Quite often, for special events that will generate above normal air traffic demand, the FAA will publish a Special Traffic Management Procedures (STMP) NOTAM. These procedures are needed to effectively manage the increased air traffic demand expected for the given special event.
The NOTAMs are generally provided a month or two in advance of the special event and contain specific information regarding the air traffic management plans for the airports and airspace affected by the event. STMP NOTAMs can be found in the Notices to Airmen Publication (NTAP), which is published monthly.
The STMP NOTAM will most commonly include such items as the following:
- Required arrival/departure routes to be filed
- Airport specific procedures for obtaining pre-flight clearances, clearance into the airport movement area and the use of additional operational frequencies
- Instructions on how to file flight plans in/out of the specific airports affected (both IFR/VFR)
- Associated temporary flight restriction (TFR) information
- Air traffic control tower times of operation (if non-standard)
- Information on possible airport and FBO-managed parking reservation programs.
In past years, it was common to see the use of FAA-managed E-STMP air traffic slot reservation programs. This type of program has, for the most part, been replaced by more efficient FAA tools such as ground delay programs (GDPs), airspace flow programs (AFPs) and, when needed, ground stops. In addition, it is now more common to see airport and FBO-managed parking reservation programs.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.