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NAV CANADA preparing to transition to ICAO NOTAM


September 3, 2019  By Wings Staff

NAV CANADA is advising pilots, aircraft operators, NOTAM originators and other external stakeholders of significant changes to Canadian NOTAM Operating Procedures. On October 10, 2019, NAV CANADA will transition to the ICAO NOTAM format.

In addition to the new format, the transition will also affect how NOTAMs are accessed from NAV CANADA.

NOTAMs currently obtained from the Aviation Weather Web Site (AWWS) will be accessed through the NAV CANADA Collaborative Flight Planning Services (CFPS) website. A NOTAM retrieval tool will be placed on a section of CFPS – a new tab called “Weather.” The new tab will not require a login or password.

One important difference in the new ICAO NOTAM format from the current one, explains NAV CANADA, is that NOTAMs will be geographically referenced, rather than based on NOTAM Files. NOTAMs for an aerodrome will no longer be connected to another aerodrome’s NOTAM File. Instead, users will be able to search for NOTAMs by entering an Aerodrome ID, NAVAID, FIR, or geographic coordinates, with an optional desired radius around these points of interest. They will also be able to enter a flight route and receive all NOTAMs which geographically intersect the route.

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NAV CANADA explains most countries already use the ICAO NOTAM format and the adoption of this format will ensure compliance with international standards. It will also eliminate the need for pilots who fly international routes to be familiar with more than one NOTAM format.

The new format, continues NAV CANADA, will help pave the way for more streamlined and pertinent pre-flight and in-flight briefings.

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