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A time-critical notice distributed to alert pilots to hazards or changes not yet reflected on published charts.
A NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) is a time-critical notice distributed to pilots, containing information essential to flight safety that is not yet known far enough in advance to be published on aeronautical charts or in other operational publications. Examples include a runway closure, an inoperative navigation aid, temporary flight restrictions, or an unlit obstruction.
NOTAMs are categorized by type, including NOTAM (D) for domestic notices distributed for a specific facility (like an airport or navaid), Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMs for regulatory information such as amended instrument procedures or temporary flight restrictions, and Military NOTAMs.
Checking NOTAMs is a required part of preflight planning under 14 CFR 91.103, and FAA knowledge tests expect a candidate to know both what a NOTAM is for and where a pilot is expected to obtain a current briefing before flight.