ICAO NOTAM format

Key fields

Specialists in dispatch, briefing, and investigation read these fields routinely. The Q-line encodes subject, condition, and traffic scope in a compact form; the E-line provides human-readable detail crews rely on.

• NOTAM series and number (for example A1234/24) — unique identifier within the issuing system
• Location — ICAO aerodrome or FIR code defining geographic scope
• Effective start and end times in UTC — defining the validity window
• Plain-text body — including Q-line (qualifier) and E-line (plain language) in ICAO format
• Lower-case letter lines — additional structured fields depending on notice type

Why format matters for archives

Legal and safety documentation often requires the original wording and identifiers — not a paraphrase. Archive retrieval preserves standard NOTAM text as it was active on the requested date, supporting side-by-side comparison with crew briefing printouts, OFP attachments, and dispatch logs.

When you know the NOTAM number from documentation, combine it with ICAO and date using NOTAM number lookup to narrow results within the archived active set.

Series letters and issuing context

Series letters (A, B, C, and others depending on state practice) group NOTAMs by category or office. The numeric portion and year suffix identify the specific notice. Cancelled and replaced NOTAMs reference predecessors in body text; historical reconstruction captures what was active on your date, not the full amendment chain unless those notices were simultaneously valid.

FIR-level NOTAMs may use different location coding than aerodrome notices. Search by the ICAO code appropriate to your question — aerodrome for station-specific issues, FIR for broader airspace. See NOTAMs by FIR and NOTAMs by airport ICAO.

Archive delivery via NOTAM History

NOTAM History returns archived NOTAMs by email in standard ICAO plain-text form, queried by 4-letter ICAO code and date up to approximately two years back. The service uses professional aviation data APIs and is designed for investigators, lawyers, insurers, safety officers, and operators.

It is not for pre-flight briefing. Pricing: €9.99 one-off, €29.99/year (ten searches), €29.99 top-up. See how it works for the search workflow.

Reading archived NOTAM text for evidence

Investigators should capture both Q-line structured content and E-line plain language when attaching NOTAMs to reports. Non-specialist readers often rely on E-line text while specialists cross-check Q-line qualifiers.

Replacement and cancellation references within NOTAM bodies link the notice to prior identifiers. Historical archive snapshots show what was active on your date.

NOTAM History preserves archived plain-text delivery suitable for that review. Combine format literacy with location-appropriate search per NOTAMs by airport ICAO guidance.

Professional use summary

NOTAM History delivers archived NOTAMs by ICAO aerodrome or FIR and historical validity date, with approximately two years of archive depth via professional aviation data APIs. Pricing: €9.99 one-off, €29.99/year (ten searches), €29.99 top-up. Email output uses ICAO plain-text format for investigators, lawyers, insurers, safety officers, and operators. Not for pre-flight briefing — use FAA NOTAM Search or approved operator systems for current US and international operations before flight.

NOTAM History queries professional archive APIs by 4-letter ICAO aerodrome or FIR code and historical validity date, returning ICAO plain-text NOTAM output by email within seconds. Archive depth is approximately two years where supported. Pricing is €9.99 per one-off search, €29.99 per year including ten searches, or €29.99 top-up packs. The service is designed for investigators, aviation lawyers, insurers, safety officers, and operators who need expired NOTAMs no longer shown on FAA NOTAM Search or briefing apps — and is not for pre-flight operational briefing.