Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Malaysia's aviation authority has issued a safety warning for airlines operating aircraft near or over active conflict zones.
Image: Screenshot from Flightradar24 of air traffic following Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Malaysia's aviation authority has issued a safety warning for airlines operating aircraft near or over active conflict zones.
Following Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) issued an advisory for pilots and air operators titled “SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENTS OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT OPERATING NEAR OR OVER ACTIVE CONFLICT ZONES” published on April 15.
In the advisory, CAAM cited possible risks for the safety of international civil flights following recent geopolitical conflict, military activities, and various NOTAMs for the closures of airspace in the Middle East. The CAAM identified the airspace the Tehran Flight Information Region (OIIX FIR) could contain “serious risks” along with the airspace adjoining it, and the CAAM noting pilots and operators should anticipate additional closures in adjacent airspace as the situation continues to develop.
“The conflict zones in these region present unique challenges due to their unpredictability and rapidly evolving nature. The primary risk to civil aircraft operating near or over active conflict zones include long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), coordination irregularities and risk of miscalculation or misidentification by air defence systems. Given the lack of available mitigation measures against such threats, a systematic approach to risk assessment is therefore, crucial,” the CAAM said in the advisory.
Based on its assessment of the current situation in the Middle East, CAAM advised airlines to exercise “extreme caution” when operating within and in the regions and carefully monitor air traffic control and other guidance. Air operators are also advised to conduct risk assessments that consider the routes from departure to arrival, along with alternate routes.
“The absence of any restrictions in foreign airspace should not preclude the air operator from making its own determination on the safety and security risks of the airspace to be flown through. Air operators are responsible for conducting detailed risk assessments customised to their operational geography, types of operations, and the extent of their activities,” CAAM said.
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