Tables and Codes

NOTAM Reference Information

 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 597
NOTAMS

INTRODUCTION
NOTAMs promulgating significant information changes are disseminated from locations all over
the world. NOTAMs are intended to supplement Aeronautical Information Publications and pro-
vide a fast medium for disseminating information at a short notice. The following format and codes
are used in disseminating NOTAMs.

TYPICAL NOTAM — IN THE SYSTEM NOTAM FORMAT

 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 598
NOTAMS

FORMAT EXPLANATION OF SYSTEM NOTAM

NOTAMN — New NOTAM
NOTAMR — Replaces a previous NOTAM
NOTAMC — Cancels a NOTAM
NOTAMS — SNOWTAM
NOTAM format item Q is divided into eight separate qualifier fields.
a. FIR — ICAO location indicator plus “XX” if applicable to more than one FIR.
b. NOTAM CODE — If the subject of the NOTAM (second and third letter of NOTAM code) is
not in the NOTAM Code , the following letters should be used to reference the subject cate-
gory.

QAGXX = AGA QCOXX = COM QRCXX = RAC QXXXX = Other

c. TRAFFIC — I = IFR
V = VFR
IV = IFR/VFR
d. PURPOSE N = Selected for the immediate attention of aircraft operators.
—
B = Selected for preflight information bulletins.
O = Operationally significant for IFR flights.
M = Miscellaneous.
e. SCOPE — A = Aerodrome
E = Enroute
W = Navigational warning
f. LOWER — Used when applicable to indicate lower limits of the affected area. Default value
of 000 is used when limit is not defined.
g. UPPER — Used when applicable to indicate upper limit of the affected area. Default value
of 999 is used when limit is not defined.
h. COORDINATES RADIUS — Latitude and longitude present approximate center of a circle
whose radius encompasses the whole area of influence.

NOTAM format items A thru G provide information on location, times, changes and limits.
A) ICAO location indicator of aerodrome or FIR.
B) Ten figure date-time group indicating when the NOTAM comes into force.
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 599
NOTAMS

C) Ten figure date-time group or PERM indicating the duration of the NOTAM. If the dura-
tion of the NOTAM is uncertain, the approximate duration must be indicated using the
date-time group followed by EST.
D) Specified periods for changes being reported, otherwise omitted.
E) Decoded NOTAM code in plain language. ICAO abbreviations may be used where ap-
propriate.
F) These items are normally applicable to navigational warnings or airspace restrictions
G) } clearly indicating reference datum and units of measurement. Item F provides the low-
er limit and item G provides the upper limit.

SOME STATES ARE STILL PROMULGATING CLASS I NOTAMS IN THE PREVIOUS

FORMAT.

PREVIOUS NOTAM FORMAT AND EXPLANATION

A) ICAO location indicator of aerodrome or FIR.

B) Eight figure date-time group, WIE (with immediate effect), or WEF (with effect from) in-
dicating when the NOTAM comes into force.
C) Eight figure date-time group, PERM, or UFN (until further notice) indicating the dura-
tion of the NOTAM. If the duration of the NOTAM is UFN, the approximate duration of
the information should also be indicated.
D) Specified periods for changes being reported, otherwise omitted.
E) NOTAM code, abbreviated plain language or both.
F) These items are normally applicable to navigational warnings or airspace restrictions
}
G) clearly indicating reference datum and units of measurement.
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 600
NOTAMS

NOTAM CODE
SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
AGA
Lighting facilities (L)
LA Approach light system (specify runway and type) als
LB Aerodrome beacon abn
LC Runway centerline lights (specify runway) rcll
LD Landing direction indicator lights ldi lgt
LE Runway edge lights (specify runway) redl
LF Sequenced flashing lights (specify runway) sequenced flg lgt
LG Pilot-controlled lighting pcl
LH High intensity runway lights (specify runway) high intst rwy lgt
LI Runway end identifier lights (specify runway) rwy end id lgt
LJ Runway alignment indicator lights (specify runway) rai lgt
LK Category II components of approach lighting system cat II components als
(specify runway)
LL Low intensity runway lights (specify runway) low intst rwy lgt
LM Medium intensity runway lights (specify runway) medium intst rwy lgt
LP Precision approach path indicator (PAPI) (specify run- papi
way)
LR All landing area lighting facilities ldg area lgt fac
LS Stopway lights (specify runway) stwl
LT Threshold lights (specify runway) thr lgt
LU Helicopter approach path indicator hapi
LV Visual approach slope indicator system (specify type vasis
and runway)
LW Heliport lighting heliport lgt
LX Taxiway centerline lights (specify taxiway) twy cl lgt
LY Taxiway edge lights (specify taxiway) twy edge lgt
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 601
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
LZ Runway touchdown zone lights (specify runway) rtzl
AGA
Movement and landing area (M)
MA Movement area mov area
MB Bearing strength (specify part of landing area or move- bearing strength
ment area)
MC Clearway (specify runway) cwy
MD Declared distances (specify runway) declared dist
MG Taxiing guidance system tgs
MH Runway arresting gear (specify runway) rag
MK Parking area prkg area
MM Daylight markings (specify threshold, centerline, etc.) day markings
MN Apron apron
MO Stopbar (specify taxiway) stopbar
MP Aircraft stands (specify) acft stand
MR Runway (specify runway) rwy
MS Stopway (specify runway) swy
MT Threshold (specify runway) thr
MU Runway turning bay (specify runway) rwy turning bay
MW Strip/shoulder (specify runway) strip/shoulder
MX Taxiway(s) (specify) twy
MY Rapid exit taxiway (specify) rapid exit twy
AGA
Facilities and services (F)
FA Aerodrome ad
FB Friction Measuring Device (specify type) friction measuring device
FC Ceiling measurement equipment ceiling measurement eqpt
FD Docking system (specify AGNIS, BOLDS, etc.) dckg system
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 602
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
FE Oxygen (specify type) oxygen
FF Fire fighting and rescue fire and rescue
FG Ground movement control gnd mov ctl
FH Helicopter alighting area/platform hel alighting area
FI Aircraft de-icing(specify) acft de-ice
FJ Oils (specify type) oil
FL Landing direction indicator ldi
FM Meteorological service (specify type) met
FO Fog dispersal system fg dispersal
FP Heliport heliport
FS Snow removal equipment sn removal eqpt
FT Transmissometer (specify runway and, where applica- transmissometer
ble, designator(s) of transmissometer(s))
FU Fuel availability fuel avbl
FW Wind direction indicator wdi
FZ Customs cust
ATM
Airspace organization (A)
AA Minimum altitude (specify enroute/crossing/safe) mnm alt
AC Control zone (CTR) ctr
AD Air defense identification zone (ADIZ) adiz
AE Control area (CTA) cta
AF Flight information region fir
AH Upper control area uta
AL Minimum usable flight level mnm usable fl
AN Area navigation route rnav route
AO Oceanic control area oca
AP Reporting point (specify name or coded designator) rep
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 603
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
AR ATS route (specify) ats rte
AT Terminal control area (TMA) tma
AU Upper flight information region (UIR) uir
AV Upper advisory area (UDA) uda
AX Significant point sig
AZ Aerodrome traffic zone atz
ATM
Air traffic and VOLMET services (S)
SA Automatic terminal information service (ATIS) atis
SB ATS reporting office aro
SC Area control center acc
SE Flight information service fis
SF Aerodrome flight information service afis
SL Flow control center flow ctl center
SO Oceanic area control center oac
SP Approach control service app
SS Flight service station fss
ST Aerodrome control tower twr
SU Upper area control center uac
SV VOLMET Broadcast volmet
SY Upper advisory service (specify) upper advisory ser
ATM
Air traffic procedures (P)
PA Standard instrument arrival (specify route designator) star
PB Standard VFR arrival std vfr arr
PC Contingency procedure contingency proc
PD Standard instrument departure (specify route designa- sid
tor)
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 604
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
PE Standard VFR department std vfr dep
PF Flow control procedure flow ctl proc
PH Holding procedure hldg proc
PI Instrument approach procedure (specify type and run- inst apch proc
way)
PK VFR approach procedure vfr apch proc
PL Flight plan processing, filing and related contingency fpl
PM Aerodrome operating minima (specify procedure and opr minima
amended minimum)
PN Noise operating restrictions noise opr restrictions
PO Obstacle clearance altitude and height (specify proce- oca och
dure)
PR Radio failure procedure rdo failure proc
PT Transition altitude or transition level (specify) ta/trl
PU Missed approach procedure (specify runway) missed apch proc
PX Minimum holding altitude (specify fix) mnm hldg alt
PZ ADIZ procedure adiz proc
CNS
Communication and surveillance facilities (C)
CA Air/ground facility (specify service and frequency) a/g fac
CB Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (details) ads-b
CC Automatic dependent surveillance – contract (details) ads-c
CD Controller-pilot datalink communications (details) cpdlc
CE Enroute surveillance radar rsr
CG Ground controlled approach system gca
CL Selective calling system selcal
CM Surface movement radar smr
CP Precision approach radar (specify runway) par
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 605
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
CR Surveillance radar element of precision approach radar sre
system (specify wavelength)
CS Secondary surveillance radar ssr
CT Terminal area surveillance radar tar
CNS
Instrument and microwave landing systems (I)
IC Instrument landing system (specify runway) ils
ID DME associated with ILS ils dme
IG Glide path (ILS) (specify runway) ils gp
II Inner marker (ILS) (specify runway) ils im
IL Localizer (ILS) (specify runway) ils llz
IM Middle marker (ILS)(specify runway) ils mm
IN Localizer (not associated with ILS) llz
IO Outer marker (ILS) (specify runway) ils om
IS ILS Category I (specify runway) ils cat I
IT ILS Category II (specify runway) ils cat II
IU ILS Category III (specify runway) ils cat III
IW Microwave landing system (specify runway) mls
IX Locator, outer (ILS) (specify runway) ils lo
IY Locator, middle (ILS) (specify runway) ils lm
CNS
GNSS services (G)
GA GNSS airfield-specific operations (specify operation) gnss airfield
GW GNSS area-wide operations (specify operation) gnss area
CNS
Terminal and enroute navigation facilities (N)
NA All radio navigation facilities (except. . .) all rdo nav fac
NB Non-directional radio beacon ndb
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 606
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
NC DECCA decca
ND Distance measuring equipment dme
NF Fan marker fan mkr
NL Locator (specify identification) l
NM VOR/DME vor/dme
NN TACAN tacan
NO OMEGA omega
NT VORTAC vortac
NV VOR vor
NX Direction finding station (specify type and frequency) df
Navigation warnings
Airspace restrictions (R)
RA Airspace reservation (specify) airspace reservation
RD Danger area (specify) ..d..
RM Military operating area moa
RO Overflying of . . . (specify) overflying
RP Prohibited area (specify) ..p..
RR Restricted area ..r..
RT Temporary restricted area (specify area) tempo restricted area
Navigation warnings
Warnings (W)
WA Air display air display
WB Aerobatics aerobatics
WC Captive balloon or kite captive balloon/kite
WD Demolition of explosives demolition of explosives
WE Exercises (specify) exer
WF Air refuelling air refuelling
WG Glider flying gld fly
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 607
NOTAMS

SECOND AND THIRD LETTERS (Q__ __)

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
WH Blasting blasting
WJ Banner/target towing banner/target towing
WL Ascent of free balloon ascent of free balloon
WM Missile, gun or rocket firing missile/gun/rocket frng
WP Parachute jumping exercise, paragliding or hang gliding pje/paragliding/hang gliding
WR Radioactive materials or toxic chemicals (specify) radioactive materials/toxic
chemicals
WS Burning or blowing gas burning/blowing gas
WT Mass movement of aircraft mass mov of acft
WU Unmanned aircraft ua
WV Formation flight formation flt
WW Significant volcanic activity significant volcanic act
WY Aerial survey aerial survey
WZ Model flying model fly
Other information (O)
OA Aeronautical information service ais
OB Obstacle (specify details) obst
OE Aircraft entry requirements acft entry rqmnts
OL Obstacle lights on . . . (specify) obst lgt
OR Rescue co-ordination center rcc

FOURTH AND FIFTH LETTERS

FOURTH AND FIFTH LETTERS

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
Availability (A)
AC Withdrawn for maintenance withdrawn maint
AD Available for daylight operation avbl day ops
AF Flight checked and found reliable fltck okay
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 608
NOTAMS

FOURTH AND FIFTH LETTERS

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
AG Operating but ground checked only, awaiting flight opr but gnd ck only, awaiting flt ck
check
AH Hours of service are now . . . (specify) hr ser
AK Resumed normal operation okay
AL Operative (or reoperative) subject to previously opr subj previous cond
published limitations/conditions
AM Military operations only mil ops only
AN Available for night operation avbl ngt ops
AO Operational opr
AP Available, prior permission required avbl ppr
AR Available on request avbl o/r
AS Unserviceable u/s
AU Not available (specify reason if appropriate) not avbl
AW Completely withdrawn withdrawn
AX Previously promulgated shutdown has been can- promulgated shutdown cnl
celled
Changes (C)
CA Activated act
CC Completed cmpl
CD Deactivated deactivated
CE Erected erected
CF Operating frequency(ies) changed to opr freq changed to
CG Downgraded to downgraded to
CH Changed changed
CI Identification or radio call sign changed to ident/rdo call sign changed to
CL Realigned realigned
CM Displaced displaced
CN Cancelled cnl
CO Operating opr
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 609
NOTAMS

FOURTH AND FIFTH LETTERS

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
CP Operating on reduced power opr reduced pwr
CR Temporarily replaced by tempo rplcd by
CS Installed instl
CT On test, do not use on test, do not use
Hazard conditions (H)
HA Braking action is. . .
a. Poor
b. Medium/Poor
c. Poor
d. Medium/Good
e. Good ba is . . .
HB Friction coefficient is. . . (specify friction measuring friction coefficient is
device used)
HC Covered by compacted snow to a depth of cov compacted sn depth
HD Covered by dry snow to a depth of cov dry sn depth
HE Covered by water to a depth of cov water depth
HF Totally free of snow and ice free of sn and ice
HG Grass cutting in progress grass cutting inpr
HH Hazard due to (specify) hazard due
HI Covered by ice cov ice
HJ Launch planned. . .(specify balloon flight identifica- launch plan
tion or project code name, launch site, planned pe-
riod of launch(es) - date/time, expected climb direc-
tion, estimated time to pass 18,000m (60,000 ft), or
reaching cruise level if at or below 18,000m
(60,000 ft), together with estimated location)
HK Bird migration in progress (specify direction) bird migration inpr
HL Snow clearance completed snow clr cmpl
HM Marked by marked by
HN Covered by wet snow or slush to a depth of cov wet sn/slush depth
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 610
NOTAMS

FOURTH AND FIFTH LETTERS

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
HO Obscured by snow obscured by sn
HP Snow clearance in progress snow clr inpr
HQ Operation cancelled. . .(specify balloon flight identi- opr cnl
fication or project code name)
HR Standing water standing water
HS Sanding in progress sanding inpr
HT Approach according to signal area only apch according signal area only
HU Launch in progress. . .(specify balloon flight identifi- launch inpr
cation or project code name, launch site, date/time
of launch(es), estimated time passing 18,000m
(60,000 ft), or reaching cruising level if at or below
18,000m (60,000 ft), together with estimated loca-
tion, estimated date/time of termination of the flight
and planned location of ground contact, when ap-
plicable)
HV Work completed work cmpl
HW Work in progress wip
HX Concentration of birds bird concentration
HY Snow banks exist (specify height) sn banks hgt
HZ Covered by frozen ruts and ridges cov frozen ruts and ridges
Limitations (L)
LA Operating on auxiliary power supply opr aux pwr
LB Reserved for aircraft based therein reserved for acft based therein
LC Closed clsd
LD Unsafe unsafe
LE Operating without auxiliary power supply opr aux wo pwr
LF Interference from interference fm
LG Operating without identification opr wo ident
LH Unserviceable for aircraft heavier than u/s acft heavier than
LI Closed to IFR operations clsd ifr ops
LK Operating a a fixed light opr as f lgt. . .
 NOTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 611
NOTAMS

FOURTH AND FIFTH LETTERS

UNIFORM ABBREVIATED
CODE SIGNIFICATION
PHRASEOLOGY
LL Usable for length of. .and width of. . usable len/wid. . .
LN Closed to all night operations clsed to all ngt ops
LP Prohibited to prohibited to
LR Aircraft restricted to runways and taxiways acft restricted to rwy and twy
LS Subject to interruption subj intrp
LT Limited to ltd to
LV Closed to VFR operations clsd vfr ops
LW Will take place will take place
LX Operating but caution advised due to opr but caution advised due to
Other (XX)
XX Where 4th and 5th letter code does not cover the (plain language following the NO-
situation use XX and supplement by plain language TAM Code)
 Tables and Codes

SNOWTAM Reference Information

 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 613
SNOWTAM

Extracted from ICAO Annex 15 — AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES

ORIGINATION AND DISTRIBUTION

Notification of the presence or removal or significant changes in hazardous conditions due to
snow, slush, ice or water on the movement area is to be made preferably by use of the SNOW-
TAM format, or the NOTAM Code and plain language.
Information concerning snow, ice and standing water on aerodrome pavements shall, when repor-
ted by means of a SNOWTAM, contain information in the order shown in the following SNOW-
TAM Format.
 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 614
SNOWTAM

SNOWTAM FORMAT
 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 615
SNOWTAM

GUIDANCE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE SNOWTAM FORMAT

GENERAL
a. When reporting on two or three runways, repeat Items B to P inclusive.
b. Items together with their indicator must be dropped completely, where no information is to be
included.
c. Metric units must be used and the unit of measurement not reported.
d. The maximum validity of SNOWTAM is 24 hours. New SNOWTAM must be issued whenever
there is a significant change in conditions. The following changes relating to runway condi-
tions are considered as significant:
1. a change in the coefficient of friction of about 0.05;
2. changes in depth of deposit greater than the following:
– 20mm for dry snow;
– 10mm for wet snow;
– 3mm for slush;
3. a change in the available length or width of a runway of 10 per cent or more;
4. any change in the type of deposit or extent of coverage which requires reclassification
in Items F or T of the SNOWTAM;
5. when critical snow banks exist on one or both sides of the runway, any change in the
height or distance from centerline;
6. any change in the conspicuity of runway lighting caused by obscuring of the lights;
7. any other conditions known to be significant according to experience or local circum-
stances.
e. The abbreviated heading “TTAAiiii CCCC MMYYGGgg (BBB)” is included to facilitate the
automatic processing of SNOWTAM messages in computer data banks. The explanation of
these symbols is:

TT = data designator for SNOWTAM = SW;

AA = geographical designator for States; e.g., LF = France, EG = Uni-
ted Kingdom;
iiii = SNOWTAM serial number in a four-figure group;
CCCC = four-letter location indicator of the aerodrome to which the
SNOWTAM refers;
MMYGGgg = date/time of observation/measurement, whereby:
 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 616
SNOWTAM

– MM =
month; e.g., January = 01, December = 12
– YY =
day of the month
– GGgg =
time in hours (GG) and minutes (gg) UTC;
(BBB) = optional group for: correction to SNOWTAM message previously
disseminated with the same serial number = COR.

NOTE 1: Brackets in (BBB) are used to indicate that this group is optional.
NOTE 2: When reporting on more than one runway and individual dates/times of observa-
tion/measurement are indicated by repeated Item B, the latest date/time of observation/
measuring is inserted in the abbreviated heading (MMYYGGgg).
EXAMPLE: Abbreviated heading of SNOWTAM No. 149 from Zurich, measurement/observa-
tion of 7 November at 0620 UTC:

SWLS0149 LSZH 1107 0620

NOTE: The information groups are separated by a space, as illustrated above.

f. The text “SNOWTAM” in the SNOWTAM Format and the SNOWTAM serial number in a four-
digit group shall be separated by a space, for example: SNOWTAM 0124.
g. For readability purposes for the SNOWTAM message, include a line feed after the SNOW-
TAM serial number, after Item A, after the last item referring to the runway (e.g. Item P) and
after Item S.
– Item A
Aerodrome location indicator (four-letter location indicator).
– Item B
Eight-figure date/time group – giving time of observation as month, day, hour and minutes in
UTC; this item must always be completed.
– Item C
Lower runway designator number.
– Item D
Cleared runway length in meters, if less than published length (see Item T on reporting on part
of runway not cleared).
– Item E
 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 617
SNOWTAM

Cleared runway width in meters, if less than published width; if offset left or right of center line,
add (without space) “L” or “R”, as viewed from the threshold having the lower runway designa-
tion number.
– Item F
Deposit over total runway length as explained in SNOWTAM Format. Suitable combinations of
these numbers may be used to indicate varying conditions over runway segments. If more than
one deposit is present on the same portion of the runway, they should be reported in sequence
from the top (closest to the sky) to the bottom (closest to the runway). Drifts, depths of deposit
appreciably greater than the average values or other significant characteristics of the deposits
may be reported under Item T in plain language. The values for each third of the runway shall
be separated by an oblique stroke (/), without space between the deposit values and the obli-
que stroke, for example: 47/47/47.
NOTE: Definitions for the various types of snow are given at the end of this Appendix.
– Item G
Mean depth in millimeters deposit for each third of total runway length, or “XX” if not measura-
ble or operationally not significant; the assessment to be made to an accuracy of 20mm for dry
snow, 10mm for wet snow and 3mm for slush. The values for each third of the runway shall be
separated by an oblique stroke (/), without space between the values and the oblique stroke,
for example: 20/20/20.
– Item H
Estimated surface friction on each third of the runway (single digit) in the order from the thresh-
old having the lower runway designation number.
Friction measurement devices can be used as part of the overall runway surface assessment.
Some States may have developed procedures for runway surface assessment which may
include the use of information obtained from friction measuring devices and the reporting of
quantitative values. In such cases, these procedures should be published in the AIP and the
reporting made in Item (T) of the SNOWTAM format.
The values for each third of the runway are separated by an oblique stroke (/), without space
between the values and the oblique stroke-, for example: 5/5/5.
– Item J
Critical Snowbanks. If present insert height in centimeters and distance from edge of runway in
meters, followed (without space) by left (“L”) or right (“R”) side or both sides (“LR”), as viewed
from the threshold having the lower runway designation number.
– Item K
If runway lights are obscured, insert “YES” followed (without space) by “L”, “R” or both “LR”, as
viewed from the threshold having the lower runway designation number.
– Item L
 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 618
SNOWTAM

When further clearance will be undertaken, enter length and width of runway or “TOTAL” if
runway will be cleared to full dimensions.
– Item M
Enter the anticipated time of completion in UTC.
– Item N
The code (and combination of codes) for Item F may be used to describe taxiway conditions;
enter “NO” if no taxiways serving the associated runway are available.
– Item P
If snow banks are higher than 60 cm, enter “YES” followed by the lateral distance parting the
snow banks (the distance between) in meters.
– Item R
The code (and combination of codes) for Item F may be used to describe apron conditions;
enter “NO” if apron unusable.
– Item S
Enter the anticipated time of next observation/measurement in UTC.
– Item T
Describe in plain language any operationally significant information but always report on length
of uncleared runway (Item D) and extent of runway contamination (Item F) for each third of the
runway (if appropriate) in accordance with the following scale:
RWY CONTAMINATION 10% — if 10% or less of runway contaminated
RWY CONTAMINATION 25% — if 11-25% of runway contaminated
RWY CONTAMINATION 50% — if 26-50% of runway contaminated
RWY CONTAMINATION 100% — if 51-100% of runway contaminated.

EXAMPLE OF COMPLETED SNOWTAM FORMAT

GG EHAMZQZX EDDFZQZX EKCHZQZX
070645 LSZHYNYX
SWLS0149 LSZH 11070700
SNOWTAM 0149
A) LSZH
B) 11070620 C) 02 D) . . . P)
B) 11070600 C) 09 D) . . . P)
B) 11070700 C) 12 D) . . . P)
 SNOWTAM REFERENCE INFORMATION 619
SNOWTAM

R) NO S) 11070920
T) DEICING

NOTE: See the Aeronautical Information Services Manual (Doc 8126) (not published herein) for
additional SNOWTAM examples incorporating different runway conditions.

DEFINITIONS OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SNOW

SLUSH — Water-saturated snow which with a heel-and-toe slap-down motion against the ground
will be displaced with a splatter; specific gravity: 0.5 up to 0.8.
NOTE: Combinations of ice, snow and/or standing water may, especially when rain, rain and
snow, or snow is falling, produce substances with specific gravities in excess of 0.8. These sub-
stances, due to their high water/ice content, will have a transparent rather than a cloudy appear-
ance and, at the higher specific gravities, will be readily distinguishable from slush.
SNOW (on the ground) —
a. Dry Snow: Snow which can be blown if loose or, if compacted by hand, will fall apart again
upon release; specific gravity: up to but not including 0.35.
b. Wet Snow: Snow which, if compacted by hand, will stick together and tend to or form a
snowball; specific gravity: 0.35 up to but not including 0.5.
c. Compacted Snow: Snow which has been compressed into a solid mass that resists further
compression and will hold together or break up into lumps if picked up; specific gravity: 0.5
and over.