{"id":176245,"date":"2026-01-08T16:25:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/?p=176245"},"modified":"2026-11-13T18:55:38","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T17:55:38","slug":"notams-can-you-visualize-these-coordinates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/notams-can-you-visualize-these-coordinates\/","title":{"rendered":"NOTAMs: can you visualize N47\u00b023&#8217;15&#8221; E025\u00b042&#8217;30&#8221;?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/pilot-reading-notam-aviation-safety-1.jpg\" alt=\"A pilot reading a NOTAM briefing\" class=\"wp-image-91686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/pilot-reading-notam-aviation-safety-1.jpg 1376w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/pilot-reading-notam-aviation-safety-1-1280x714.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/pilot-reading-notam-aviation-safety-1-980x547.jpg 980w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/pilot-reading-notam-aviation-safety-1-480x268.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1376px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The NOTAM problem: why NOTAM coordinates in text are hard to brief<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hello fellow aviator,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last month we shared a number that surprised many of you:&nbsp;<strong>54% of NOTAM-defined airspaces don't appear on any chart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several of you replied asking: how is that possible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here's a real NOTAM published this winter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED<br>N52&deg;18'42\" E005&deg;31'15\" - N52&deg;21'18\" E005&deg;28'45\" -<br>N52&deg;19'54\" E005&deg;25'12\" - N52&deg;17'30\" E005&deg;27'48\"<br>SFC-2500FT AMSL<br>ACTIVE 0800-1600 LOCAL<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quick &mdash; where is that? Is it near your home airfield? Would it affect a flight from Lelystad to Rotterdam?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On this page<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Inhoudsopgave\" class=\"simpletoc wp-block-simpletoc-toc\"><ul class=\"simpletoc-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#two-different-problems\">Two different problems<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#the-honest-question\">The honest question<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-visualization-actually-looks-like\">What visualization actually looks like<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#the-numbers-behind-the-problem\">The numbers behind the problem<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#try-it-yourself\">Try it yourself<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#want-the-full-notam-workflow-beyond-plotting\">Want the full NOTAM workflow (beyond plotting)?<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#your-notam-stories\">Your NOTAM stories<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#more-from-our-blog\">More from our blog<\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"two-different-problems\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two different problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all NOTAMs are created equal. When a NOTAM activates an on your map existing airspace like &ldquo;EHR2A&rdquo; or &ldquo;LRD01A BABADAG,&rdquo; the job is straightforward: <strong>find it on the chart and check whether it&rsquo;s active<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But coordinates-only NOTAMs are different: <strong>you have to turn coordinates into a shape first&mdash;then decide if it affects your route.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are temporary restrictions created for specific events &mdash; military exercises, drone operations, VIP movements, emergency situations. They're not in your AIP. They're not on your chart. They exist only as latitude and longitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2025, we counted over 52,000 of these coordinate-only airspaces across Europe. That's more than 140 every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each one requires you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read the coordinates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Convert them into a location (mentally or on paper)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work out whether your route intersects it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep the altitude limits and active times in mind<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-honest-question\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The honest question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be honest with yourself: do you actually do this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most pilots don't. Not because they don't care about safety &mdash; but because it's genuinely difficult. Lat\/long coordinates don't translate into geographic awareness. Your brain thinks in landmarks, routes, and distances. Not degrees, minutes, and seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why airspace infringements keep happening. A pilot reads the NOTAM briefing, sees coordinates, can't picture where they are, and assumes it's \"probably not on my route.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes they're right. Sometimes they end up&nbsp;<strong>116 feet from a Boeing 737. <\/strong><em>(<a href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/the-airspace-that-doesnt-exist-on-your-chart\/\">see our previous post &rarr;<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-visualization-actually-looks-like\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What visualization actually looks like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is what Dynamic Airspace Mapping solves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every NOTAM-originated airspace &mdash; whether it's an activation of a named area or a coordinate-only restriction &mdash; gets processed and drawn on your moving map. The coordinates become a visible shape. The shape has color-coding for status. You can see at a glance: does my route go through this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No mental math. No hoping you interpreted the coordinates correctly. No assuming it's \"probably fine.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The airspace that existed only in NOTAM text is now something you can actually see.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/notam-text-to-visual-representation-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"A coordinate-only NOTAM as text, and the same NOTAM drawn as an area on the EasyVFR map\" class=\"wp-image-91689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/notam-text-to-visual-representation-1-1.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/notam-text-to-visual-representation-1-1-1280x555.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/notam-text-to-visual-representation-1-1-980x425.jpg 980w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/notam-text-to-visual-representation-1-1-480x208.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1366px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-numbers-behind-the-problem\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The numbers behind the problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here's what our data team processed for European airspace in 2025:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>149,923<\/strong>&nbsp;total NOTAM activations across Europe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>52,322<\/strong>&nbsp;coordinate-only restrictions (no chart reference)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>416<\/strong>&nbsp;airspace events per day, average<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>55% increase<\/strong>&nbsp;in activity from Q1 to Q4<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">European airspace is getting busier. Military exercises are more frequent. Drone operations are expanding. Temporary restrictions are multiplying. The NOTAM list isn't getting shorter. It's getting longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h2 id=\"try-it-yourself\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Try it yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next time you do a NOTAM briefing, pick one with coordinates and try to plot it on a paper chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then ask: would I do this for every coordinate-only NOTAM, every flight?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the answer is no&mdash;and for most pilots it is&mdash;the key is to <strong>turn NOTAM coordinates into something you can actually see on the map<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/plotting-flight-plan-on-aviation-chart-1.jpg\" alt=\"Plotting NOTAM coordinates on a paper aviation chart\" class=\"wp-image-91687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/plotting-flight-plan-on-aviation-chart-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/plotting-flight-plan-on-aviation-chart-1-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/wp-content\/uploads\/plotting-flight-plan-on-aviation-chart-1-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EasyVFR Essential already plots coordinate-only NOTAM areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/support.easyvfr4.aero\/help\/dynamic-airspace-mapping-explained\" title=\"Dynamic Airspace Mapping\">Dynamic Airspace Mapping: how it works &rarr;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"want-the-full-notam-workflow-beyond-plotting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want the full NOTAM workflow (beyond plotting)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Live and Pro add:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>NOTAM filtering<\/strong> (see what matters for your flight)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Airspace Activations<\/strong> + <strong>AUP <\/strong>(what&rsquo;s active today)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlimited European countries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(Live) Traffic via GDL90<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/#pricing-and-plans\" style=\"border-radius:3px;background-color:#0075ff\">Start your free trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not sure which plan fits? <a href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/#pricing-and-plans\">See Essential vs Live vs Pro features &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"your-notam-stories\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your NOTAM stories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last month we <a href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/the-airspace-that-doesnt-exist-on-your-chart\/\">asked about close calls<\/a>. Several of you shared stories of discovering restricted airspace you'd missed in the briefing. Thank you &mdash; these real experiences remind us why this matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Have you ever struggled with a coordinates-only NOTAM? Share your experience at <a href=\"mailto:team@easyvfr4.aero\">team@easyvfr4.aero<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fly safe, fly current,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The EasyVFR Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"more-from-our-blog\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">More from our blog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/the-airspace-that-doesnt-exist-on-your-chart\/\">The airspace that doesn't exist on your chart<\/a><br>Why so much restricted airspace is invisible to most pilots.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/your-airspace-data-was-outdated-3-days-after-you-updated-it\/\">Your airspace data was outdated 3 days after you updated it<\/a><br>How our AeroData team tracks AIP Supplements across Europe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/notambriefing-com-is-live\/\">NOTAMbriefing.com is live<\/a><br>Every European NOTAM and airspace, visually on one live map: the launch in April 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>54% of NOTAM-defined airspaces don&#8217;t appear on any chart. Why NOTAM coordinates in text are hard to brief, and what it looks like when they are drawn on the map.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":91686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[297,1478],"tags":[1561,1569,1280,1509],"class_list":["post-176245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-development","category-easyvfr-app","tag-airspace","tag-dynam","tag-easyvfr-4","tag-notam"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176245"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176325,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176245\/revisions\/176325"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/easyvfr4.aero\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}