Jeppesen ForeFlight Launches AI-Powered ClearNOTAMs to Simplify Flight Planning
ForeFlight introduces ClearNOTAMs, an AI-driven app translating complex NOTAM data into clear English summaries, improving pilot access to essential pre-flight information.
The gist
ClearNOTAMs uses AI to transform dense NOTAMs into easy summaries, helping pilots quickly grasp key flight info and save planning time.
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The pre-flight process for pilots involves reviewing a slew of critical information mandated by aviation regulations, a major hurdle being the deciphering of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). These NOTAMs traditionally come in dense blocks of capital letters and cryptic abbreviations, presenting a significant challenge to pilots who must extract pertinent details swiftly and accurately. Addressing this challenge, Jeppesen ForeFlight has developed ClearNOTAMs, an innovative application that interprets and translates raw NOTAM data into plain English summaries that maintain original meaning while enhancing operational clarity.
ClearNOTAMs, powered by artificial intelligence, provides pilots with an accessible interface where flight-relevant NOTAMs are decoded into clear language describing each one's practical impact on flight operations. Cole Crawford, director of product at Jeppesen ForeFlight, emphasizes that the technology does not replace the original NOTAM text but offers a parallel, comprehensible summary. This robust translation allows pilots to anticipate conditions and potential limitations effectively without wading through complex jargon.
The development of ClearNOTAMs took over a year, during which Jeppesen ForeFlight invested significant effort to ensure the AI understood and accurately interpreted the intricate terminology used in NOTAMs. This included embedding extensive automated cross-checks throughout the system to boost translation precision. The AI generates simple English narratives as the primary display for each NOTAM, yet retains the ability for users to tap and view the original coded message side-by-side, allowing verification and confidence in the interpretation.
Beyond language simplification, ClearNOTAMs introduces user-focused features that allow customization and sorting to meet individual pilot needs. Users can apply filters by categories such as airport, airspace, and runway or by the issuing authority’s scope, whether local or regional. Flight planners can sort entries by the latest update or effective time, pin important NOTAMs to the top for priority, or collapse them when less relevant, streamlining access and reducing information fatigue.
ClearNOTAMs is integrated within the existing ForeFlight ecosystem, available to pilots through subscription plans. To encourage adoption, ForeFlight is offering a three-month complimentary trial of ClearNOTAMs for individual users who subscribe after the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event, held from July 20-26. Post-trial, the feature will continue as part of ForeFlight’s Premium offering for individuals and will also be included in business and military packages, supporting a broad range of aviators and organizations.
This new application reflects an ongoing commitment to improving flight planning safety and efficiency by leveraging cutting-edge AI technology. By transforming one of the most complex components of pre-flight preparation into understandable information, ClearNOTAMs helps reduce pilot workload and potential for misinterpretation. As NOTAMs often contain vital data on airspace closures, navigational aids, and runway conditions, having them clearly summarized enhances situational awareness and operational readiness.
The capability to view the original NOTAM text alongside the summary provides transparency and trust in the AI’s interpretations, ensuring pilots remain in full control of the information. For flight departments and government agencies, the rollout of ClearNOTAMs as part of specific ForeFlight tiers offers scalable adoption opportunities, meeting diverse operational requirements with the same user-friendly interface.
Jeppesen ForeFlight’s move to integrate AI into NOTAM management marks a significant evolution in flight planning tools. Given the critical role of NOTAMs in aviation safety and compliance, ClearNOTAMs addresses a persistent pain point by enhancing information accessibility. Its success may set a precedent for other aviation regulatory communications to adopt AI-powered clarity methods, aligning with broader industry trends toward digital transformation.
Frequently asked questions
- How does ClearNOTAMs improve pilot understanding of NOTAMs?
- ClearNOTAMs uses AI to translate the traditional all-caps, abbreviation-heavy NOTAMs into clear English summaries that convey the operational impact, helping pilots understand key information quickly.
- Is the original NOTAM text still accessible in the ClearNOTAMs app?
- Yes, pilots can view the original coded NOTAM alongside the AI-generated English summary with a simple tap, allowing verification of the translation accuracy.
- Who can access ClearNOTAMs and on what terms?
- ClearNOTAMs is available through ForeFlight subscription plans, with a three-month free trial for individual users after EAA AirVenture Oshkosh; afterwards, it's included in the Premium plan for individuals and other advanced plans for businesses and government.
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Passenger refuses to sit beside woman citing Sharia law, assaults flight attendant on Turkey-Germany flight
A German resident of Turkish descent was arrested upon landing on a flight from Turkey to Germany, after he refused to sit next to a female seat mate, only to then punch the flight attendant when she tried to help with the situation. The guy then proceeded to insult police officers in Turkish, leading to even more charges… talk about awful behavior. Passenger causes commotion on Turkey to Germany flight German media is reporting on an incident that happened on June 1, 2026, on a flight from Samsun, Turkey (SZF), to Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS). This happened on a SunExpress flight, with that being a leisure airline that's a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. According to reports, the 29-year-old man ended up in a situation where he was sitting next to a female, which he wasn't comfortable with, claiming it was in violation of Sharia law. When the flight attendant confronted him, he reportedly punched her in the face. German Federal Police were called to the airport in Dusseldorf shortly before 7AM, to take a report of the assault. A criminal complaint was subsequently filed. The passenger confessed to the crime, though the conversation didn't go smoothly. The man reportedly insulted the police officers in Turkish, thinking they wouldn't understand. However, since one of the officers spoke Turkish, the man received an additional charge of insult, beyond his charge of assault. One detail that's not known is the context in which he ended up sitting next to a woman. Like, how did this incident only happen while the plane was in the air, and not on the ground in Turkey, before departure, since presumably he would've been offloaded at that point? This incident happened on a SunExpress flight This situation is obviously terrible on all levels Even as someone who isn't really religious, I think people are entitled to there sincerely held religious beliefs. However, if your religious beliefs impact the ability of others to go about their day, I think it's on the person with the religious beliefs to make accommodations, rather than putting that burden on others. On the topic of Sharia law, as you'd expect, different people have different interpretations. The idea is that direct contact and interaction with the opposite gender (if not related by blood, marriage, etc.) is only allowed for necessity. I guess the idea here is that if you're sitting next to someone on a plane you could accidentally touch, and that was presumably an issue for him. Now, let me point out that not all people with that general belief system interpret things that way, and many will view it as being fine to sit next to someone of the opposite gender on a plane. If this is really how the guy felt, he should've purchased an extra seat (which SunExpress allows) to prevent any potential touch. Of course the irony here is that he was so concerned about inadvertently making contact with a female, only to then… slap a female, which I'm pretty sure would qualify as direct contact. Then the icing on the cake here is that he insulted the police officers, which is a criminal offense in Germany, and it can even lead to imprisonment. Ouch all around… This guy should've purchased an extra seat, if it was so important Bottom line A passenger on a SunExpress flight had quite the meltdown, when he first refused to sit next to a woman, only to then punch the flight attendant when she tried to intervene. When the flight was met by police in Germany, he then insulted the officers, which is also a crime in Germany. While I respect sincerely held religious beliefs, this guy was 100% in the wrong on all counts here, and I imagine he'll be held accountable for his behavior. What do you make of this flight seating incident?
Oregon launches comprehensive public drone pilot training and testing framework
The Oregon Department of Aviation released a training and testing template July 10 for public agencies that operate drones. This new template provides additional model standards that public agencies may adopt and customize for pilot qualifications, recurrent training and public-safety missions. Training Beyond Part 107 The FAA requires Part 107 certificate holders to complete online recurrent training every 24 calendar months, in an effort to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency. Oregon's document goes further by adding written test questions, practical flight evaluations, emergency drills, airspace-deconfliction exercises, privacy and public-records training, maintenance requirements and launch-decision checklists. "This is the next step in building safe and accountable public agency drone programs in Oregon," Oregon Department of Aviation Director Kenji Sugahara said. "A policy tells an agency what the rules are. Training and testing show whether people can actually apply those rules in the field. That matters when drones are being used near roads, bridges, neighborhoods, emergency scenes, firefighters, patients, helicopters, or disaster areas." Public-Agency Requirements Oregon law already requires public bodies to register public-use drones with the state aviation department and submit annual reports. Those reports must summarize how frequently the aircraft were used, explain the primary purposes of the flights and direct the public to the agency's drone policies. Educational institutions register as drone users rather than registering each aircraft. The template is designed for cities, counties, state agencies, fire departments, emergency managers, transportation departments and other public bodies. Optional sections address Drone as First Responder programs, fire and EMS support, search and rescue, emergency management, mutual aid, remote operations and FAA-authorized flights beyond visual line of sight. The department said the document does not create new flight authority, authorize law enforcement activity or permit operations beyond FAA limits.
Large drone collides with LAPD helicopter over San Fernando Valley, forcing emergency landing
A large drone struck a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter during a patrol over the San Fernando Valley, damaging the aircraft's windshield and forcing the crew to make a precautionary landing. The Airbus AS350 was flying near the 101 Freeway and Reseda Boulevard in Tarzana shortly before 15:00 local time on July 7, 2026, when it collided with the drone, according to the LAPD and a preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report. The pilot landed safely at nearby Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Neither of the two officers aboard the helicopter was injured. Authorities described the drone as measuring approximately three feet by three feet, considerably larger than most hobbyist drones. Investigators have not identified its make or model or the person operating it. The collision happened as firefighters battled a brush fire near the Encino Reservoir. An LAPD official said the drone operator may have been attempting to record the fire, although authorities have not determined whether the aircraft was deliberately flown near the helicopter. The FBI and FAA have opened investigations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident "completely unacceptable" and warned drone operators against interfering with police and firefighting aircraft. "This is a warning to anybody who's flying a drone that interferes with Fire or Police: We will find you, you will be arrested, and you will be prosecuted," Bass said. Drones operating near wildfires can put a halt to aerial firefighting operations as crews cannot safely share the airspace with an unidentified aircraft. The FAA generally limits drones to 400 feet above the ground, with additional restrictions around airports and emergency operations. Authorities have not released photographs of the damaged helicopter or video showing the collision. The drone operator remained unidentified as of July 13. The incident is the latest collision involving a drone and a crewed aircraft in US airspace. The FAA receives thousands of reports each year involving drones operating near airplanes and helicopters, although confirmed midair collisions remain relatively rare.
Vertical Aerospace Delays Valo eVTOL Air Taxi Certification to 2029
American Airlines and other carriers who placed conditional orders for U.K. manufacturer Vertical Aerospace's Valo, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi, will not receive the aircraft until 2029 at the earliest. Vertical—considered the U.K.'s leading air taxi developer by virtue of being one of the only firms conducting routine flight testing—said Monday in a business update that it "re-baselined" its certification program, through which it seeks concurrent Valo type certification from European and American regulators. The new timeline puts certification in 2029, a one-year slip from the 2028 target the company announced in late 2024. "This timeline reflects the rigor of certifying an entirely new class of aircraft under an established regulatory certification framework," the company said in Monday's update. Vertical added that it will discuss certification in more detail at July's Farnborough International Airshow and in an August 13 business update. Vertical unveiled Valo as its flagship air taxi in December. It plans to establish networks across cities such as New York, Miami, and London, ferrying passengers between airports, city centers, hospitals, and event venues. The company is certifying Valo to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) special condition for VTOL (SC-VTOL) standard in the enhanced category, which would permit operations over populated areas. SC-VTOL Enhanced requires manufacturers to meet the same 10 -9 standard—denoting one catastrophic failure per billion flight hours—required of commercial airlines. Michael Cervenka, Vertical's chief commercial and technology officer, in January told FLYING that the FAA will "literally sign the [type] certificate on the same day." The agency will hold small eVTOL air taxis to the lower 10 -8 standard, so Cervenka said achieving concurrent approval will be like "passporting." "That gives us, effectively, a certification moat in Europe, where we're going to be the only aircraft certified to that highest standard, able to fly over populated areas, all the kind of real high value use cases," he said. Vertical had been targeting 2025 certification and entry into service until '23, when it pushed the timeline back to '26. U.S. air taxi manufacturers such as Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation have similarly seen their certification targets slip over the years, in part because the FAA modified the pathway for eVTOL models. Some of them no longer offer firm timelines. Still, a divide is forming between the American and European air taxi manufacturers. Joby and Beta Technologies are already flying conforming, preproduction prototypes—a phase Vertical does not expect to begin until next year. And while the FAA is overseeing expanded testing of precertification air taxis at airports nationwide, the European regulatory environment has been more stringent, leading some of Vertical's competitors to go bankrupt . Illustrating the divide, Beta Technologies has flown electric prototypes across the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, and Japan, while Vertical has been limited to activities at Cotswold Airport (EGBP). The company on Monday said it finally obtained expanded privileges from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that will open up flights away from Cotswold. When Are the Air Taxis Coming? U.S. eVTOL manufacturers toward the beginning of the decade communicated that their aircraft would begin flying passengers in 2024, give or take one year. As that timeline approached, they began to face the realities of type certification and operating at losses, prompting them to revise their expectations. Most recently, Joby gave a target of late 2026 for the launch of commercial air taxi service in Dubai, available on the Uber platform. But that timeline is now in question amid war in the Middle East. It has been a similar story for Vertical. The U.K. manufacturer estimated in September that it would require $700 million to complete Valo's certification. In April, it finalized a financing package worth up to $800 million and achieved Valo's first piloted transition from hover to forward flight and back again. The company is flight testing two prototypes under a CAA permit to fly authorization. American manufacturers have more aircraft in the sky, though, in part due to a crash that Vertical suffered during an uncrewed prototype flight in 2023. The incident permanently grounded the prototype, called the VX4. The company returned to flight testing with a second VX4 in 2024 and in June introduced a third and final prototype. Per Vertical's Flight Plan 2030 vision plan, released in December 2024, the third VX4 was supposed to debut in '25. It is intended to be followed by seven conforming, preproduction aircraft that Vertical will use for certification testing with the CAA. The Flight Plan also targeted the VX4's first piloted transition in 2025, but that did not happen until April. Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson said during an earnings call in May that the milestone came "slightly late" and "nudges up the risk" for certification in 2028. He reiterated that the target "remains absolutely doable" but earlier in the call said it was "under additional risk." In addition to delaying certification to 2029 on Monday, Vertical said it would complete Valo's critical design review (CDR) by the end of the year, a slip from Simpson's previous mid-2026 target. CDR would finalize the air taxi's baseline design and allow Vertical to begin building conforming prototypes for certification testing. Silver Linings Despite the delays, Vertical also announced some progress Monday. Ahead of CDR, it plans to open an assembly facility for early production aircraft in the coming months. By year's end, it aims to activate a battery production plant. Combined with the CAA's expanded permit to fly, those moves will position Vertical for expanded testing once the preproduction aircraft are ready. Vertical also said Monday that propulsion system evaluation for a planned hybrid-electric variant, designed for a range of up to 1,000 miles, is underway on a dedicated test rig. It expects to fly it in the first half of 2027 and announce a long-term turbogenerator supplier this year. It is possible that the hybrid-electric Valo enters service before the passenger air taxi variant. American manufacturers Archer, Joby, and Beta have similarly developed hybrid-electric variants of their flagship models as they pursue earlier opportunities in cargo and defense. In the near term, Vertical could bid for contracts—such as those the aforementioned companies have secured with U.S. military branches—to ease financial stress as it pushes forward with certification. Either way, the U.K. air taxi leader will need to get creative to achieve the goals it set in December 2024. Those include 150 customer deliveries and 200 aircraft produced annually by the end of the decade.
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