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96 South Main Street, Nephi, Utah 84648 - Voice: 435 623-0525 - FAX: 435 623-4735 News for April 23, 2025 |
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By Myrna Trauntvein The airport has historically issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) through an online system created by the FAA. “A new system to issue NOTAMs has been developed along with an accompanying Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),” said Kyle Marchant, Nephi City Public Works Director, who presented the MOU in the absence of Seth Atkinson, who was at a meeting representing the city. The MOU has been reviewed by staff and had some initial concerns about the original NOTAM system being removed but this system will eventually be phased out. Basically, said Marchant, the system will change from what it is to what is already in use. The parties to the agreement are the Aeronautical Services group of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Nephi Municipal Airport, he said. He said that the purpose of the agreement between the FAA and the city airport was to improve the quality and timeliness of important flight information by deploying a new direct-entry digital Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system for airport operators called the NOTAM Manager System. “How open is the airport?” asked Jeramie Callaway, council member. For example, said Marchant, the system will notify an airplane wanting to land that at the time it would be impossible and they need to find a different airport. “If we are plowing snow or if there was an accident that interfered with the landing, the system would tell the pilot that they would need another airport,” said Marchant. Part of the MOU reads: “The airport direct-entry NOTAMs will be limited to the following airport surface area NOTAMs (the “D” NOTAMs) including the keywords: aerodrome/service, runway, taxiway, apron/ramp and obstruction, unless specifically expanded by a modification of this agreement. “The FAA will provide a web-based service, NOTAM Manager System, which allows the airport operator to submit airport surface area NOTAMs directly into the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) rather than going through Flight Service; “The airport operator will provide the FAA with feedback on the suitability of the NOTAM Manager System and suggestions on how to improve the system including input to the FAA’s human factors consultants. “If applicable, the FAA will deactivate all ENII accounts 60 days after the activation of NOTAM Manager System at the Airport. “The management of this project will be done by the FAA’s Aeronautical Services Team (AJM-336). “Parties are bound by a duty of good faith and best effort in achieving the goals and objectives in Article 2 of this Agreement. “Airport will use its best efforts to protect password information to permit use of the FAA’s NOTAM Manager System, and Airport will provide password information only on a need-to-know basis. “The FAA will use its best efforts to ensure the NOTAM Manager System operates at optimal performance level as designed.” Other terms, said Marchant, are that the FAA will provide: a password function to the NOTAM Manager System which allows access to it by the airport operators; the initial training of its personnel on how to use the system and a user manual; a NOTAM subject matter expert (SME) during the initial phase of deployment to assist the airport personnel (direct-assist) with the new Airport NOTAM Manager System; a point of contact person, (Customer Support Group), to respond to any questions which arise after deployment; telephonic technical support to assist the airport during the term of this agreement; and a completed Safety Risk Management Document on the NOTAM Manager System. The airport will provide: the personnel and web-accessible computers, Internet access, and any related and required equipment to allow operation of the NOTAM Manager System; feedback on how the system is operating and how it might be improved; the continuing ability to return to the existing legacy NOTAM system if the NOTAM Manager System is not operating as required to maintain the safety of the airport, at least one airport training POC to receive a formal live or virtual training session prior to activation, provided by a designated FAA representative, on the NOTAM Manager System. “We thought we had enough computers that we could meet that requirement,” said Marchant. The MOU also states that the Government retains Government Purpose Rights in all data developed under the agreement. “The airport agrees not to reverse-engineer any of the software, forms, or databases, including those accessible through the password-protected system, but will use its access only for the purposes set out.” he said. Federal Aviation Administration, Kevin T. Le, Manager, Aeronautical Services, AJM-336 and Nephi Municipal Airport, Seth Atkinson, Airport Manager, are the designated signers of the MOU. Travis Worwood, council member, made the motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding from the Federal Aviation Administration and to authorize Atkinson, airport manager, to sign the MOU. Skip Worwood, council member, made the second and all voted in favor.
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