DGCA Flags Safety Concerns, Warns Airlines To Avoid THESE West Asia Airspaces

The tension in West Asia has been rising constantly, affecting many things at once, including air travel. To ensure airlines don’t face any issues, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory urging them to stay away from certain airspaces for their own safety.

DGCA Issues Travel Advisory For Indian Airlines

According to DGCA’s advisory, the airlines are asked to stay away from airspaces like Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, as per Moneycontrol, airlines can fly over Oman and Saudi Arabia, but only under certain conditions. 

The DGCA has issued this warning because the United States and Israel recently carried out military strikes against targets inside Iran. These attacks have made the situation unpredictable, and Iran has threatened to launch its own military actions. This has increased the chances of missiles, air defenses, or other weapons being active in the skies over West Asia. Such a situation can put the lives of normal passengers on flights at risk.

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Thorough Safety Risk Assessment

While passing through the southern airspace of Saudi Arabia and Oman, Indian carriers have been asked not to fly below FL 320, or 32,000 feet. According to Moneycontrol, unexpected situations can occur at any time, so the DGCA highlighted that airlines must carry out thorough safety risk assessments. They should have strong contingency plans ready in case flights need to be rerouted, delayed, or diverted. This includes planning for any unexpected disruptions that could occur in the region.

Operators must also ensure their flight crews are aware of the latest NOTAMs. What is it? These are Notices to Airmen that give pilots real-time updates about airspace restrictions, airport conditions, and other safety information while flying. Keeping crews informed is key to handling sudden changes safely. This advisory comes into effect immediately and will remain in force until March 28. The DGCA may review or update it depending on developments in the region.

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