Definition
A NOTAM contraction used to indicate a holiday — a non-working day on which normal services, staffing, or operations at an airport or facility may be reduced, altered, or unavailable.
Plain English
HOL is shorthand for 'holiday' in NOTAMs and similar aviation messages. It tells you the date or service being referred to is a holiday, which often means changes to normal airport or ATC operations.
Context Anchor
Seen in NOTAMs, airport schedule information, and facility operating hours.
Derivation
Holiday comes from Old English words meaning “holy day.” Over time it came to mean a day set apart from normal work or business, which matches its aviation use as a special scheduling day.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots consult these NOTAMs to confirm whether runways, towers, or services will be available before flying on a holiday.
Intuition Check
HOL does not mean weekend, vacation, or any day off. In this context, it means a recognized holiday that may change the published schedule.
Example Sentence 1
The NOTAM read 'TWR CLSD HOL,' meaning the control tower would be closed on the holiday.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots checked the holiday NOTAM before planning a flight on July 4.