diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import.ex b/lib/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import.ex
index d5753c13..dbba9e87 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import.ex
@@ -213,6 +213,12 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Radio.AdifImport do
         raw when is_binary(raw) -> raw |> String.trim() |> String.upcase()
       end
 
+    # Operator commentary: prefer ADIF <NOTES> (multi-line detailed
+    # field) over <COMMENT> (short one-liner). Whitespace-only values
+    # collapse to nil so the column reflects "no notes" instead of an
+    # empty string — mirrors the normalizer on the submission changeset.
+    notes = adif_notes(fields)
+
     case {band, timestamp} do
       {nil, _} ->
         {:invalid, %{row_num: row_num, messages: ["could not determine a valid microwave band"]}}
@@ -230,7 +236,8 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Radio.AdifImport do
           "mode" => mode,
           "qso_timestamp" => DateTime.to_iso8601(dt),
           "submitter_email" => submitter_email,
-          "user_declared_prop_mode" => prop_mode
+          "user_declared_prop_mode" => prop_mode,
+          "notes" => notes
         }
 
         changeset = Contact.submission_changeset(%Contact{}, attrs)
@@ -244,6 +251,20 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Radio.AdifImport do
     end
   end
 
+  defp adif_notes(fields) do
+    Enum.find_value([fields["NOTES"], fields["COMMENT"]], fn
+      nil -> nil
+      value when is_binary(value) -> non_blank_or_nil(value)
+    end)
+  end
+
+  defp non_blank_or_nil(value) do
+    case String.trim(value) do
+      "" -> nil
+      _ -> value
+    end
+  end
+
   # -- band resolution -------------------------------------------------------
 
   defp resolve_band(fields) do
diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/submit_live.ex b/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/submit_live.ex
index 16c35028..3a4b7694 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/submit_live.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/submit_live.ex
@@ -565,6 +565,10 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.SubmitLive do
             <li>Contacts on amateur bands from 50 MHz and up will be imported</li>
             <li>HF contacts (below 50 MHz) are silently skipped</li>
             <li>Frequencies are fuzzy-matched to the nearest amateur band</li>
+            <li>
+              Operator commentary from <code>NOTES</code>
+              is carried over (falling back to <code>COMMENT</code>)
+            </li>
           </ul>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/test/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import_test.exs b/test/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import_test.exs
index eee37c20..2936ed4c 100644
--- a/test/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import_test.exs
+++ b/test/microwaveprop/radio/adif_import_test.exs
@@ -66,6 +66,42 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Radio.AdifImportTest do
       assert row.attrs["user_declared_prop_mode"] == nil
     end
 
+    test "captures ADIF NOTES into notes" do
+      adif = """
+      <STATION_CALLSIGN:4>W5XD<CALL:4>K5TR<GRIDSQUARE:4>EM00<MY_GRIDSQUARE:4>EM12<FREQ:9>10368.000<MODE:2>CW<QSO_DATE:8>20260328<TIME_ON:6>180000<NOTES:25>Rare Es along TX/OK front<EOR>
+      """
+
+      assert {:ok, preview} = AdifImport.preview(adif, @submitter)
+      assert [row] = preview.valid
+      assert row.attrs["notes"] == "Rare Es along TX/OK front"
+    end
+
+    test "falls back to ADIF COMMENT when NOTES is absent" do
+      adif = """
+      <STATION_CALLSIGN:4>W5XD<CALL:4>K5TR<GRIDSQUARE:4>EM00<MY_GRIDSQUARE:4>EM12<FREQ:9>10368.000<MODE:2>CW<QSO_DATE:8>20260328<TIME_ON:6>180000<COMMENT:10>nice qso!!<EOR>
+      """
+
+      assert {:ok, preview} = AdifImport.preview(adif, @submitter)
+      assert [row] = preview.valid
+      assert row.attrs["notes"] == "nice qso!!"
+    end
+
+    test "prefers NOTES over COMMENT when both are present" do
+      adif = """
+      <STATION_CALLSIGN:4>W5XD<CALL:4>K5TR<GRIDSQUARE:4>EM00<MY_GRIDSQUARE:4>EM12<FREQ:9>10368.000<MODE:2>CW<QSO_DATE:8>20260328<TIME_ON:6>180000<NOTES:8>detailed<COMMENT:5>short<EOR>
+      """
+
+      assert {:ok, preview} = AdifImport.preview(adif, @submitter)
+      assert [row] = preview.valid
+      assert row.attrs["notes"] == "detailed"
+    end
+
+    test "missing NOTES / COMMENT leaves notes nil" do
+      assert {:ok, preview} = AdifImport.preview(@valid_adif, @submitter)
+      [row] = preview.valid
+      assert row.attrs["notes"] == nil
+    end
+
     test "parses ADIF with BAND field instead of FREQ" do
       adif = """
       <STATION_CALLSIGN:4>W5XD<CALL:4>K5TR<GRIDSQUARE:4>EM00<MY_GRIDSQUARE:4>EM12<BAND:4>23cm<MODE:2>CW<QSO_DATE:8>20260328<TIME_ON:6>180000<EOR>