General Aviation NOTAM to operate in controlled Airspace

When is it necessary to request a NOTAM?

For the performance of General Aviation activities in controlled airspace, provided that:

• There is information that needs to be distributed, of a temporary and short duration (e.g. an air return); or
• Permanent or temporary long-term changes that are of relevance to operations (e.g. airspace modifications) are introduced at short notice; or
• In the presence of dangers to air navigation (including obstacles, military maneuvers, exhibitions and competitions, important skydiving activities outside promulgated locations).

What General Aviation activities should a NOTAM request?

• Launch of paratroopers.* 
• Aerial exhibitions.
• Air turns.
• Air competitions. 

(*) Frequent skydiving activities in the same location require the establishment of an promulgated area to be published in section ENR 5.5 of the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). Requests for the publication of NOTAM from 1 August 2020 should be addressed to the ENAIRE Operational Coordination Department (cop@enaire.es).

What is the applicable regulation for the publication of a NOTAM? 

• Royal Decree 57/2002 of 18 November 2002 approving the Air Traffic Regulation (RCA), in its eighth book. 
• ICAO Annex 15 – Aeronautical Information Services.  
• Regulation 2020/469 on requirements for air traffic management and air navigation services. From 27/01/2022 it shall include in Annex VI the Specific Requirements for Aeronautical Information Providers. 
• In addition, the DGAC prepared on 12 February 2004 the document Update of Procedures for the Coordination and Operational Authorisation of Air Activities in Controlled Air Spaces, which delimited the different air activities, both civilian and military, and the body responsible for the regulation, processing and resolution of requests relating to those activities. 

How to request the publication of a NOTAM?

Through the EASA Electronic Headquarters:

Access to Electronic Headquarters

This procedure is NOT APPLICABLE TO:

• RPAS/Drones.
• ULMS or motorised aircraft or not, for which take-off or landing is necessary the direct contribution of the physical effort of an occupant (paragliders, paramotor, delta wings, etc.) and who wish to suspend any of the operational limitations established in article 3 of Royal Decree 2876/1982. This type of operation requires a request for suspension of operational limitations, which may be on a one-off or permanent basis:
  • On a timely, exceptional basis and for justifiable reasons
  • On a permanent basis in areas determined for ULM
  • On a permanent basis in designated areas for free flight

The application must contain the following information: 

• Name of the activity requested. 
• Details of the applicant. 
• Date of realisation.
• Schedule of the activity. 
• Geographical coordinates. Indicate in degrees (°) minutes (‘) and seconds’. 
• Radius of the area. 
• Maximum altitude to be reached (in ft AMSL).
• Aerodrome to use (if applicable). 
• Number of participants. 
• Aircraft used. 

Who can apply for a NOTAM?

Any person, natural or legal, whose action may affect the operation of the aircraft.

Promulgated Sites and NOTAM for skydiving

Skydiving activities can be carried out permanently in the same location or on a punctual basis. In order to keep all users of the airspace of the places where this activity is carried out, two means have been articulated depending on whether the activity is habitual or timely:

Promulgated areas: Volume of airspace published in the Publication of Aeronautical Information (AIP) in which air sport activities are frequently carried out, which does not imply the restriction of use for other traffic and informs other airspace users of the aeronautical activity carried out in that volume, as defined in Royal Decree 1180/2018 of 21 September.

NOTAM: Notice containing information regarding the establishment, condition or modification of any aeronautical facilities, services, procedures or hazards that it is essential to know in a timely manner the personnel carrying out flight operations, as defined in the Air Traffic Regulation approved by Royal Decree 57/2002 of 18 January.

Frequent skydiving activities in the same location require the establishment of an promulgated area to be published in section ENR 5.5 of the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

Sites currently published in AIP ENR 5.5 should be processed as promulgated areas, as provided for in the approved procedure, and information relating to the time of use and other relevant information cannot be considered as enacted areas since no observations are published in the field. In accordance with the above, an informative NOTAM must be published on a transitional basis.

The publication of a NOTAM is reserved to announce specific activities and the timely modification of the conditions of use of an promulgated area and, on a temporary basis, to carry out activities at the sites currently published in ENR 5.5 of the AIP, insofar as they are published as an promulgated area.

The procedure for processing both the establishment of promulgated areas and the publication of a NOTAM is published on the website of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and you can access it by clicking here.

IMPORTANT: Requests for the publication of NOTAM for activities to be carried out from 1 August 2020 should be addressed to the ENAIRE Operational Coordination Department (cop@enaire.es).

Triptych: Processing of NOTAMs for the realisation of activities of General Aviation and Sports.

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