Narrative:

As a radar controller, I have been amazed over the yrs at the poor dissemination of NOTAMS. This has made me more aware and more active in researching existing NOTAMS. This evening (1 fri, 94), I logged on (information service X) and did a NOTAM search of our TRACON's area. I discovered 3 fdc NOTAMS (4/0135, 4/0536, 4/0535) and one d-notam (mcn 01/056) which we had no record of. As far as I know, there is no mandated process for an air traffic facility (other than FSS) to maintain records of NOTAMS. I know that at one time, we had the mcn 01/056 NOTAM on the electronic status information area, and there is no telling when or why it was removed. I would guess that we were never notified of the 3 fdc NOTAMS, but if we were, we have no record-keeping mechanism to prove or disprove it. Also, although I found these NOTAMS through X, there is no access to l-notams through X, so many of these may not be disseminated properly. At least one air carrier pilot advised that he did not have several l-notams on our airport here because apparently the company computer system does not get l- NOTAMS. He told me that he assumed they would be on ATIS (they frequently are not). I also have access to NOTAMS through a personal account on Y information service. I have found that I can get d-notams here, but not l- NOTAMS, fdc NOTAMS or some military NOTAMS (lsf ATCT to be specific). There needs to be a unified source for NOTAMS, whether it be an fdc NOTAM, d-notam, or l-notam. In addition, there should be a regular review of existing NOTAMS. Perhaps the FSS could daily facsimile a list to each approach controller/tower, or air traffic facilities could be given a legitimate way to access these electronically by modem for frequent review.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NOTAM DISSEMINATION AND CANCELLATION PROCS.

Narrative: AS A RADAR CTLR, I HAVE BEEN AMAZED OVER THE YRS AT THE POOR DISSEMINATION OF NOTAMS. THIS HAS MADE ME MORE AWARE AND MORE ACTIVE IN RESEARCHING EXISTING NOTAMS. THIS EVENING (1 FRI, 94), I LOGGED ON (INFORMATION SERVICE X) AND DID A NOTAM SEARCH OF OUR TRACON'S AREA. I DISCOVERED 3 FDC NOTAMS (4/0135, 4/0536, 4/0535) AND ONE D-NOTAM (MCN 01/056) WHICH WE HAD NO RECORD OF. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE IS NO MANDATED PROCESS FOR AN AIR TFC FACILITY (OTHER THAN FSS) TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF NOTAMS. I KNOW THAT AT ONE TIME, WE HAD THE MCN 01/056 NOTAM ON THE ELECTRONIC STATUS INFO AREA, AND THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN OR WHY IT WAS REMOVED. I WOULD GUESS THAT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE 3 FDC NOTAMS, BUT IF WE WERE, WE HAVE NO RECORD-KEEPING MECHANISM TO PROVE OR DISPROVE IT. ALSO, ALTHOUGH I FOUND THESE NOTAMS THROUGH X, THERE IS NO ACCESS TO L-NOTAMS THROUGH X, SO MANY OF THESE MAY NOT BE DISSEMINATED PROPERLY. AT LEAST ONE ACR PLT ADVISED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE SEVERAL L-NOTAMS ON OUR ARPT HERE BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE COMPANY COMPUTER SYS DOES NOT GET L- NOTAMS. HE TOLD ME THAT HE ASSUMED THEY WOULD BE ON ATIS (THEY FREQUENTLY ARE NOT). I ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO NOTAMS THROUGH A PERSONAL ACCOUNT ON Y INFORMATION SERVICE. I HAVE FOUND THAT I CAN GET D-NOTAMS HERE, BUT NOT L- NOTAMS, FDC NOTAMS OR SOME MIL NOTAMS (LSF ATCT TO BE SPECIFIC). THERE NEEDS TO BE A UNIFIED SOURCE FOR NOTAMS, WHETHER IT BE AN FDC NOTAM, D-NOTAM, OR L-NOTAM. IN ADDITION, THERE SHOULD BE A REGULAR REVIEW OF EXISTING NOTAMS. PERHAPS THE FSS COULD DAILY FAX A LIST TO EACH APCH CTLR/TWR, OR AIR TFC FACILITIES COULD BE GIVEN A LEGITIMATE WAY TO ACCESS THESE ELECTRONICALLY BY MODEM FOR FREQUENT REVIEW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.