Find current KJFK NOTAMs and decode runway closures, UTC times, lighting outages and procedure changes using official data and JFK charts.
To find current NOTAMs for John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), query the official FAA NOTAM system or obtain an authorised flight briefing for KJFK and your planned UTC window. Read each notice’s affected facility, condition, effective period and limits, then cross-check runway, taxiway and procedure references against current JFK charts.
In our Aviation & Real-World Flying coverage, we treat NOTAMs as live operational data rather than static airport information. A copied list or screenshot can become obsolete quickly, so this page explains the retrieval and interpretation process instead of publishing notices that may have expired.
Where can you find current KJFK NOTAMs?
The authoritative sources are the official FAA NOTAM system and an authorised pre-flight briefing covering the intended route and time.
- Search for KJFK: confirm that the result identifies John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Some US displays shorten the identifier to
JFKinside the NOTAM text; that does not indicate a different airport. - Set the complete UTC window: cover the expected arrival or departure plus a sensible allowance for delays. An “active now” filter can miss a closure issued in advance that begins during the flight.
- Include every relevant notice type: review airport notices, FDC notices and procedure changes. A route briefing can also reveal restrictions that are not indexed solely under KJFK.
- Record the retrieval time: check for amended, replaced or cancelled notices, then obtain a fresh briefing shortly before a real flight.
An airport search alone may not reveal every airspace restriction. Review TFR boundaries and effective times separately, especially when a restriction could affect the New York terminal area.
Use the KJFK chart set and airport layout as the permanent baseline. For published runway, communications and airport remarks, our explanation of using the FAA Chart Supplement helps distinguish normal airport data from temporary NOTAM changes.
How do you decode a KJFK NOTAM?
Read a KJFK NOTAM as four parts: the affected facility, the reported condition, its precise limits and the period during which it applies.
A simplified format such as JFK RWY 04L/22R CLSD YYMMDDhhmm-YYMMDDhhmm says that the physical runway identified by both directions is closed between two UTC date-times. It is an illustration of the format, not a live KJFK notice.
| NOTAM wording | Meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
RWY and CLSD | A runway is closed | The named runway ends, effective times and any stated exceptions |
TWY, BTN and CLSD | A taxiway or specified segment is closed | The two bounding intersections on the airport diagram |
ILS, DME, PAPI or ALS with U/S | A navigation or lighting component is unserviceable | Whether the approach remains available and which minima or operational limits apply |
APCH PROC ... NA | The named approach procedure is unavailable | An alternative approach, runway or diversion plan |
OBST or CRANE | A temporary obstacle has been reported | Coordinates, radius, height and whether values are AGL or MSL |
DLY | The restriction repeats daily | The daily hours and the overall start and end dates |
NOTAM times normally use UTC. In a timestamp such as 2609150200, the digits mean 15 September 2026 at 0200 UTC. KJFK uses Eastern Time: UTC−4 during daylight time and UTC−5 during standard time, so check both the offset and possible local-date rollover.
EST marks an estimated end rather than guaranteed restoration; retrieve the latest notice instead of assuming the condition has ended. PERM indicates a lasting change awaiting incorporation into the appropriate publication. If an abbreviation or scope is unclear, use the official contraction explanation or ask the authorised briefer rather than guessing.
Which KJFK NOTAMs should you check first?
Runway and taxiway closures usually demand the first operational decision, followed by approach availability, navigation aids, lighting, obstacles and other airport restrictions.
- Runway closures: a runway written as
04L/22Ris one strip used in opposite directions. A closure naming both ends closes that physical runway for the stated period; it is not permission to use the reciprocal direction. - Taxiway restrictions: words such as
BTNlimit a closure to a particular segment. Trace it on the airport diagram rather than assuming the whole taxiway is unavailable. - Approach and navaid outages: an unavailable approach does not necessarily close the airport. It may require another procedure, higher minima, a different runway or an alternate airport.
- Lighting outages: these can matter far more at night or in low visibility than in daylight visual conditions.
- Obstacles and work areas: plot coordinates and compare stated height references carefully. AGL and MSL are not interchangeable.
ATIS may summarise an immediate runway closure or equipment outage, but it is not a complete NOTAM briefing. Our comparison of what ATIS and NOTAMs each provide explains why an item missing from ATIS must not be treated as cancelled.
Why might KJFK NOTAMs disagree with a flight simulator?
Live KJFK NOTAMs and simulator scenery are separate data sources, so the virtual airport may not display a real closure, work area, crane or lighting failure.
For live-operations simulation, apply notices effective at the simulated UTC date and time, then follow any controlling network instructions. For scenery practice or a historical flight, document which real-world restrictions you are intentionally ignoring; live NOTAMs may have no relevance to the date represented in the simulator.
The mistakes we see most often are reading UTC as local time, confusing the issue time with the effective time, checking only runway closures, and relying on a saved briefing after its information has changed. For real-world flying, simulator behaviour never overrides the latest official briefing, charts, ATC instructions or applicable regulations.