Why are NOTAMS so obscure?
Just finished reading the latest AAIB bulletin regarding the Augusta A109E that was flying across London in freezing fog and met a crane. And embedded in the report is the following item:
"The following NOTAM relating to the crane was valid at the time of the accident:
Q) EGTT/QOBCE/IV/M/
AE/000/008/5129N00007W001
B) FROM: 13/01/07 17:00C TO: 13/03/15 23:59
E) HIGH RISE JIB CRANE (LIT AT NIGHT)
OPR W1 1NM 5129N 00007W, HGT
770FT AMSL (VAUXHALL, CENTRAL
LONDON), OPS CTC 020 7820 3151
12-10-0429/AS 2/
The following is a plain language translation.
'In the London Flight Information Region an obstacle has been erected affecting both instrument and visual traffic. Aereodrome and enroute traffic is affected. The obstacle is from the surface to 800 ft amsl and is positioned within a 1 nm radius of 51 29 N 000 07 W. The obstacle will be in place from 1700 hrs on 7 Jan 2013 to 2359 hrs on 15 March 2013. It is a high rise jib crane (lit at night).' "
Now I am just a lowly PPL IR lapsed tug pilot and gliding instructor with only 3,000 hours. And fail to understand WHY they insist on publishing NOTAMS in the secret code understood only after indoctrination into the black arts.....instead of the PLAIN LANGUAGE that the AAIB felt compelled to add to the report. When I am supposed to read the current notams that affect our operations, I suffer a bad case of brain freeze. Can somebody give a justification that holds water? or is it just leftover custom like QFE, QNH, and other secret codes designed to be sent by telegraph operators clicking keys.....??