does anyone know of any written icao rules where they state if a contracting state is allowed to charge money for the dissemination of NOTAMS? are products like notams and Local Aeronautical Circular messages supposed to be free for everyone? so that safety can be guaranteed ?
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$\begingroup$ I don’t think there is a specific rule. In the US, NOTAMS are free. So are the majority of FAA documents and information like charts, handbooks, and manuals. If you want those same documents printed, there is usually a charge. If you get the documents from a third party vendor who got the information from the FAA, there can be a charge. And some information requires research on the part of the FAA or others (like aircraft ADs). There may be a charge for that. $\endgroup$– Dean F.Jan 12, 2021 at 15:50
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Extract from ICAO Annexe 15 (Aeronautical Information Services):
3.5 Cost recovery
Recommendation.— The overhead cost of collecting and compiling aeronautical information/data should be included in the cost basis for airport and air navigation services charges, as appropriate, in accordance with the principles contained in ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services (Doc 9082).
Note.— When costs of collection and compilation of aeronautical information/data are recovered through airports and air navigation services charges, the charge to an individual customer for the supply of a particular AIS product, either in paper or electronic form, may be based on the costs of printing paper copies or production of electronic media, and costs of distribution.
NOTAMS are issued gratis (free) as the information can be essential to the safe conduct of flights. The raw NOTAM is available to any member of the public, anywhere in the world online via the country's AIP (Aeronautiical Information Publication/Services) documents which are of a standard format. You'll probably have to register at no cost as a user though.
A company could charge a fee for processing the info thus obtained so as to tailor the NOTAM list and filter it in a manner suitable for a particular Operator. Or they could put it into a more user friendly format. It maybe noted that briefing areas have (computer) terminals dedicated to this linked to the official NOTAM server, and these terminals can have powerful filtering capabilities already provided by the issueing/distributing authorities.
ICAO lays down that safety related info should disseminated in such a way that there's no undue hindrance for the end user. Think of it this way - could the authority refuse this info to the pilot if it so happens that the subscription was not renewed on time due to any mundane reason?
