NOTAMs – How to get a good briefing

The infringement of a notified TRA in 2002 cost a PPL £600 in fines and costs because he had not read the NOTAMs. Don’t fall into the same trap.

There are a variety of ways to get NOTAMs. This guide will help you choose the best method for you.

Internet

The first choice is http://www.ais.org.uk , the UK AIS website. This produces up to the minute briefings on demand from the main AIS database. You need to register as a user but doing so is quick, easy and FREE.

Airfields and flying clubs will find the VFR FIR and Aerodrome briefings particularly useful. These can be printed out and put on the notice board for self-briefing by pilots.

Flying IFR or VFR on a set route the Narrow Route Briefing is your best choice. This gives information relevant to your departure, arrival and alternate aerodromes and the route between them. It can also span multiple FIR’s.

If you want to shoot instrument approaches the UK Aerodrome briefing fits the bill. It will give you VFR and IFR information for one or more UK aerodromes.

The Help file on the site shows you how to set up a brief for an area round an aerodrome and the "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) document is very useful if you need help.

The UK AIS site supports Internet Explorer 5.0 or later and Netscape Communicator 4.7 or later and you must have JavaScript and Cookies enabled. If you have problems accessing the AIS site, general (IFR/VFR) FIR briefings are also available from the main NATS site at http://www.nats.co.uk/operational/pibs/index.shtml . Briefings on the NATS site are intended as a backup measure and are only updated twice a day, so you should be using the main AIS site whenever possible.

Facsimile

Briefings are available by fax download on the following numbers:-

London FIR VFR Area Briefing: 020 8557 0064
Scottish FIR VFR Area Briefing: 020 8557 0065
London FIR Aerodrome Briefing: 020 8557 0051
Scottish FIR Aerodrome Briefing: 020 8557 0052
Please note that these numbers are intended ONLY for those who do not have Internet access. Each number can only handle one call at a time. Internet access is in any case cheaper as it does not involve long distance call charges and it is usually much faster. Use the polling facility on your fax machine or dial on an attached telephone, pressing the Start button once you have been answered.

Telephone

If you have neither Internet or Fax access call the AIS duty officer (H24) on 020 8745 3450/3451.

Problems/Queries?

If you have problems or queries you can e-mail ais.supervisor@nats.co.uk, which is staffed during normal office hours, Monday to Friday. This does not access the duty briefing staff.

We urge all airfields and flying clubs to display the VFR FIR and Aerodrome briefings on their self-briefing boards so that pilots have a standardised briefing in a familiar form, wherever they are flying from.

This is a comprehensive FREE service to GA pilots and there can be no excuse for any pilot not to be fully briefed.

This page last updated on 30-Jun-2003
© Michael Cross and Russell Howton. Portions © National Air Traffic Services Ltd. All Rights Reserved
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