CAOA NOTAM COMMITTEE WEB PAGE

At its January 25th, 2005 meeting, the CAOA Board of Directors agreed to suspend any action by the Notam Committee until further notice.  This action was taken at the suggestion of the Notam Committee, due to a variety of issues outside of the control of CAOA.  Primarily, the on-going re-organization of the FAA currently underway, coupled with the pending privatization of the FAA Automated Flight Service Stations, has caused this issue to be of only minimal concern to the FAA right now, and therefore very difficult to obtain any action on.  There is however an opportunity to once again approach this subject after the transition of the AFSS system to Lockheed, which will be operating the system in 2006.  The Notam Committee was successful during its meetings with AFSS and Tracon personnel in solving a number of operational problems related to Notams for several airports.  The committee will therefore remain intact as an inactive committee, unless issues involving Notams need to be addressed on behalf of any Colorado airport.

 

CAOA late in 2003 formed a Notam Committee to work directly with the Denver AFSS on a variety of problems that Colorado airports were having with the FAA Notam system.  These included, but were not limited to:

  1. Notams falling out of the system while still current.

  2. Inflexibility of the system to accept critical safety related information if it was not considered Notam criteria.

  3. The substantial time it took to process and issue Notams, particularly during winter storms.

The CAOA Notam Committee includes:

  • Mike Reisman, Greeley-Weld County Airport

  • Brett Miller, Jeffco Airport

  • Steve Lee, Denver International Airport

  • Bobbie Fiscus, Rangely Airport

  • Tim Smith, Fort Collins-Loveland Airport

Travis Vallin with the Colorado Aeronautics Division is also assisting with this task.

May 13th, 2004 Meeting Summary:

Members of the committee met Denver AFSS representative Lisa Rounsavell on May 13th, 2004 during the CAOA Spring Conference in Grand Junction.  The following items were discussed as noted:

  1. The committee discussed in detail those issues noted above, including problems with active Notams falling out of the system; the inconsistencies of certain AFSS Controllers accepting certain Notams while others will not accept the same information as Notam criteria; the obsolescence of the FAA's Notam Handbook, in that it does not recognize the latest airfield lighting equipment and technology as existing, meaning that AFSS will not accept Notams for outages of such equipment; and the substantial time frame it took for Notams to get processed and entered into the system during snow events; and the inability for airports to issue critical safety information important to pilots because they may not meet current Notam criteria according to the handbook.
     

  2. AFSS noted difficulties on their part in getting many smaller airports in the state to issue Notams on personnel and equipment when working in safety areas, which causes obvious safety concerns; and further explained the limited human resources which may exist during snow events to process the overwhelming number of Notams being issued by airports all at once.
     

  3. It was agreed upon that CAOA would write letters to the appropriate individuals within the FAA outlining the associations concerns for safety as they relate to the above issues.  Additionally, the committee proposed exploring the possibility of creating, through a CAB grant, a wireless technology answer to a more rapid manner in which airports could directly transmit Notams from the field directly to AFSS, provided the FAA would allow a non-federal receiver to be placed in the AFSS to accept these Notams.  The AFSS representative agreed to pursuing some resolutions to the noted problems, and would use the pending CAOA letter to assist her in discussing the issues with higher ups.  Another committee meeting would be held in July at the AFSS.

FOLLOW UP:  Letters to Bill Davis, FAA Director of Runway Safety and Operational Services and Clay Hewitt, FAA's Regional Runway Safety Program Manager were transmitted by CAOA President Rex Tippetts on June 2nd, 2004.  View Letter.

June 14th, 2004 Meeting Summary:

Members of the Notam Committee, including Travis Vallin, met at the Denver AFSS with Lisa Rounsavell and Tony Giambrone of the Denver AFSS, and Glenn Hilgedick of Denver ARTCC.

  1. Lisa Rounsavell reported that the June 2nd, 2004 letters had made it to the FAA's National Headquarters and that a response was being worked on.
     

  2. The AFSS reported that it would like a detailed proposal on the WI-FI solution previously discussed, including costs.  Committee representatives noted that a detailed proposal including costs would require a consultants services.  Such costs for services would be included in the program if undertaken, but that there was reluctance to expend funds for a project without knowing if the FAA was even willing to consider it.  The FAA will explore this further first.
     

  3. The AFSS reported that they would like more detailed examples of airports having personnel and equipment on runways while aircraft may have been on approach at uncontrolled airports, as there is still a problem with AFSS receiving Notams from many small rural airports which have no full time management staff.  AFSS and committee members discussed creating a NOTAM 101 Handbook for small community's with no full time airport staff, which would highlight the need, liability, and procedures to use to issue Notams when work is taking place on the airfield.  AFSS will draft the document, and CAOA and the Colorado Aeronautics Division will assist with its dissemination.
     

  4. Anytime there is an inconsistency with the acceptance or issuance of Notam information, Lisa or Tony should be called as soon as possible by the airport to report it, so that it can be investigated and followed up on.
     

  5. AFSS requested assistance in having those airports which have advanced knowledge of complex Notam issuance issues contact the AFSS well in advance to coordinate the Notams, so that they go easier when it is time to issue them.
     

  6. AFSS needs specific instances of Notams being rejected when an airport's ACM or other documents require that they be issued.

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