Filing a NOTAM for a Rocket Launch

Your COA or waiver will contain specific instructions regarding notifications to your regional ARTCC and possibly other entities (like a military or local airport,) and the requirment to file a NOTAMNotice To Air Missions. A NOTAM is a source of timely information regarding conditions or activities which may impact the flight plans of aircraft traveling through your area. This activity requires a phone call to Leidos Flight Service (LFS) not less than 24 or more than 72 hours before the launch activity. Your COA will include instructions to contact Leidos, the contact number, a specific time frame for filing a NOTAM, and specific location and altitude information authorized by your waiver. To the best of my understanding this may only be done with a phone call, and the resulting NOTAM may be viewed online at FNS NOTAM Search.

I strongly encourage you to learn the ICAO International Telephony Alphabet. I learned it in the US Army, but I taught it through all of my years of IT and technical support. I insist that it is an essential communications tool and that it makes you sound more professional and more trustworthy. Learning the alphabet is useful in all aspects of communicating with the FAA, military flight operations, and in fact anyone you must communicate with on the phone or radio.