The European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and its impact on civil aviation following the recent spike in military exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.
An overall intensification of air strikes and degradation in the security situation has been noted, impacting the safety of airspace over Israel and Lebanon.
In that context, the European Commission and EASA have decided to issue CZIBs recommending not to operate within the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels. The recommendation is valid until October 31, 2024 and can be reviewed earlier and adapted or withdrawn subject to the revised assessment.
EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of risks for EU aircraft operators as a result of the evolution of the threat.
Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for Israel
Considering the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, there is a high risk to civil aviation. The conflict involves rockets, missiles and drones launches from Lebanon with Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire, including systematic activation of air-defence systems. Hezbollah’s possession of all-altitude capable cruise and ballistic missiles, along with the deployment of air assets operating at various altitudes, increases the risk of misidentification and miscalculation.
Additionally, cruise missiles and military-grade weaponised drones launched by Hezbollah allies create additional concerns for the safety of airspace in the region.
Although, until now the Civil Aviation Authority of the State of Israel has been efficiently managing the risks to civil aviation in its airspace through a tactical deconfliction, it is considered that the current intensity of the conflict represents an overall high risk to civil aviation.
EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation.
EASA recommends not to operate within the airspace of Israel at all flight levels. Air operators should closely monitor airspace developments in the region and follow all available aeronautical publications concerning the region issued by Israel, or on behalf of Israel by the Aviation Authorities of the neighbouring States, including information shared through the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform on Conflict Zones, alongside available guidance or direction from their national authorities.
Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for Lebanon
Considering the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel there is a high risk to civil aviation. The conflict involves rockets, missiles and drones launches from Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire.
Hezbollah’s possession of all-altitude capable air-defence systems, cruise and ballistic missiles, along with the deployment of air assets operating at various altitudes, increases the risk of misidentification and miscalculation.
The recent intensification of the conflict, with air strikes targeting southern Beirut and the North-East part of the Lebanese territory, marks a sharp escalation in the military activity that constitutes a threat to civil aviation.
In terms of airspace management, the State concerned has not demonstrated full capability to address existing airspace risks by implementing an efficient and proactive approach to the airspace deconfliction. As a result, there are limited mitigating factors, on which air operators can rely.
Considering the above and the current intensity of the conflict, it is considered that there is a high-risk in the entire airspace of Lebanon.
EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation.
EASA recommends not to operate within the airspace of Lebanon at all flight levels. Air operators should closely monitor airspace developments in the region and follow all available aeronautical publications concerning the region issued by Lebanon, or on behalf of Lebanon by the Aviation Authorities of the neighbouring States, including information shared through the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform on Conflict Zones, alongside available guidance or direction from their national authorities.
The article EASA issues CZIBs for Israel and Lebanon airspace first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.
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