1. Introduction to Digital NOTAM
Today I am going to speak to you about Digital NOTAMs and the United States effort to modernize our NOTAM System. With the emergence of AIXM, future concepts like AIS data link (RTCA206) and advancements in avionics, there are new opportunities to delivery high quality NOTAM information to our customers. At the same time, we face many challenges if we want to implement a new concept of NOTAMs that will enhance flight safety and efficiency. This briefing will outline some of those challenges and discuss how the United States is addressing Digital NOTAMs.

2. In the United States Digital NOTAM is part of a multi-year NOTAM realignment strategy…
US NOTAM Realignment
New Technology
Services Architecture GIS – Spatial - GML Security AIXM XML
Policy Changes
Standardization ICAO Format Digital data management
Digital NOTAM
Concept of Operations
Digital submission Automated validation Integrity – Chain of Custody
2007
2010+

3. What problems is Digital NOTAM trying to solve?
Data quality and integrity
NOTAMs today don’t always say what we mean
Poorly suited for human and computer
Not standardized
Difficult to interpret
Difficult to distribute
Inaccessible for computer
Timeliness
Manual processing
Entry, Validation and End user interpretation

4. Digital NOTAM Goals Radically improve the quality of NOTAM
Ensure NOTAM intent is accurately encoded
Ensure NOTAM submitted = NOTAM received
Ensure NOTAM are encoded the same way every time
Streamline NOTAM processing
Reduce the time between NOTAM submission and publication
Reduce NOTAM rejections due to quality problems
Enable customer benefits
Provide digital NOTAM output to enable computer systems to fully leverage NOTAM information
Enable customers to receive NOTAMs when and how they need it

5. Digital NOTAMs are global
Although run by EUROCONTROL primarily for the benefit of the ECAC area, the xNOTAM Project will take into account that AIS is a global business.
Full benefit from digital NOTAM can only be achieved through world-wide implementation.
For this it is critical that the first recommendation of the AIS Global Congress hold in Madrid in July 2006 is put in practice: “adopt the AICM/AIXM as the standard aeronautical information conceptual model and the standard aeronautical information exchange model, and:
o develop appropriate means of compliance, and
o global mechanisms to manage and develop the AICM/AIXM.”

6. Digital description of changes to aeronautical data - AIXM
What is a digital NOTAM
Digital description of changes to aeronautical data - AIXM
Concept of operations for submission and publication of the change
Authorization
Workflow
Publication and Customer Products/Interfaces

7. What is a digital NOTAM Digital Description - AIXM
Aeronautical Information Exchange Model
Timeslice model for describing temporal changes
Digital NOTAM application schema
Encapsulating AIXM
Business rules and workflow
Web Services Standards
FAA SWIM standards
Standards-based computer interfaces (SOAP)
Web Service Standards (Security, Encryption, etc)
Digital NOTAM Application Schema (business rules)
Change to Aeronautical Data
(Runway Closed)
Draft for consideration

8. What is a digital NOTAM Concept of Operations
Originator
Baseline synchronization
AIM
Customer
Aeronautical Change
Submission Preview
Human Products
(Maps, Text)
Submission
Draft for consideration
Digital information from the originator
AIM
Quality check
Convert to products (like NOTAM)
Distribution
Customers
Human and computer systems

9. US Digital NOTAM System Near-term capability demonstration
AIXM
Quality Control
AIXM
Common Web Services (AIXM, RSS, WMS)
Publishing
Candidate temporary aeronautical data
AIM Database
In the United States, we have announced a Digital NOTAM project. We are developing a Digital NOTAM System combining an AIM database, charting, publishing and quality control functions. NOTAM originators at the airport will be provided system and user interfaces for digitally submitting candidate NOTAMs. We are developing user interfaces and system interfaces to support digital NOTAM distribution.
Legacy Systems
(Preserve legacy investments at status quo functionality)

10. US Digital NOTAM System Quality from the start and output to meet customer needs
Entry
Plain Language
The United States Digital NOTAM System includes:
Form based entry to validate candidate NOTAMs as they are typed in. Because NOTAM entry is form-based, it is almost impossible to make an error.
The digital NOTAM information is encoded and transmitted as AIXM.
We can write programs to convert the AIXM digital NOTAM into formats readable by human such as a plain language format or a chart of the affected runway.
AIXM XML
Charts

11. Digital NOTAM Operator Workflow
Event
Submit
Change
Verify
Post
AIM
PUBLISH
Enter

12. Concept of System Operations
NOTAM EVENT (e.g., Runway closure)
Digital NOTAM System
SUBMISSION
QUERY
AIXM
User
Interface
User
Interface
Graphical
Candidate
NOTAM
Data
Published
NOTAM
AIXM
Validate
Transform
Publish
AIXM
Text
System
Interface
System
Interface
USNS
AIM
AIXM
XML

13. Why Digital NOTAM submission
AIM - NOTAM PUBLISHER
ORIGINATOR
CUSTOMER
Quality starts at the beginning

14. Why Digital NOTAM submission
Sophisticated airport information management systems
Real time airport status updates
No way to automatically submit temporary aeronautical data
ORIGINATOR
Digital NOTAM submission will allow your information systems to automatically transmit temporary aeronautical data to the FAA for publication as a Digital NOTAM

15. Why Digital NOTAM submission
Traditional NOTAM may not convey intent of the originator
Without a common view we may have
Extra communications
Misunderstandings
Inefficiencies
ORIGINATOR
CUSTOMER
NOTAM PUBLISHER

16. Why Digital NOTAM submission
Traditional NOTAM may not convey intent
Must have a common view of the data
TWY S CLSD WIF UFN
When is it really closed?
Can I cross TWY S?
Digital NOTAM submission will save time and coordination leading to safety and dollar savings

17. Digital NOTAM Submission Working Group Mission
The mission of DNSWG is to work with our stakeholders to develop specifications, as well as workflow, security and other operational requirements for submitting digital data about temporary changes to aeronautical resources to the Digital NOTAM system.

18. Digital NOTAM Submission Working Group Process
Open forum
Proceedings and recommendations published at
Nfdc.faa.gov/digitalnotam
Industry participation
Active working group
Monthly coordination
Both virtual and live meetings
Results will be available publicly even if you do not participate
Outcome focused
Implement-able recommendations and specifications
Target date – March 2008

19. Demonstration United States Digital NOTAM Prototype