ATP rated doctor of engineering expresses discontent with language of NOTAM.

Attributes
ACN	721917
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 2950 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	721917
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Situations
Publication	Notams

Narrative:

Obtained standard briefing from abq FSS. One of the GPS NOTAMS was that 2 'prn codes are unavailable.' I've got a phd in engineering; so I know what a prn code is and how to create one; but the FSS information was absolutely useless. Which satellites and which GPS channels (C/a) use those 2 prn codes? What does this mean in terms of GPS availability and accuracy? Briefer had no idea; and said that prn codes was not even in his glossary. He also said that the NOTAM came from the FAA; and he had no idea what the NOTAM meant. This NOTAM is about as bad as they come -- something isn't right; but we won't tell you what's wrong; or if it even makes a difference.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATP RATED DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH LANGUAGE OF NOTAM.

Narrative: OBTAINED STANDARD BRIEFING FROM ABQ FSS. ONE OF THE GPS NOTAMS WAS THAT 2 'PRN CODES ARE UNAVAILABLE.' I'VE GOT A PHD IN ENGINEERING; SO I KNOW WHAT A PRN CODE IS AND HOW TO CREATE ONE; BUT THE FSS INFO WAS ABSOLUTELY USELESS. WHICH SATELLITES AND WHICH GPS CHANNELS (C/A) USE THOSE 2 PRN CODES? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN TERMS OF GPS AVAILABILITY AND ACCURACY? BRIEFER HAD NO IDEA; AND SAID THAT PRN CODES WAS NOT EVEN IN HIS GLOSSARY. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE NOTAM CAME FROM THE FAA; AND HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE NOTAM MEANT. THIS NOTAM IS ABOUT AS BAD AS THEY COME -- SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT; BUT WE WON'T TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG; OR IF IT EVEN MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.