Anyone who’s gotten a pre-flight briefing since 2001 knows the current Notam system is very broken. Why hasn’t the FAA fixed it?

Above is graphic evidence of what can happen when the Notam system—the military’s, in this instance—breaks down. This C-130 landed on an Iraqi runway that was under construction.

In addition to death and taxes, pilots have added another certainty to their lives: Notices to airmen, or Notams. Since 2001, the number, complexity and importance of Notams has never been greater. Yet, the FAA and users remain bogged down with a system designed to be read from yellow paper pumped out by a teletype machine at the local Flight Service Station or weather office, something that was dated technology in the 1950s. The results are predictable: Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t miss a flight safety-critical Notam. The reasons they get missed are fairly simple: There are too many of them, they’re poorly organized and, until recently,…