Notams Prohibit Nonscheduled Ops at 12 U.S. Airports

Notams published by the FAA late last night temporarily prohibit operation of general aviation (GA) and nonscheduled aircraft at 12 U.S. airports. The notams took effect yesterday and expire on Dec. 31, 2025.

According to one of the notams, the airport is closed to GA and nonscheduled aircraft except for based aircraft, emergency, medical, law enforcement, firefighting, and military operations, or unless authorized. “This notam may be canceled earlier or extended as operational needs require.”

The notams came after the FAA issued an emergency order on Friday requiring airlines to cut traffic by 4%, rising incrementally to 10% this coming Friday, to ease the burden on air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the government shutdown.

According to NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, “Last week, restrictions were announced on all aviation operations, including general aviation operations, at 40 U.S. airports. Today, further restrictions were announced that will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation, an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact, and supports humanitarian flights every day.

“Safety is the cornerstone of business aviation, and NBAA is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the [National Airspace System]. Among the ways we will do that is to ensure business aviation operators have an understanding of these restrictions and their implications.

“Above all, this moment underscores the need to reopen the government to serve all Americans. NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the notams to be repealed when the government reopens.”

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) “encourages members to plan proactively for all flights while the emergency order is in effect—advise clients of potential delays, consider alternate airports when feasible, and adjust fuel and crew strategies accordingly.”

“NATA is actively communicating with its members and government partners regarding the FAA’s emergency order and associated notams,” said president and CEO Curt Castagna. “Our top priorities are maintaining the safety of the National Airspace System, advocating for an immediate end to the harmful government shutdown, and protecting the vital general aviation industry. NATA’s members remain committed to doing their part to support air traffic controllers, while keeping operations moving efficiently through compliance and cooperation. We believe FAA policies must remain safety-driven, balanced, supported by data, and free from actions that unfairly restrict or discriminate against business and general aviation. We continue to advocate for equitable operational measures that accurately reflect the proportional impact of our sector. During this critical time, all aviation sectors must unite to protect our air traffic control system and share the burden. 

“Once the effects of the shutdown have receded, industry will expect the FAA to determine if the actions taken had a strong operational foundation and that the data supports that the prohibitions were beneficial to the system at the time. We expect an objective assessment will reveal that general aviation is not a significant contributing factor to delays.” 

A commenter on Facebook raised a question in relation to these notams: how does banning GA and nonscheduled flights into these 12 airports relieve the burden on ATC, if these aircraft will simply fly into adjacent airports? They added that there thus will be no reduction in the workload for air traffic controllers handling arrivals, and a minimal reduction for the tower controllers at the 12 airports.

These notams may have very little effect if the shutdown ends soon, which seems possible with a Senate deal reached last night.