The US FAA has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) ordering all US-based airlines and commercial operators to cease overflights through Syrian airspace, citing a "serious potential threat" to civil aircraft.
In a statement, the FAA said: "Based on an updated assessment of the risk associated with such operations and the lack of any requests from operators wishing to fly in this airspace, we believe it prudent to prohibit U.S. operators from flying into, out of and over Syria.”
The FAA's previous so-called Notice to Airmen had strongly advised U.S. operators against flying over Syria.
The text of the NOTAM reads:
!FDC 4/4936 (KFDC A0036/14) ZZZ PART 1 OF 2 SECURITY SYRIA POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION–DAMASCUS (OSTT) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) DUE TO THE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION CREATED BY THE ARMED CONFLICT IN SYRIA, ALL FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE DAMASCUS (OSTT) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) BY THE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW ARE PROHIBITED UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED. A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A FROM CONDUCTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE DAMASCUS FIR (OSTT) WHEN SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY A DEVIATION, EXEMPTION, OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION ISSUED 1408182230-1412312359EST END PART 1 OF 2
!FDC 4/4936 (KFDC A0036/14) ZZZ PART 2 OF 2 SECURITY BY THE ADMINISTRATOR. OPERATORS SHOULD CALL THE FAA WASHINGTON OPERATIONS CENTER AT 202-267-3333 FOR FAA AUTHORIZATION OF OPERATIONS. C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY. THE PROHIBITION ON OPERATIONS IN THE AIRSPACE SPECIFIED IN THIS NOTAM AND THE ASSOCIATED JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS SPECIAL NOTICE WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 31 DEC 2014. THIS NOTAM IS AN EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED UNDER 49 USC 40113(A) AND 46105(C). 1408182230-1412312359EST END PART 2 OF 2
FAA bans US airlines from overflying Syria
