Pro Resource: Conflict Zone Information Bulletins

EASA post CZIBs for all the conflict situations currently impacting aviation.

Where

Currently, there are CZIBs for:

• South Sudan
• Mali
• Libya
• Iraq
• Somalia
• Syria
• Yemen – Saudi Arabia
• Egypt (North Sinai)
• Sudan
• Afghanistan
• Pakistan
• Ukraine and surrounding FIRs

What

CZIBs contain a summary of the situation in the region and context for the CZIB. EASA does not offer prohibitions or direct warnings, but suggests the various State Notams and risk assessments should be considered alongside operator risk assessments.

The CZIB provides links to all major State and authority information, and references the regulations, guidance and prohibitions, warnings and cautions they contain.

They provide:

• USA FAA
• UK CAA
• Canada Transport Canada
• France DGAC
• Germany LBA

Why

If you operate internationally, you need to be aware of the situations in airspace which you may operate in the vicinity of for a variety of reasons:

• Flights may be subject to restrictions (flight level or routing options)
• Airspace may be prohibited due safety and/or security reasons, and these may apply to you (or might be something you should consider)
• Crew awareness is required to avoid incursions
• Airspace may be prohibited, requiring considerations in terms of re-routings, weather avoidance etc
• En-route diversion airports may not be available, or may have safety or security concerns rendering them unsafe or unsuitable
• Risk assessments should be done for regions where cautions are in place, and should be tailored to your operation
• MH17 was shotdown in a region where there was known risk, but no Notam providing clear information was available which could have prevented operators utilising the airspace, and avoided the tragic event.

How

It isn’t enough to just ‘know’, you need to mitigate as well.

• Improve your understanding of situations by reading briefings
• Risk may be present in regions not covered by CZIBs
• Include briefings on airspace restrictions and risk in your crew briefing packs
• Stay up to date by checking the EASA CZIBs regularly for changing, and monitor Notams
• Other sites such as Safeairspace.net provide some information. This is not official and might not be maintained
• Ensure crew are aware of the threats and include mitigations and briefings during their flights
• Monitor weather and plan diversions, de-tours and potential emergency routings to avoid unsafe areas
• Maintain good RT and follow comms procedures
• Ensure navigation equipment and tracking is monitored when operating in the vicinity
• Monitor news alert sites and be prepared to suspend or review flights into or over areas of conflict if situations escalate
• Be aware of increased traffic levels including military traffic and UAS in the vicinity of conflict zone airspace.