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What are NOTAMs?

NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) are notices that alert pilots to important changes or information relevant to their flights. In real-world aviation, they are issued by authorities like NAV CANADA and the FAA. At Virtual Air Canada, we use the same concept - but our NOTAMs serve a different purpose.

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Virtual Air Canada NOTAMs

NOTAMs posted in the Pilot Portal are operational notices from Virtual Air Canada staff. Unlike real-world NOTAMs, they are not safety-of-flight warnings - they are communications about changes and updates to our virtual airline operations. VA NOTAMs typically cover:
  • Route changes - new routes added, seasonal routes activated or suspended, route removals
  • Fleet updates - new aircraft added to the fleet, livery changes, aircraft retirements
  • Event announcements - group flights, fly-in events, special operations
  • Schedule changes - timetable adjustments, hub changes, codeshare updates
  • System maintenance - planned downtime for the Pilot Portal, ACARS updates
  • Policy updates - changes to operational procedures or scoring rules
VA NOTAMs are operational - they tell you what’s changed in the airline, not whether a runway is closed. Always check them before flying so you’re aware of any updates that may affect your next flight.

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Checking NOTAMs in the Pilot Portal

1

Log in to the Pilot Portal

Access the Pilot Portal and log in with your credentials.
2

Navigate to NOTAMs

Go to the NOTAMs page to view all active notices.
3

Review before flying

Check for any NOTAMs that may affect your planned departure or arrival airports before booking and flying your next flight.

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Real-World NOTAMs

In the real world, NOTAMs are issued by aviation authorities to warn pilots of hazards and changes along their route - things like runway closures, navaid outages, airspace restrictions, and temporary flight restrictions. These are safety-critical and mandatory for real-world pre-flight planning. For pilots who want to incorporate real-world NOTAMs into their flight planning for added realism, the following official sources provide current NOTAM data:

NAV CANADA NOTAMs

Official Canadian NOTAM system. As a Virtual Air Canada pilot, this is your primary source for NOTAMs at Canadian airports and within Canadian airspace.

FAA NOTAM Search

The FAA’s NOTAM search tool for US airports and airspace. Useful for transborder flights to and from the United States.
Checking real-world NOTAMs is completely optional but adds realism to your flights. When flying international routes, check NOTAMs for both your departure and arrival countries.

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Need Help?

If you have questions about NOTAMs or flight planning, our operations team is available to assist.

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