FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Navigation and ATCHard

A dispatcher reviewing NOTAMs finds one that establishes a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) and amends an instrument approach procedure minimum. Under what NOTAM classification would this information most likely be issued?

  1. AMilitary NOTAM
  2. BNOTAM (D)
  3. CPointer NOTAM
  4. DFDC NOTAM
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D. FDC NOTAM

FDC (Flight Data Center) NOTAMs contain regulatory information such as amendments to instrument approach procedures, changes to IFR charts, and Temporary Flight Restrictions. NOTAM (D) covers items like taxiway closures and navaid outages, not regulatory changes.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Military NOTAMs pertain to military airports/facilities, unrelated to civil TFRs or approach amendments.
  • B. NOTAM (D) covers airport/navaid conditions like runway closures, not regulatory changes.
  • C. A pointer NOTAM only alerts users to another NOTAM and contains no regulatory data itself.

NOTAM Classifications

NOTAMs are categorized by content and distribution: NOTAM (D) for local conditions, FDC NOTAMs for regulatory changes, and pointer NOTAMs that direct users to other NOTAMs.

  • NOTAM (D): distant/domestic items like runway/taxiway closures, navaid outages
  • FDC NOTAM: regulatory changes—TFRs, approach amendments, chart changes
  • Pointer NOTAM: refers to another NOTAM without new data
  • FDC NOTAMs issued by the FAA's National Flight Data Center

Memory trick: FDC = Flight Data Changes the Rules (regulatory)

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