Story ID: CBeasaconflict01302020
EASA Modifies Iran and Iraq Overflight Warnings
By: Cathy Buyck
Caption: Although it lifted certain restrictions, the EU safety agency says risk in airspace over Iran and Iraq remains "high." 
Word Count: 304
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has relaxed its recommendation to avoid all overflights of Iran and Iraq, three weeks after the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, a Boeing 737-800, shortly after takeoff from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport January 8. The Cologne-based EU safety regulator nonetheless still perceives a risk with flying over the countries and advises the bloc’s airlines to avoid flights over Iran at levels below 25,000 feet and avoid overflights of Iraq except in two specific air corridors.

In doing so, EASA reaffirmed its position stated in two separate Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIB) published earlier this month.

In its CZIB-2020-01R0 relating to Iran, EASA warns of a risk of “misidentification” of civil aircraft due to the “hazardous security situation, and poor coordination between civil aviation and military operations.”  It adds that due to the presence of “various advanced air-defense systems, it is advised to be cautious with the risk associated [with] civil aviation. The risk to operations is assessed to be high for flight levels below 250.”

The CZIB-2017-04R5 for Iraq points to the risk “of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft” owing to what EASA describes as the “hazardous security situation, with the presence of terrorist organizations and ongoing military operations.” Because of the presence of “various weaponry including MANPADS” in the country, operations in Iraqi airspace at all altitudes remains of “high” risk, EASA stated, except for airways UM688 and UM860.

EASA said it modified the recommendations following a meeting of the Integrated EU Aviation Security Risk Assessment Group on January 28.

In contrast to the U.S. FAA, EASA cannot impose a ban or flight restrictions over conflict zones because those decisions remain on a national, member state level.