Understanding UK NOTAMs – How to Read and Use Them for Drone Flying

Overview

Before every flight, UK drone pilots are expected to check for NOTAMs – short for Notices to Air Missions (the older term Notices to Airmen is still sometimes seen). These are official, time-sensitive alerts that tell pilots and other airspace users about temporary restrictions, hazards, or changes that could affect flight safety.

For example, a NOTAM might announce:

A Restricted Area (Temporary) or RA(T) for a Red Arrows display, airshow, or major public event.
A Temporary Danger Area or TDA activated for military exercises, weapons testing, or BVLOS drone flight trials.
A temporary hazard, such as an unlit crane, glider activity, parachute drop, or laser light display.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires remote pilots to make sure they are aware of such restrictions before each flight; checking NOTAMs is part of sensible pre-flight planning.

What is a NOTAM?

A NOTAM is an official aviation notice that warns pilots and other airspace users about temporary changes, hazards, or restrictions that could affect flight safety. In the UK, NOTAMs are published by the UK Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) operated by NATS and follow ICAO formatting and coding conventions. For legal-grade planning always use the official NATS AIS or a Pre-Flight Information Bulletin (PIB).

Each NOTAM has a unique identifier such as C6353/25. That identifier is a series letter plus a sequential number and the year, for example: series C, number 6353, year 2025. The series letter is used for organising and filtering NOTAMs; it is not a substitute for the NOTAM subject codes or the descriptive text. To know exactly what is affected, read the Q) line (when present) and the free text.

Why NOTAMs matter for drone pilots

Even though many NOTAMs are created for manned aviation, they often affect drone operations too. Examples that commonly matter to drone pilots include:

Temporary flight restrictions during air displays and certain public events.
Emergency service operations, such as police or coastguard activity.
Aerial surveys, balloon launches or parachute drops.
Temporary danger or restricted areas that may be created for training, trials or incidents.

Flying inside an active restriction without the necessary permission can lead to enforcement action under UK aviation law. The CAA publishes guidance about safety and reporting infringements.

Where to find UK NOTAMs

Use official sources first, then check reputable visualisation apps if you like a map view:

NATS AIS / NOTAM and PIB services – the authoritative UK Aeronautical Information Service. Always obtain a PIB for operational decisions.
Or use our NOTAMs page for a simplified live feed from the NATS contingency PIB, tailored for drone pilots.
Third-party apps such as Drone Assist (Altitude Angel), which visualise NOTAMs on a map and are useful for quick checks. Always verify critical details with the official PIB or NATS AIS.

Important Note

A visual app is useful for spotting nearby NOTAMs quickly, but for anything operational you must verify against an official PIB or the NATS AIS. The PIB is the legal briefing product and is what providers and airspace regulators expect you to use for final planning.

How to read a NOTAM

A typical UK NOTAM follows a standard ICAO format, beginning with coded fields that describe the location, nature of the restriction, altitude limits, and timing.

Here’s a real example of a NOTAM relevant to drone operations:

Q) EGTT/QRDCS/IV/BO/AW/000/004/5348N00132W001
A) EGNM
B) FROM: 25/10/18 06:00 C) TO: 25/10/18 22:00
E) TEMPO SEGREGATED AREA (TSA) EGD394 INSTALLED WI AREA BOUNDED BY STRAIGHT LINES JOINING 534752N 0013142W – 534751N 0013132W – 534746N 0013130W – 534730N 0013036W – 534729N 0013039W – 534747N 0013137W – 534748N 0013150W – 534741N 0013239W – 534742N 0013240W – 534749N 0013147W – 534752N 0013142W (STEANDER TO RICHMOND HILL, LEEDS). BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT (BVLOS) UAS OPS WITHOUT VISUAL OBSERVERS CONTAINED WHOLLY WI THE TSA. MAX HGT 200FT AGL. FOR INFO 07484 424457. AR-2025-7410.
LOWER: SFC UPPER: 400FT AMSL
NOTAM ID: EGGN/J4416/25

Key fields explained

Q) – Qualifier line. Encodes the NOTAM’s classification, purpose, altitude limits, and location.
- EGTT = London Flight Information Region (FIR) covering southern UK, including Leeds.
- QRDCS = Restriction type code meaning Restriction – Danger area – Activity – Surface; used for temporary or segregated airspace activity such as UAS operations.
- 000/004 = Lower and upper altitude limits (surface to 400 ft AMSL — each figure represents hundreds of feet).
- 5348N00132W001 = Centre point (latitude/longitude) and approximate radius (1 NM).
A) – Aerodrome or area reference. EGNM = Leeds Bradford Airport.
B) and C) – Start and finish times in UTC (Zulu). Always convert UTC to local time when planning your operation.
E) – Plain-language text. The main body explaining what is happening. In this example:
- A Temporary Segregated Area (TSA) has been established for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS operations near Leeds.
- The notice details the coordinates, contact number, and a maximum operational height of 200 ft AGL within a segregated block extending up to 400 ft AMSL.
Lower / Upper limits – The segregated airspace extends from surface (SFC) to 400 ft above mean sea level (AMSL), while the UAS activity itself is limited to 200 ft AGL.
NOTAM ID – The unique reference number (e.g. J4416/25) assigned by the system; used for searching, cross-referencing, or reporting.

What to focus on as a drone pilot

Pay close attention to:

The location and coordinates – check whether your flight site lies inside or near the notified area.
The start and end times – all NOTAM times are in UTC, so convert to local time.
The altitude limits – note both the segregated block and any specific operational height limits.
The free-text section – it explains the nature of the activity (e.g. BVLOS flights, air displays, crane operations).

If any part of your intended operation falls within the described area or timeframe, you must not fly unless authorised by the controlling authority or the NOTAM originator.

Key terms to recognise

RA(T) – Restricted Area (Temporary). Established for displays, VIP movements or events; flying inside without permission is not allowed.
TDA – Temporary Danger Area. Notified for activities that may create a hazard; avoid unless you have explicit permission.
PPR – Prior Permission Required. The NOTAM instructs you to obtain permission before operating.
SFC–2000FT AMSL – From surface up to 2 000 feet above mean sea level. Check whether heights are given as AMSL or AGL.
FIR – Flight Information Region, for example EGTT is London FIR.

Practical example

Imagine you plan to fly in Lincolnshire on 15 October. You check NOTAMs and find:

RA(T) 2 NM radius centred on 5300N00033W from SFC to 2500FT AMSL due to air display. Active 1000–1600 UTC.

This means:

A temporary restricted area is in place for an air display.
It covers a 2 nautical mile radius around the coordinates.
It is active between 10:00 and 16:00 UTC; convert to local time for planning.
Drone flying inside this area or nearby is not permitted during those times unless you hold explicit permission.

How to check NOTAMs before flight

Visit an official source such as the NATS AIS or request a PIB for your area.
Enter your location or generate a point PIB around the intended site.
Review active NOTAMs near your planned site, paying attention to radius and altitude information.
Check start and end times and convert UTC to local time.
If you are unsure whether a NOTAM affects you, do not fly until you have clarified it with the issuing authority or obtained the necessary permission. The CAA and NATS give guidance on how to request permissions and notifications for restricted airspace.

When NOTAMs are especially important

During summer months when airshows and displays are more common.
When flying close to aerodromes, as ATZ hours or procedures can change by NOTAM.
After major incidents when emergency services or police may restrict airspace.
For early morning or night operations when lighting, obstacles or temporary navigation changes could be notified.

Key takeaways

NOTAMs are official, time-sensitive notices that all pilots, including drone operators, should check before flight.
NOTAMs describe temporary hazards, restrictions or changes that could affect your flying location. Read the free text and the Q) line where present.
NOTAM times are given in UTC. Always convert to local time when planning.
Use visualisation apps for quick situational awareness, but verify any operational decision with the official NATS PIB or AIS.
Checking NOTAMs is part of responsible pre-flight planning and helps keep your flights safe and compliant with UK CAA guidance.