How to Read and Use NOTAMs for Drone Operations

NOTAM stands for Notice to Air Missions. NOTAMs are official FAA advisories that communicate time-sensitive information about the National Airspace System -- information that is not captured in permanent charts, databases, or standard weather briefings.

Under 14 CFR 107.49, Part 107 pilots are required to become familiar with all available information pertinent to the intended operation before each flight. NOTAMs are explicitly part of this requirement. Skipping NOTAM review is not just an oversight -- it is a regulatory violation.

What NOTAMs Cover

NOTAMs communicate a wide range of temporary changes to the airspace system:

Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) -- emergency restrictions, VIP movements, wildfire areas, sporting events
Airspace restrictions -- temporary restricted areas, military exercises, parachute operations
Airport closures and runway changes -- temporary closures, construction, surface changes
Navigation aid outages -- VOR, ILS, and GPS system status
Obstacle notifications -- new towers, cranes, construction equipment that pilots may encounter
UAS operating areas -- areas where drone operations have been formally coordinated

For drone pilots, the most operationally significant NOTAMs are TFRs, temporary restricted areas, and obstacle notifications near the planned flight area.

Where to Find NOTAMs

FAA NOTAM Search. The official FAA source is the NOTAM Search system at notams.aim.faa.gov. You can search by airport identifier, geographic coordinates, or a radius around a location. This is the authoritative source and should be your default.

1800wxbrief.com. The FAA's official standard briefing service provides integrated NOTAMs as part of a full weather briefing. The interface is more pilot-friendly than the raw FAA NOTAM Search and includes filtering options.

UAS SkyCheck. Captain-tier pilots access live NOTAM data directly within the app. NOTAMs relevant to your checked location are surfaced automatically, removing the need to manually search and filter the full NOTAM database.

Third-party apps. ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and other aviation apps provide NOTAM display with geographic visualization. Useful for understanding the spatial relationship between NOTAMs and your planned operating area.

Reading a NOTAM

NOTAMs use a specific format with standard abbreviations. Here is a real-format example:

!OAK 04/031 OAK NAV ILS RWY 27L U/S
0604011400-0604021400

Breaking this down:

!OAK -- issued by Oakland ARTCC (ARTCC = Air Route Traffic Control Center)

04/031 -- the 031st NOTAM issued in April (NOTAM number within the series)

OAK NAV ILS RWY 27L U/S -- Oakland Airport navigation, ILS for Runway 27L, U/S = unserviceable (out of service)

0604011400-0604021400 -- effective from April 1 at 1400 UTC to April 2 at 1400 UTC

Common NOTAM Abbreviations

| Abbreviation | Meaning | |---|---| | TFR | Temporary Flight Restriction | | U/S | Unserviceable | | CLSD | Closed | | TWY | Taxiway | | RWY | Runway | | LGT | Light(s) | | OTS | Out of Service | | ACT | Active | | UNL | Unlimited (altitude) | | AGL | Above Ground Level | | MSL | Mean Sea Level | | UAS | Unmanned Aircraft System | | TEMPO | Temporary |

The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) contains the full list of NOTAM abbreviations. Chapter 5 covers NOTAMs specifically.

TFR NOTAMs: The Most Critical Type for Drone Pilots

TFR NOTAMs are the most operationally significant for UAS operations. They appear in the NOTAM system with a specific format that includes the restricted area, altitude limits, effective time, and the authority issuing the restriction.

A VIP movement TFR (14 CFR 91.141) might read:

FDC 6/9832 ZOA CA..AIRSPACE CASTRO VALLEY, CA..TEMPORARY 
FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.141 
..AIRSPACE 37.6996N 122.0760W (CASTRO VALLEY CA)TO 30NM 
RADIUS SFC-17999FT EFFECTIVE 2604121800 UTC UNTIL 
2604122200 UTC CREATED: 12 Apr 08:12:00 UTC

This tells you: TFR centered on Castro Valley coordinates, 30 NM radius, surface to 17,999 ft MSL, active from April 12 1800 UTC to April 12 2200 UTC (11:00 AM to 3:00 PM PDT).

Any drone operation within this area during this window is prohibited without specific authorization from the controlling agency.

How Far Out to Check

NOTAM review should cover:

Geographic area. Search a radius that encompasses your planned flight area plus reasonable margin. A 10-20 NM radius from your planned coordinates captures most relevant NOTAMs. For linear operations (corridor surveys, pipeline inspection), use a corridor search rather than a single-point radius.

Time window. Search NOTAMs active during your entire planned operating window, not just at your launch time. A NOTAM that activates 30 minutes after your planned launch is relevant to your operation.

Adjacent airports. TFRs associated with sporting events or VIP movements are often referenced by the nearest airport identifier. Searching the two or three nearest airports in addition to your coordinates catches these.

Documenting Your NOTAM Review

Part 107 requires preflight familiarization, but it does not specify a particular record format. Best practice is to include NOTAM review in your flight log with a brief note of the source and time checked.

For Captain-tier pilots using UAS SkyCheck, the advisory section of each check includes reference to NOTAM data and provides a starting point for documentation. Keep a record that demonstrates the review was performed -- it protects you professionally and satisfies the spirit of 107.49.

When a NOTAM Affects Your Operation

If an active NOTAM restricts your planned area, you have three options:

Reschedule. If the NOTAM is temporary (TFR for an event, temporary runway closure), wait until it expires and recheck before launching.

Modify your plan. Fly a different area or at different coordinates that are outside the NOTAM's boundary.

Seek authorization. Some NOTAMs permit operations with authorization from the controlling agency. The NOTAM will specify the contact or coordination procedure if this is possible.

Operating in violation of a NOTAM is a regulatory violation and, for TFRs in particular, carries significant penalties.

UAS SkyCheck Captain tier includes live NOTAM access for your checked location. Check airspace, weather, and NOTAMs together before every flight at uas-skycheck.app.