Naats - Email Update Volume 2, #14a

NAATS HEADQUARTERS EMAIL UPDATE

Volume 2, #14a

December 22, 2001

From: Bill Dolan

Subject: Meeting with AAT-2 regarding the latest NOTAM fiasco.

As Wally mentioned in his 12/20 update, we met with AT-2 Jeff Griffith to express our displeasure (not exactly the words I used) with the way this latest round of NOTAM information was leaked to the alphabet groups before we had it at the facilities. We began with NAATS ATP Liaison Scott Malon briefing on the problems with the NOTAM itself and covered the following issues:

NAATS was not involved at all in the planning of the reissued NOTAM as previously committed to by Air Traffic.
Previously identified problems identified as critical to the AFSS operations were not addressed.
The commitment to use field expertise when writing/issuing NOTAMS was not adhered to.
Waivers were not incorporated into the reissued NOTAMS.
Being the �front line� in communications with the pilot community, the AFSS Controllers field the impact of poorly executed NOTAMs.

I went on to state that AOPA and other user groups receiving this information prior to the field facilities is unacceptable. We are tired of being made the fool. We need to have the information before any other releases are made.

The solution we came up with and to which AT-2 committed is this. No NOTAMS will be signed out for distribution until NAATS has signed off on them. NAATS will not sign off until the information has been reviewed by NAATS and any corrections needed are made. The field facilities will receive a draft copy of the finished product prior to the NOTAM office putting the NOTAM into the system. Once the NOTAM is in the system the field will receive the NOTAM number that will make the draft official. The user groups will not receive the NOTAM info until it has been input into the system and it has a NOTAM number. ATA-1 has been informed of this agreement.

The final piece of this is that the proof is in the follow through by Air Traffic. This process should only be necessary until the FSOSC is in place and operating. This should be accomplished within a few days of our people arriving in DC to begin working the issues full-time.