Decode NOTAMs,
in plain English.
Paste any NOTAM and get an instant plain-English explanation with decoded abbreviations, affected infrastructure, severity classification, and Q-line analysis. Free for pilots, dispatchers, and aviation professionals.
Plain-English Translation
Converts cryptic NOTAM text into clear, readable English that any aviation professional can quickly understand and act on.
Abbreviation Decoder
Automatically identifies and decodes every ICAO and FAA abbreviation in the NOTAM, from Q-codes to condition indicators.
Infrastructure Identification
Pinpoints exactly what is affected: specific runways, taxiways, navaids, airspace sectors, procedures, or airport facilities.
Severity Classification
Classifies each NOTAM as critical, operational, or informational so you can prioritise what matters for your flight.
How to Use the NOTAM Decoder
Paste Your NOTAM
Copy a NOTAM from any source your flight planning system, a government AIS portal, or an operational brief and paste it into the input field. The decoder handles standard ICAO NOTAM format including Q-line, A-line identifiers, B/C validity dates, and the E-line free text.
Click Decode
The decoder analyses the NOTAM structure, parses the Q-code, identifies the affected location and infrastructure, decodes all abbreviations, and classifies the severity. Results appear instantly — no server calls, everything runs in your browser.
Read the Plain-English Summary
The decoded NOTAM is presented as a clear English explanation alongside the severity classification, affected infrastructure, effective dates, Q-line breakdown, and a list of every decoded abbreviation. No need to memorise hundreds of ICAO codes.
Verify Through Official Sources
Use the decoded information to quickly understand the NOTAM, then always cross-reference with official aviation sources your national AIS, NOTAMs from your flight planning provider, or the FAA NOTAM Search before making operational decisions.
What Does NOTAM Mean?
NOTAM stands for Notice to Air Missions (previously "Notice to Airmen"). A NOTAM is a notice containing information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations that is not sufficiently known in advance to be publicised through standard aeronautical information publications (AIP) or their amendments.
NOTAMs alert pilots, flight dispatchers, and air traffic controllers to potential hazards, changes in procedures, facility status, and temporary restrictions along a flight route or at an airport. They are issued by national aviation authorities and distributed through the ICAO NOTAM system.
NOTAMs use a standardised format with heavily abbreviated text that can be difficult to interpret without training. The Q-line encodes the location, subject, condition, and scope using ICAO Q-codes, while the E-line contains the human-readable (but still abbreviated) description of the notice. This decoder translates both into plain English.
NOTAM Header Lines
- NOTAM ID: Unique identifier, e.g. A0234/24 letter prefix indicates the series, number is sequential, /YY is the year
- NOTAMN/NOTAMR/NOTAMC: New NOTAM, Replacement (cancels and replaces a previous NOTAM), or Cancellation
- Q) Line: Qualifiers FIR, Q-code (subject + condition), traffic type, scope, altitude limits, and coordinates
- A) Line: ICAO location indicator(s) for the affected aerodrome or FIR
- B) Line: Start of validity in YYMMDDHHMM format (UTC)
NOTAM Content Lines
- C) Line: End of validity in YYMMDDHHMM format (UTC), or PERM for permanent, with optional EST for estimated end time
- D) Line: Schedule of activity within the validity period, e.g. specific days or hours (optional)
- E) Line: The free-text description the main NOTAM content using ICAO abbreviations
- F) Line: Lower altitude limit (when different from Q-line), used for airspace NOTAMs
- G) Line: Upper altitude limit (when different from Q-line), used for airspace NOTAMs
Q-Code Structure
- 2nd/3rd letters Subject: MR = Runway, FA = Aerodrome facilities, IC = ILS, NV = VOR, RR = Restricted area, OB = Obstacle
- 4th/5th letters Condition: LC = Closed, AS = Unserviceable, CA = Activated, AH = Operating hours changed, XX = Plain language
- Traffic: I = IFR, V = VFR, IV = Both
- Scope: A = Aerodrome, E = En-route, W = Navigation warning, AE = Aerodrome and en-route
- Altitude: Lower/Upper limits in 3-digit flight levels (000 = surface, 999 = unlimited)
Tip: The Q-code is the key to quickly classifying any NOTAM. The first letter Q is always present. Letters 2–3 identify the subject (what is affected) and letters 4–5 identify the condition (what happened to it). Learning the most common Q-codes QMRLC (runway closed), QICAS (ILS unserviceable), QFALC (aerodrome closed) allows you to triage a NOTAM briefing package in seconds.
Common NOTAM Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| CLSD | Closed | Runway, taxiway, aerodrome, or airspace closures |
| U/S | Unserviceable | Navaids, lighting, ILS, or airport equipment not functioning |
| WIP | Work in progress | Construction, maintenance, or repair activity on the aerodrome |
| AD | Aerodrome | Refers to the airport or airfield |
| RWY | Runway | Runway designation |
| TWY | Taxiway | Taxiway designation |
| APN | Apron | Aircraft parking area |
| AVBL | Available | Facility or service is available for use |
| OPR | Operating / Operator | Service or equipment in operation |
| LTD | Limited | Facility operating at reduced capacity |
| MAINT | Maintenance | Maintenance activity in progress |
| SFC | Surface | Ground level used as lower altitude limit |
| ABV | Above | Above a specified altitude or flight level |
| TFC | Traffic | Air traffic or traffic pattern |
| EST | Estimated | End date/time is estimated, not confirmed |
| PERM | Permanent | NOTAM has no planned end date |
| CTN | Caution | Exercise caution in the affected area |
| ACFT | Aircraft | Reference to aircraft operations |
| FLT | Flight | Reference to flight operations |
| AUTH | Authorised / Authority | Requiring or granting authorisation |
| EXC | Except | Excluding specified conditions or times |
| BTN | Between | Between two points or values |
| OCA/OCH | Obstacle Clearance Altitude/Height | Instrument approach minimum altitudes |
| THR | Threshold | Runway threshold, start of landing area |
| DTHR | Displaced threshold | Threshold moved from normal position |
Note: This is a selection of the most frequently encountered NOTAM abbreviations. The full decoder above handles over 200 abbreviations automatically, covering the complete set used in standard ICAO NOTAMs.
Why Use a NOTAM Decoder?
Reduce Briefing Time
NOTAMs for a single flight can run to dozens of entries. Decoding them manually requires cross-referencing abbreviation tables and Q-code lists. A decoder cuts this to seconds.
Eliminate Misinterpretation
Cryptic abbreviations and dense formatting make NOTAMs prone to misreading. Plain-English translation removes ambiguity and ensures every team member understands the operational impact.
Severity Triage
Not all NOTAMs are equal. Automatic severity classification lets you focus on critical items runway closures, navaid outages, airspace restrictions before reviewing lower-priority notices.
Training Aid
New pilots, dispatchers, and operations staff can learn NOTAM format and abbreviations by comparing the raw text with the decoded output. Faster onboarding to operational readiness.
Q-Code Breakdown
The Q-line is the most information-dense part of a NOTAM. The decoder breaks it into its component parts FIR, subject, condition, traffic, scope, and altitude with human-readable labels.
Instant and Private
Everything runs in your browser. No data sent to any server, no registration, no subscription. Paste any NOTAM and get a complete decode instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions About NOTAMs
What does NOTAM stand for?
NOTAM stands for Notice to Air Missions. The term was changed from the original "Notice to Airmen" by ICAO to use gender-neutral language. In the US, the FAA officially adopted "Notice to Air Missions" in 2021 through the NOTAM Improvement Act. The purpose remains the same: to distribute time-critical aeronautical information that affects flight operations.
What is the difference between NOTAMN, NOTAMR, and NOTAMC?
NOTAMN is a new NOTAM introducing new information. NOTAMR is a replacement NOTAM that cancels a previous NOTAM and replaces it with updated information it will reference the NOTAM it replaces (e.g. A0892/24 NOTAMR A0756/24). NOTAMC is a cancellation NOTAM that cancels a previously issued NOTAM that is no longer valid.
What is a Q-code in a NOTAM?
The Q-code is a five-letter code in the Q-line that classifies the NOTAM by subject and condition. The first letter is always Q. Letters 2-3 identify the subject (e.g. MR = movement area/runway, IC = ILS, FA = aerodrome facilities). Letters 4-5 identify the condition (e.g. LC = closed, AS = unserviceable, CA = activated). For example, QMRLC means "runway closed" and QICAS means "ILS unserviceable." There are hundreds of Q-code combinations defined in ICAO Annex 15.
How do I read the date format in a NOTAM?
NOTAM dates use the format YYMMDDHHMM in UTC. For example, 2402150600 means 15 February 2024 at 06:00 UTC. The B) line shows the start of validity and the C) line shows the end. If the C) line says PERM, the NOTAM is permanent. If it includes EST, the end date is estimated and may be extended. All times in NOTAMs are in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), never local time.
Where do I find NOTAMs for my flight?
NOTAMs are available through multiple sources. The FAA provides the NOTAM Search system at notams.aim.faa.gov for US NOTAMs. Eurocontrol provides European NOTAMs through the European AIS Database (EAD). Most countries' national aviation authorities publish NOTAMs through their AIS (Aeronautical Information Service). Commercial flight planning systems like Jeppesen, ForeFlight, and Lido also include NOTAM briefing packages.
Can I rely on this decoder for flight planning?
This decoder is a comprehension aid, not an official briefing source. It helps you understand what a NOTAM says, but you should always verify the information through official channels your national AIS, your operator's approved NOTAM briefing system, or the FAA NOTAM Search. The pilot-in-command and dispatcher remain responsible for reviewing and understanding all applicable NOTAMs as part of pre-flight planning per ICAO Annex 6 and national regulations.
What is the difference between a NOTAM and an AIP amendment?
A NOTAM communicates temporary changes or short-notice information that cannot wait for the regular AIP amendment cycle (which operates on a 28-day AIRAC cycle). If a change is expected to last more than 3 months, it should be incorporated into the AIP through an amendment or supplement. NOTAMs are for temporary conditions (runway closures for maintenance, airspace restrictions for events), urgent information (navaid outages, obstacles), and time-critical notices that must be distributed immediately.