NOTAM Software?

[noblues]

Can anyone recommend a good NOTAM program, their seems masses of them out there?

[High Wing Drifter]

The only third party tool I've used thus far is www.skybook.co.uk (http://www.skybook.co.uk). I'm finding it quite useful as a one stop shop for all the information needed for a flight. But it is not a route planner, it is a route info tool.

[Phoenix09]

One of the best sites for NOTAMs and other planning tools is to be found at http://fly.dsc.net/u/Home. Lots of great features and it also allows you to display them graphically on an interactive map.

[SkyHawk-N]

I use ...

NotamPlot http://www.notamplot.flyer.co.uk/

and ...

Spine http://www.enborne.f2s.com/gliding/spine.htm

... both freeware.

[tangovictor]

Hi HWD
interesting your comment re skybook & route planning, I was going to invest
can you elaborate ? which route planner is best ?

[High Wing Drifter]

tangovictor,

First of all, by route planning I specifically mean the act of deciding where your lines should be drawn, heights, MSAs, etc, and just that. Perhaps personal opinion, but I don't think Skybook is the place to mull over routes because it is too slow, the chart is distorted compared to a CAA chart, lacks the necessary topographical features (some roads, some towns, etc) and what is there in terms of airsapce, etc is not clear. The Google Map/ MS Map integration is neat, but ultimately a gimmick (I think). If the route planner used a Jep or CAA chart and was speedy then it would probably be super in that respect.

However, I just plan using a chart anyway, so I just transfer the route to Skybook and it generates a very useful and configurable report with all the info I need, including NOTAMs plus easy access to Danger Area info and the AIS. From the aspect of obtaining the information for a chosen route, I find it very ergonomic and a real time saver (perhaps I'm just lazy).

Another purely personal take on it, is that I would prefer to a pay-to-use service as, however good the free services are, there is clearly no accountability for the accuracy of the information.

My caveat is that I haven't tried other tools like FlightStar or Navbox. People seem to rave about Navbox, but then it doesn't do NOTAMS. I specifically wanted something gather all the information together.

Hope that helps rather than confuse.

[wrecker]

Try Andy Hall's Notam Map
www.notam-map.co.uk
its great for UK FIRs

[BRL]

This is excellent........http://fly.dsc.net/u/Home

[tangovictor]

HWD, thanks for your info, I will give skymap another look,

[flybymike]

HWD, Navbox is indeed excellent and does in fact do both Notams and Met via a link with Avbrief (which of course is also excellent in its own right.)

[High Wing Drifter]

Cheers Mike. Whoops! I think one or two of the online vendors need to include this in the description. How is the information presented?

[flybymike]

HWD , after using the flight planning software on navbox you just click the automatic link to avbrief to download notams and met. You need to preregister first with Avbrief. Info is presented textually, although avbrief also have a geographical presentation arrangement and link with Notamplot, which again requires pre registration.(no big deal) Services provided depend on whether you register as a guest or paid up member at differing levels depending on info required. Personally I tend to use Navbox initially for the flight planning element and then simply log on separately to Avbrief for the rest, for no particular reason other than habit although I do find the avbrief presentation is clearer through their own website rather than via the navbox programme. Of course using the sites separately involves some duplication of input so takes a little longer than going solely through navbox alone.
Mike

[noblues]

Thanks for all the replies ... some interesting programs I've never heard off ..

I've been playing around with http://www.notamcheck.com/ Which plots the NOTAMS in real size and shape to scale on maps showing the route, very neat for £20 one off fee.
Its one of the clearest presentations I've seen.

I already own Navbox, but you have to be a database subscriber to access the Notam features which I am not.