Airspace of Yemen – Sana’a Flight Information Region

CSV
Status
Active
Issued date
31/10/2023
Revision
  • 31/10/2023 - The validity of the CZIB was extended until 30 April 2024. No additional changes were introduced. 
  • 20/07/2023 - German AIC 12/23 issued on 13 July 2023 superseding AIC 09/23.
  • 23/05/2023 - German AIC 07/23 issued on 18 May 2023 superseding AIC 05/23. Canada AIC 13/23 issued on 18 May 2023 replacing AIC 3/23.
  • 28/04/2023 - The validity of the CZIB was extended until 31 October 2023. Recommendations were aligned with the description of the CZIB.

Referenced publication(s):

  • AIC France Circular A 24/22 issued 24 November 2022 (see Appendix 1)
  • United Kingdom AIP ENR 1.1 issued 16 June 2022 (see Appendix 2)
  • United States Federal Aviation Administration KICZ A0030/19 issued 11 December 2019 and Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 115 issued 14 December 2017 (see Appendix 3)
  • Germany AIC 12/23 issued on 13 July 2023 (see Appendix 4)
  • United Arab Emirates NOTAM OMAE A0404/21 issued 16 February 2021 (see Appendix 5)
  • Saudi Arabia NOTAM W0120/21 issued 28 January 2021 and W0336/20 issued 17 July 2020 (see Appendix 6)
  • Transport Canada AIC 13/23 issued on 18 May 2023 (see Appendix 7)
Affected Airspace

Airspace of Yemen, Sana’a Flight Information Region (FIR OYSC), any altitude, except airways R401, UL425, UM551 and N315. 

Applicability
Applies to operators
Description

This CZIB is issued on the basis of information available to EU Member States and EU institutions. Considering the hazardous security situation resulting from ongoing high intensity military operations, political instability and the presence of terrorist groups with access to sophisticated anti-aviation weaponry, the risk posed to operations within the airspace of Yemen, Sana’a FIR, at all altitudes, is assessed to be HIGH, except for those portions of airways R401, UL425, UM551 and N315 that are included in the Sana’a FIR.

Recommendation(s)

EASA recommends not to fly in the airspace of Yemen, Sana’a FIR, at all altitudes and flight levels, except for those portions of airways R401, UL425, UM551 and N315 that are included in the Sana’a FIR.
Operators should take this information and any other relevant information into account in their own risk assessments, alongside any available guidance or directions from their national authority as appropriate. Latest operational information on ‘Closures and Warnings’ issued by means of ICAO State Letters, NOTAMs, AICs/AIPs, EASA CZIB may be found in the Network Manager NOP Portal (password protected version).

Valid until
30/04/2024

Appendix 1

Source: AIC France 24/22 issued 24 November 2022 

From 04/11/2021 and until further notice, pilots in command of aircraft performing air services mentioned in paragraph 1.1 are requested not to penetrate into the airspace of Yemen (OYSC FIR (SANAA)), except for routes located in the maritime part of FIR OYSC (SANAA), east of route B400 included, on which a flight level above or equal to FL320 is requested to be maintained at all times.


Appendix 2

Source: United Kingdom AIP ENR 1.1 Section 1.4
 

Security - Hazardous Situation in Yemen

UK registered air operators are recommended not to enter FIR SANAA (OYSC). Potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry. Excluded from this recommendation are airways N315, UL425 and R401. Contact UK Department for Transport +44 (0)207-082 6639 or +44 (0)207-944 5999 out of hours.


Appendix 3

Source: United States Federal Aviation Administration KICZ NOTAM A0030/19 and SFAR 115

KICZ A0030/19 - SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FLIGHT PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN SPECIFIED AREAS OF THE SANAA (OYSC) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR)

14 CFR 91.1611 SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION (SFAR) NO. 115— PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN SPECIFIED AREAS OF THE SANAA (OYSC) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON 11 DEC 2019 AND WAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: HTTPS://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/

 SFC – UNL; 11 DEC 13:05 2019 UNTIL 07 JAN 23:59 2022. CREATED 11 DEC 13:03 2019

SFAR 115

This action amends the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that prohibits certain flights in specified areas of the Sanaa (OYSC) Flight Information Region (FIR) by all: United States (U.S.) air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except where the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. There has been a reduction in the level of risk to U.S. civil aviation operations in limited portions of the specified areas of the Sanaa (OYSC) Flight Information region (FIR) where the FAA had prohibited flight operations under the SFAR. As a result, the FAA is reducing the amount of airspace in the Sanaa (OYSC) FIR in which U.S. civil aviation operations are prohibited. However, there continues to be an unacceptable level of risk to U.S. civil aviation operations in the remainder of the specified areas of the Sanaa (OYSC) FIR, as described in this rule, resulting from terrorist and militant activity. Consequently, the FAA is also amending this SFAR to extend its expiration date. The FAA is also republishing, with minor revisions, the approval process and exemption information for this SFAR


Appendix 4

Source: German AIC 12/23 issued on 13 July 2023

SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN YEMEN
Civil German air operators are prohibited to enter FIR SANAA (OYSC). Potential risk from state of war. 
Excluded from this prohibition are airway N315 between KUTVI and ASPUX, airway UL425 between BOVOS and ASPUX, airway UM551 between KIVEL and ANGAL and airway R401 between KIVEL and SUHIL.
Further information: Website of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport of Germany (www.BMVI.DE/KRISENMANAGEMENT).


Appendix 5

Source: United Arab Emirates General Authority of Civil Aviation 

NOTAM OMAE A0404/21

REFERENCE TO SAUDI ARABIA NOTAM W0120/21, DUE TO THE CONFLICT IN YEMEN BETWEEN THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT AND IRANIAN-SUPPORTED HOUTHI MILITIA, THERE EXISTS THE POTENTIAL FOR HOUTHI WEAPONS TO AFFECT CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS BEYOND THE SANAA FIR.

AS A RESULT, PILOTS SHALL KEEP LISTENING TO THE APPROPRIATE ATC FREQUENCIES AND SHALL STRICTLY ADHERE TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS WHEN FLYING IN THE EMIRATES FIR.

IN ADDITION, UAE IS PUTTING IN PLACE MEASURES TO MITIGATE RISK THAT MIGHT RESULT FROM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM CAPABILITIES THAT MAY TARGET AIR OPERATIONS WITHIN THE EMIRATES FIR.
16 FEB 10:00 2021 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 16 FEB 10:00 2021


Appendix 6

Source: Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation 

NOTAM W0120/21 NOTAMR W0337/20

Q) OEJD/QXXXX/IV/NBO/W /000/999/

A) OEJD B) 2101281400 C) PERM 

E) DUE TO CONFLICT IN YEMEN BETWEEN LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT AND THE
HOUTHI MILITIA SUPPORTED BY IRANIAN REGIME ESCAT IS ACTIVATED IN
THE SOUTH PART OF JEDDAH FIR FLYING RULES AND INFORMATION ON 
AVAILABLE ATS ROUTES ARE DESCRIBED IN AIP SUP 02/2021.

PILOTS SHALL KEEP LISTENING TO THE APPROPRIATE ATC FREQUENCIES AND
SHALL ADHERE STRICTLY TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS WHEN FLYING TO/FROM THE
SOUTHERN AIRPORTS DUE TO DEFENSE RESPONSES THAT MAY OCCUR.
IN ADDITION, SAUDI ARABIA IS PUTTING IN PLACE MEASURES TO MITIGATE
RISK THAT MIGHT RESULT FROM LIMITED LONG-RANGE MISSILES AND UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT SYSTEM CAPABILITIES THAT MAY TARGET AIRPORTS WITHIN JEDDAH
FIR.

OPERATORS MAY CONSIDER THIS INFORMATION WHEN CONDUCTING RISK
ASSESSMENT.

W0336/20 NOTAMR W0284/20

Q) OEJD/QAFXX/IV/NBO/W /000/999/

A) OEJD B) 2007172359 C) PERM 

E) WIE ESCAT ACT IN THE SOUTH OEJD FIR IN AN AREA BOUNDED BY THE FLW 
COORD:

173246N0400310E-183241N0411527E-192804N0422351E-214500N0452000E-21060
4N0460559E-183326N0485932E-181000N0481100E-172700N0473600E-170700N047
2800E-165700N0471100E-165700N0470000E-171700N0464500E-171400N0462200E
-171500N0460600E-172000N0452400E-172600N0451300E-172600N0443900E-1724
20N0443400E-172600N0442800E-172600N0442158E
THEN FLW SAUDI ARABIA AND REPUBLIC OF YEMEN INTERNATIONAL BDRY IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH JEDDAH TREATY TO THE COAST LINE BDRY 
162415N0424620E-162415N0420900E-161724N0414700E-160000N0420000E-15470
0N0415230E-153955N0413947E-160000N0410000E.
PILOTS SHALL STRICTLY KEEP LISTENING WATCH TO THE APPROPRIATE ATC 
FREQUENCIES AND SHALL ADHERE STRICTLY TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS.

F) SFC                             G) UNL


Appendix 7

Source: Transport Canada AIC 13/23 issued on 18 May 2023

Yemen – Level 2 – Issued February 9, 2021
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN YEMEN. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended not to enter FIR Sana’a (OYSC), northwest of the line created by the waypoints PAKER-ORBAT-NORMA on jet route UT702. Potential risks from anti-aviation weaponry and military operations.

 

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