Story ID: 
FAA Order Reverses Notam Acronym Terminology
By: Amy Wilder
Caption: No rationale has been provided by the FAA explaining the change
Word Count: 211
The FAA issued a notice on February 10 reversing Notam terminology from the December 2021 “Notice to Air Missions” to the previous “Notice to Airmen.” In 2021, the term was changed to be gender-neutral and to account for the growing number of unmanned drone operations. 
The agency message simply states: “Effective immediately, the term Notice to Air Missions (Notam) is being changed to Notice to Airmen (Notam), and the title of FAA Order 7930.2 is being changed to ‘Notice to Airmen (Notam).’” It also orders that all directives and publications be updated “as soon as practicable.”
In 2021, Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), criticized the previous terminology change, calling it virtue signaling by the FAA “instead of focusing on safety.” It is unclear what virtue or safety issue the February 10 FAA order addresses, and the agency did not provide an explanation for the reversal.
The International Civil Aviation Organization's definition of Notam remained the same after the 2021 FAA change, with the gender-inclusive word (not acronym) "Notam" defined as "A notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure, or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations."