1.) what are the types of NOTAMS? explain each

A NOTAM is an abbreviation for a Notice to Airmen. NOTAMs are issued by the FAA for many different reasons, but mostly to inform pilots of changes to airports, airways and local procedures that affect the safety of flight.

There are many types of NOTAMs, including international, domestic, military and civilian. They can be mandatory or advisory in nature.Private pilots and commercial pilots in the United States should concern themselves with the following NOTAM types:

NOTAM(D): NOTAMs that are distributed to an area beyond that of the local airport area are considered NOTAM(D) (think 'D' for Distant). These are distributed beyond the area of the flight service station and are divided into two groups, (U) NOTAMs and (O) NOTAMs. (U) NOTAMs are those that come from an unofficial source and aren't verified by theairport manager. (O) NOTAMs are notices to airmen that don't meet the standards of a typical NOTAM but can be beneficial to pilots.

NOTAM(L): The NOTAM(L) category doesn't exist any longer for civilian pilots. This type of NOTAM is still used in the military. A NOTAM(L) is a voice NOTAM, confined to the local airport area, and is typically broadcast over the radio or telephone. NOTAM(L)s that were used before have been reclassified as NOTAM(D)s.

GPS NOTAMs: GPS NOTAMs are issued for areas of service problems or outages.

FDC NOTAMs Flight Data Center NOTAMs are mandatory and require compliance. These include instrument approach procedure and airway changes or safety hazards involved with either. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are considered FDC NOTAMs. TFRs are issued for necessary and immediate airspace closures, such as the airspace around the White House or the temporary closure of airspace around live events such as the Olympics.

Center Area NOTAMs: A Center Area NOTAM is actually an FDC NOTAM issued for a large area. It's distributed by the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and covers multiple airports. Airway restrictions, laser activity and TFRs are examples of Center Area NOTAMs.

Class I NOTAMs: Standard NOTAMs released via telecommunication.

Class II NOTAMs or Published NOTAMs: Published NOTAMS are not distributed via telecommunication. Instead, they are published in a Notice to Airmen Publication (NTAP), updated every 28 days.

International NOTAMs: International NOTAMs are distributed to more than one country. International NOTAMS are published in ICAO format and stored in the International section of the NTAP. International NOTAMS aren't offered in a regular flight service briefing; they must be specifically requested by the pilot.

Domestic NOTAMs: Include NOTAMS from the United States and sometimes Canada, and are completed in FAA format instead of ICAO.

There is also a distinction between civil and military NOTAMs. Military NOTAMs include safety concerns specific to military airfield and military operations that aren't otherwise covered under the civil NOTAM system.

2.) What is OROCA? explain

The OROCA or Off Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude provides 1000 feet obstacle clearance in non-mountainous areas and 2000 feet clearance in mountainous areas. However, the 2012 FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook states (excerpt below) in a another sentence that OROCAs do not provide acceptable terrain clearance. My question: Why state that OROCAs provide 1000/2000 terrain clearance in one sentence yet in the next sentence terrain clearance is not acceptable? How do you plan safely? "OROCAs depicted on en route charts do not provide the pilot with an acceptable altitude for terrain and obstruction clearance for the purposes of off-route, random RNAV direct flights in either controlled or uncontrolled airspace."

3.) Example of STARS and SID's

1.) what are the types of NOTAMS? explain each

A Notice To Airmen or NOTAM is a notice containing information (not known sufficiently in advance to publicize by other means) concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any component (facility, service, or procedure of , or hazard in the National Airspace System) the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

TYPES OF NOTAMS INCLUDE: 

CLASS I NOTAMS CLASS II NOTAMS INTERNATIONAL NOTAMS DOMESTIC NOTAMS CIVIL NOTAMS MILITARY NOTAMS PUBLISHED NOTAMS FDC NOTAMS CENTER AREA NOTAMS NOTAM (D)S INCLUDING (U) AND (O) NOTAMS NOTAM (L)S OR LOCAL NOTAMS

CLASS I NOTAMS (ICAO):  NOTAMs distributed by means of telecommunication.

CLASS II NOTAMS (ICAO) OR PUBLISHED NOTAMS:  NOTAMs distributed by means other than telecommunications. In the United States these NOTAMs are published in the Notices To Airmen Publication (NTAP) which is issued every 28 days.

INTERNATIONAL NOTAMS:  Any NOTAM intended for distribution to more than one country would be considered an international NOTAM.  However, a FSS does not have access to all international NOTAMs.  For our purposes I will limit the definition to international NOTAMs that we at a FSS have access to.  This would include NOTAMs stored in ICAO format in the United States NOTAM System (USNS) or published in the International NOTAMs section of the NTAP. The USNS stores international NOTAMS separately from domestic NOTAMs, but only for selected locations both inside and outside the United States.  These NOTAMs are not included in a standard weather briefing unless specifically requested.

DOMESTIC NOTAMS:  NOTAMs that are primarily distributed within the United States although they may also be available in Canada.  Domestic NOTAMs stored in the USNS are coded in a domestic format rather than an ICAO format.

CIVIL NOTAMS:  Any NOTAM that is part of the civil NOTAM system which includes any NOTAM this is not part of the military NOTAM system. 

MILITARY NOTAMS:  Any NOTAM that is part of the military NOTAM system which primarily includes NOTAMs on military airports and military airspace. 

FDC NOTAMS:  Flight Data Center NOTAMS are NOTAMs that are regulatory in nature such as changes to an instrument approach procedure or airway.  Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are also issued as FDC NOTAMs.

CENTER AREA NOTAMS:  An FDC NOTAM issued for a condition that is not limited to one airport, therefore it is filed under the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that controls the airspace involved.  TFRs, airway changes and laser light activity are examples of this type of NOTAM.  This becomes very important to know when looking for NOTAMs on your own.  For example you must retrieve ZAN FDC NOTAMs for flights in Alaska because ZAN is the code for Anchorage ARTCC which is the controlling Center for all of Alaska.

NOTAM (D): A NOTAM given (in addition to local dissemination) distant dissemination beyond the area of responsibility of the Flight Service Station. This type of NOTAM now includes (U) NOTAMs and (O) NOTAMs. (U) NOTAMs are unverified NOTAMs which are those that are received from a source other than airport management and have not yet been confirmed by management personnel. This is allowed only at those airports where airport management has authorized it by Letter of Agreement. (O) NOTAMs are other aeronautical information which does not meet NOTAM criteria but may be beneficial to aircraft operations.

NOTAM (L):  A NOTAM given local dissemination by voice and other means, such as telautograph and telephone, to satisfy local user requirements.  This type of NOTAM is now used only in the military NOTAM system.  All NOTAMs previously considered NOTAM (L)s in the civil NOTAM system are now considered NOTAM (D)s.

2.) What is OROCA? explain

An off-route altitude which provides obstruction clearance with a 1,000-foot buffer in nonmountainous terrain areas and a 2,000-foot buffer in designated mountainous areas within the United States. This altitude may not provide signal coverage from ground-based navigational aids, air traffic control radar, or communications coverage.

3.) Example of STARS and SID's

STARS:

SID's