Definition
A NOTAM contraction used to report the presence of snowbanks on or near an airport movement area that have been formed or shaped by wind. DRFT alerts pilots to wind-piled accumulations of snow that may obstruct runways, taxiways, ramps, or runway edges, and which may not match the depth shown by general snow-cover reports.
Plain English
A short code in NOTAMs meaning the wind has piled up snow into banks or drifts on the airport. These piles can be deeper than the surrounding snow and may block parts of the runway, taxiway, or ramp.
Context Anchor
Seen in NOTAMs and airport surface condition information during snow or winter operations.
Derivation
From the everyday word 'drift,' meaning snow moved and heaped by the wind. The contraction simply drops the vowels to fit NOTAM character limits.
Why Pilots Care
Snow drifts reduce available runway width and create uneven surfaces that affect aircraft handling during takeoff and landing.
Grounding Statement
Picture wind blowing loose snow across a runway and piling it into ridges along the edges or across open paved areas.
Intuition Check
DRFT does not simply mean light snow blowing around in the air. Here it means snow that has already piled up into banks because of wind.
Example Sentence 1
The NOTAM listed DRFT along the north edge of Runway 32, so the pilot expected reduced usable width after the recent storm.
Example Sentence 2
Before taxi, the pilot confirmed no DRFT remained on the ramp after plowing.