Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 3400; Flight Crew Type 1250
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was arriving into the airport area to practice landings at approximately XA:45. I had checked weather/NOTAMS prior to leaving home and did check AWOS which actually stated NOTAMS in effect in addition to weather. Upon entering the pattern at a 45 degree angle; I announced myself and continued as I continued through downwind; base to final; no response from the Unicom Operator. As I was taxing back another pilot was in the pattern and turning base. The Unicom at this point did speak up and stated the airport was closed due to a drone NOTAM. I did not see this NOTAM nor did the other pilot. I found out that about an hour 15 minutes earlier the airport sent out a NOTAM stating UAS activity from surface to 300 ft. around the airport (actually; west of the airport and traffic was landing west; away from this activity); valid from XA:00 - XA:45. The NOTAM did not state anything about the airport being closed due to drone activity. I landed at about the same time of the NOTAM was expiring so it didn't affect me anyway. To address this situation in the future; the operating should publish the NOTAM close to 24 hours prior to the NOTAM being effective; otherwise; how are pilots to find out about them when they are released about an hour before they are effective? The Airport Operator needs to learn what NOTAM's mean; given this NOTAM did NOT close the airport; thus; he should not have stated that it did.In any event; in the future I will double check NOTAM's prior to immediate departure; however; as stated above; people releasing NOTAM should assume pilots get their briefing often up to a couple of hours prior to leaving for the airport to preflight; etc.
Pilot reported they were made aware of a UAS NOTAM after arriving to a non towered airport.