Narrative:

I was assigned to DH to lga. The weather in lga was low IFR with variable ceilings and visibility ranging between RVR 2400-4000; and ceilings between 200-400 ft. The reported visibility on the ATIS was 1/2 SM. ILS approaches were being done to runway 13 because of high winds from the southeast. The approach minimums as listed on the approach plate allow a visibility of RVR 2400 (1/2 SM) and da 213 ft. The problem is there is a NOTAM (fdc 8/1996) that increases the visibility requirement to RVR 4000 and the da to 373 ft. While I was on my break between flights I had the opportunity to speak with several company crews. I asked what the ceilings were; they responded 'right at minimums.' I asked if it was the minimums listed on the approach plate or the minimums per the NOTAM. Their response was 'what NOTAM?' our dispatch releases are full of good information. Unfortunately; that information is presented as a jumbled mess of fdc NOTAM's buried in local NOTAM's about taxiway closures; unlit towers and other things. Our dispatchers are overworked and don't have the time to go through all of the NOTAM's for every flight they dispatch. Because the release is so hard to read; sometimes an important NOTAM gets missed. There must be a better way to present the critical information that crews and dispatchers need for the safe conduct of their flights.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPTAIN LEARNS THAT OTHER FLT CREWS FAILED TO READ A NOTAM RESTRICTING MINIMUM VISIBILITY AND DH ALTS FOR A LGA IAP.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED TO DH TO LGA. THE WEATHER IN LGA WAS LOW IFR WITH VARIABLE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY RANGING BETWEEN RVR 2400-4000; AND CEILINGS BETWEEN 200-400 FT. THE REPORTED VIS ON THE ATIS WAS 1/2 SM. ILS APPROACHES WERE BEING DONE TO RWY 13 BECAUSE OF HIGH WINDS FROM THE SOUTHEAST. THE APPROACH MINIMUMS AS LISTED ON THE APPROACH PLATE ALLOW A VIS OF RVR 2400 (1/2 SM) AND DA 213 FT. THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS A NOTAM (FDC 8/1996) THAT INCREASES THE VIS REQUIREMENT TO RVR 4000 AND THE DA TO 373 FT. WHILE I WAS ON MY BREAK BETWEEN FLIGHTS I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SEVERAL COMPANY CREWS. I ASKED WHAT THE CEILINGS WERE; THEY RESPONDED 'RIGHT AT MINIMUMS.' I ASKED IF IT WAS THE MINIMUMS LISTED ON THE APPROACH PLATE OR THE MINIMUMS PER THE NOTAM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'WHAT NOTAM?' OUR DISPATCH RELEASES ARE FULL OF GOOD INFORMATION. UNFORTUNATELY; THAT INFORMATION IS PRESENTED AS A JUMBLED MESS OF FDC NOTAM'S BURIED IN LCL NOTAM'S ABOUT TXWY CLOSURES; UNLIT TOWERS AND OTHER THINGS. OUR DISPATCHERS ARE OVERWORKED AND DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE NOTAM'S FOR EVERY FLIGHT THEY DISPATCH. BECAUSE THE RELEASE IS SO HARD TO READ; SOMETIMES AN IMPORTANT NOTAM GETS MISSED. THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY TO PRESENT THE CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT CREWS AND DISPATCHERS NEED FOR THE SAFE CONDUCT OF THEIR FLIGHTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.