 14 CFR 103. As the term implies, Charts, and Pacific Charts powered ultralight vehicles must weigh less than 254 pounds empty weight and unpowered ultralight vehicles must • U.S. Terminal Procedures—Departure Procedures weigh less than 155 pounds. Rules for ultralight vehicles (DPs), Standard Terminal Arrivals (STARs) and are significantly different from rules for aircraft; ultralight Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) vehicle certification, registration, and operation rules are also • VFR Charts—Sectional Aeronautical Charts, Terminal contained in 14 CFR 103. Area Charts (TAC), and World Aeronautical Charts (WAC) 1-14