Definition
A type of NOTAM issued by a Flight Service Station to highlight or draw attention to another NOTAM, such as an FDC or D NOTAM. Pointer NOTAMs help ensure that critical information is not missed by directing pilots to the related notice. They include the keyword that matches the subject of the NOTAM being pointed to.
Plain English
A short notice whose only job is to point you to another notice. It says, in effect, 'don't miss this other NOTAM — go read it.'
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight NOTAM review, especially when one notice is meant to alert pilots to another notice filed somewhere else in the NOTAM system.
Derivation
From 'pointer,' meaning something that points to or indicates. The name describes its function exactly — it points the pilot toward another NOTAM that they need to see.
Why Pilots Care
Pointer NOTAMs prevent pilots from missing important safety or operational details that are stored under a different notice identifier.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a Pointer NOTAM contains the full story. Its job is to point you to another NOTAM that must also be read.
Example Sentence 1
While reviewing NOTAMs for the destination airport, the pilot saw a Pointer NOTAM directing attention to an FDC NOTAM about a temporary instrument approach change.
Example Sentence 2
Before filing the flight plan, the pilot read the Pointer NOTAMs for the destination to locate any linked runway closures.