Hi,
IO540:
On your first question, I think it depends where you trained and the standards enforced:
I also learned in 2000. At my club, BRitish Airways Flying Club at Booker, the NOTAMs were also posted on the wall in big thick printouts.
As students, we were DEFINITELY expected to read these before flight! the instructors encouraged us to do so - and I have no doubt that the CFI would have removed my or my instructor's testicles if he were to even suspect that I had launched on a cross-country navex without reading them..! (Those who know "our John" will know that this is no exageration!)
To make it easier for us, NOTAM which impacted the local area out to say 25NM or so were highlighted and given a number which corresponded with a circle drawn on a chart on the wall nearby. This made it quick and easy for early stage students to make a quick check, and encouraged the habit. As far as I was concerned, it was always normal to walk over to the briefing wall to look at the weather (F214/F215) and NOTAM before flight. I didn't always understand, so would ask instructor before flight to help me understand. We also made a habit of calling the Red Arrows 0500 freephone number too.
Even then - in 2000 - it was possible to get a web-briefing by the way, or to get the NOTAM by fax. I tended to do this before Navex flights while planning them in the week.
So I don't think NOTAM have ever been optional: but I don't think the routine use of NOTAM is taught the same at all schools.
It looks like you typed the coordinates into something like Navbox and created a dummy flight plan with them.
Yep, Navbox.
Fly Stimulator - well that looks much more reasonable! I don't doubt NOTAM PLOT - but if you try plotting the actual coordinates given in the NOTAM above on a map, then I think you will come out with the ridiculous shape I have! Maybe the real issue in this case is something going wrong in translation in the AIS system? Can you see the raw input for NOTAM PLOT? Is it different to the text I have above?
Good night all!
Andy
