UAVs in the NOTAMS.....and I think one is at Base Camp!

Both NOTAMs indicates that the UAV will operate over a 2.5 nautical mile
radius. Pretty tight. The notams are effective from 01/21/2013 at 1500zulu (7AM local) through 01/25/2013 0100zulu which is actually 1/24/2013 at 5PM local. Even though they are two different notams, the operational period is the same, so the events could be related. However, there is nothing to indicate the UAVs will transit between these locations.

TPH is civilian airport to the east of the town of Tonopah, and to the north of the Tonopah Test Range.

ZLC SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. !CDC 01/031 ZLC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 2.5 NMR 43 ENE TPH 1200/BLW WEF 1301121500-1301250100

ENE is 67.5 degrees, though it isn't clear if they
mean magnetic or true. The spot is 43 nautical miles from TPH.

If magnetic vector, the spot would be N38 10 56.1 W116 11 57.7. Not so exciting.

If true vector, it would be N38 20 34.1 W116 15 00.0. That is the infamous "Base Camp."
Base Camp

--------------------------

!CDC 01/030 ZLC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 2.5 NMR TQQ351005.5 1200/BLW WEF 1301121500-1301250100

Note that TQQ is the VOR at the Tonopah Test Range. Why it isn't TNX (the airport designation) is a good
question.

This is 5.5nm on the magnetic 351, or N37 53 21.7 W116 46 22.2. That is
just north of the TTR border.

If i remember correctly, notams are always true readings, not magnetic.

reply to post by boomer135


Most aviation vectors are magnetic. I'm having a hard time finding the R&R, but I know when both bearing/range and lat/lon are supplied, the vector is magnetic. The VOR has a stated magnetic variation, which I then enter into the electronic map program.

That said, the format of the NOTAM in question was not bearing/range in the numerical sense. Rather they used EWE, which to me would indicate a true vector. That does put it at Base Camp.

FAA R&R on location

3-1-3. TRUE/MAGNETIC DIRECTIONS All radials, courses, and bearings specified in an NPRM must be stated both as true and magnetic, except magnetic need not be stated in terminal airspace notices.

So the default is magnetic. This causes all sorts of annoyances in using crash reports. The crash report can use statute or nautical miles, true or magnetic vector, and the reference point can be the town or the VOR. Then to top it all off, the location isn't correct using any combination of the above.

All these abbreviations really need to go. The FAA is working on plain text notams, but it never seems to get implemented. Even people who should know the notam format screw up, especially when it comes to Zulu time. Nellis is notorious for getting it wrong.

I found an "experimental" NOTAM decoder. Use at your own risk.
NOTAM decoder

reply to post by gariac


Your right I should have elaborated a little. ENE is a true reading, and if they gave you say 50 Nautical miles bearing 67.5 degrees or something it would be magnetic of course.

A little off topic but check out Edwards today...

M0149/13 - MULTIPLE UNMANNED ROCKET LAUNCHES NORTH OF EDWARDS (AERIAL ACRES)

35 06' 16N, 117 47' 42W, AVOIDANCE AREA 3NM SFC TO 18,000 MSL. 25 MAY 16:00
2013 UNTIL 25 MAY 22:00 2013. CREATED: 22 MAY 16:01 2013