FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationEasy
A student pilot preparing for a solo cross-country flight learns that a taxiway at the destination airport has been closed for construction since yesterday. Where would the pilot most likely find this time-critical information during preflight planning?
- AThe sectional chart legend
- BNOTAMs
- CThe Aeronautical Information Manual
- DThe Airport/Facility Directory
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. NOTAMs
NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) provide time-critical information about temporary hazards or changes, such as taxiway or runway closures, that are not known far enough in advance to be published in other sources. A pilot must check NOTAMs during preflight planning to catch such recent changes.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The sectional chart legend only explains chart symbols, not current conditions.
- C. The AIM provides general procedures and guidance, not real-time airport status updates.
- D. The Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) contains permanent airport data, not recent temporary changes.
NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions)
A NOTAM contains time-critical aeronautical information that could affect a pilot's decision to fly, such as closures, hazards, or changes not yet published in other sources.
- NOTAM D covers airport/navaid changes like runway or taxiway closures
- FDC NOTAMs cover regulatory items like TFRs and chart changes
- Must be checked during every preflight briefing
Memory trick: NOTAM = 'Notice Of Trouble Ahead, Man!' — check it before you fly