India recently issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a large-scale tri-services military exercise, “Ex Trishul,” to be conducted along the Pakistan border.
About Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) is an official alert issued by aviation authorities to warn pilots and other flight personnel about potential hazards and changes to the National Airspace System. The information contained in a NOTAM is time-sensitive and cannot be publicized far enough in advance through other means. 
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed the term from "Notice to Airmen" to "Notice to Air Missions" in December 2021 to be more inclusive, but the acronym remains the same. 
Purpose
NOTAMs are a crucial part of pre-flight briefings, ensuring pilots have real-time information to make safe and informed decisions. Key reasons for issuing a NOTAM include: 

• Informing pilots of closed runways, taxiways, or airspaces.
• Alerting of temporary obstacles, such as cranes near an airport.
• Reporting military exercises or airshows that may restrict or pose a hazard in certain airspace.
• Notifying of inoperable radio navigational aids or airport lighting systems.
• Communicating temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) for VIP movements or special events.
• Warning of hazards like volcanic ash (ASHTAM) or flocks of birds (BIRDTAM). 

Types of NOTAMs
There are several types of NOTAMs, though the naming conventions can vary by country: 

• NOTAM (D): The "D" stands for distant, meaning the information is distributed beyond the area of the local flight service station. This is a common type of NOTAM in the United States and covers issues like taxiway closures, personnel on or near runways, and airport lighting.
• FDC NOTAM (Flight Data Center): These are regulatory in nature and contain information like changes to instrument approach procedures and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). FDC NOTAMs can cover a specific airport or a wider area.
• International NOTAMs: Issued for cross-border flights, these adhere to standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The U.S. is currently in the process of transitioning to the ICAO format for its domestic NOTAMs.
• Civil and Military NOTAMs: Civil NOTAMs cover non-military activities and are common for most flight operations. Military NOTAMs cover military airspaces and airports.
• SNOWTAM and ASHTAM: These are specific NOTAMs for hazardous conditions. A SNOWTAM alerts pilots to hazardous runway conditions caused by snow, ice, or standing water, while an ASHTAM is for operationally significant volcanic ash contamination. 

How to access NOTAM information

• Government aviation websites: The FAA provides an online NOTAM search tool on its website. Other national aviation authorities, such as India's Airports Authority of India (AAI), also offer access to NOTAMs.
• Specialized briefing services: Flight planning applications and websites, such as ForeFlight and Fltplan.com, include NOTAMs as part of their services.
• Briefing facilities and ATC: Pilots can also receive NOTAMs through airport flight briefing facilities or from air traffic controllers during their pre-flight planning. 

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