NOTAM Grey Area

[planetalking]

Can anyone tell me how far in advance a NOTAM needs to be submitted?
Recently I've seen a danger area become active and a NOTAM issued within a few hours of my pre flight planning.
Surely a situation could arise where I have checked the NOTAMs prior to take-off then one is issued when im airborne, If my route takes me through that DA then I have unknowingly entered into an active danger area?

[parkfell]

Originally Posted by planetalking

Can anyone tell me how far in advance a NOTAM needs to be submitted?
Recently I've seen a danger area become active and a NOTAM issued within a few hours of my pre flight planning.
Surely a situation could arise where I have checked the NOTAMs prior to take-off then one is issued when im airborne, If my route takes me through that DA then I have unknowingly entered into an active danger area?

Never plan through a DA .
Make use of a DA crossing service.
Use good old fashioned AIRMANSHIP if ever in doubt

[B737900er]

If the flight plan is approved then it is ATC problem to deviate you around it if it becomes active whilst in flight.

[parkfell]

Originally Posted by B737900er

If the flight plan is approved then it is ATC problem to deviate you around it if it becomes active whilst in flight.

you are assuming the flight is IFR under ATC control
what about VFR outside CAS, perhaps not receiving no ATC service at all.

[+TSRA]

you are assuming the flight is IFR under ATC control
what about VFR outside CAS, perhaps not receiving no ATC service at all.

Then refer to the previous advice to avoid the area or call the appropriate flight service station or ATC unit about 5 to 10 minutes before you enter the area and ask if it is hot or cold. Make sure when you plan a flight through an advisory, restricted, or danger zone that you also plan enough fuel to divert around them without eating into your reserve fuel.

If my route takes me through that DA then I have unknowingly entered into an active danger area?

The first thing a regulator will say is "that sounds like a you problem." It is your responsibility to make sure you don't enter those areas and checking during pre-flight only means the area was not active then. Maintain situational awareness dictates by also checking in flight.

An example of just how quickly NOTAMs become active: I was once cleared by ATC through military airspace during a scheduled airline flight that was NOTAM'd inactive (cold) when the dispatcher sent the flight plan release. It was near to a 200 nm short-cut from the original flight planned route, so we were happy to accept as it would give my crew a chance to use a real washroom and eat lunch when we landed. ATC told us a third of the way through the area was now active (hot) and instructed us to make an immediate 90-degree turn and intercept the original route.

Treat NOTAMs as though they were a weather forecast and get updates on the ones that you think may change.