Iran
Risk Level: One - Do Not Fly
[ about risk levels ]
As of 1 Oct 2024, Iran is elevated to Level 1 - Do Not Fly, based on the current risk related to the Israeli conflict. Iran is expecting an Israeli response to the missile attack of Oct 1. On Oct 2, EASA issued a new Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) recommending operators avoid Iranian airspace, and Germany also issued a new airspace warning with the same advice. See OPSGROUP Briefing: Situation: Middle East / Israel – Oct 2024
In Jan 2020, following the shoot-down of Ukraine Int Airlines flight 752 over Tehran, several countries issued airspace warnings for Iran, including: the UK, Canada, Germany, and France. The US has issued an outright flight ban, but all the others advise against landing or overflying the country at the lower flight levels.
The primary risk is a misident by Iranian air defense systems. Iran has shown willingness to use long-range, advanced anti-aircraft-capable weapons during heightened tensions and in close proximity to heavily flown international air routes. There is also a potential for Iranian surface-to-surface missile fire from western Iran, targeting terrorist positions in Iraq.
The secondary risks come from ballistic missile test launches with no warning by Notam, GPS jamming (including in overwater airspace over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman), and GPS spoofing.
Major events:
Oct 2024: Iranian attack on Israel, and possible response.
Apr 2024: Israel aerial attack on Iran during the night of Apr 19. Iran temporarily closed the western part of the FIR.
Feb 2024: Report of GPS spoofing on airway M701 from ENEDA to NAGRO - the closest airway to Iraqi airspace. One GPS showed no position and the remaining GPS and all 3 IRS showed radically different positions.
Jan 2024: Pakistan launched retaliatory air strikes into southeastern Iran, after Iran carried out strikes in Pakistan the previous day.
Sep 2023: Several reports of GPS spoofing in northern Iraq, plus some in northern Iran.
Jul 2023: Four countries took Iran to the UN court over the the shootdown of UIA flight 752 over Tehran in Jan 2020. Part of their allegations were that Iran has still not provided sufficient evidence that measures are now in place to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.
Jan 2023: Lufthansa temporarily suspended all flights to Iran as a precaution, after an Israeli drone attack on a munitions factory located near the central city of Isfahan.
Jan 2020: Iranian Armed Forces shot-down Ukraine Int Airlines flight 752 over Tehran, having mistaken the aircraft radar return for an inbound missile. Just hours prior to the shoot-down, the US FAA issued “Emergency Order” Notams banning all US operators from overflying the airspace of Iraq and Iran. This was in response to an Iranian missile strike on US military bases in Iraq, which had occurred earlier that night.
June 2019: Iran shot down a US military unmanned aircraft operating in airspace over the Gulf of Oman with a SAM system.
Since 2017: Iran has conducted multiple ballistic missile test launches without issuing any Notams to warn civil operators, the latest taking place in late Dec 2019.
In Jan 2020, following the shoot-down of Ukraine Int Airlines flight 752 over Tehran, several countries issued airspace warnings for Iran, including: the UK, Canada, Germany, and France. The US has issued an outright flight ban, but all the others advise against landing or overflying the country at the lower flight levels.
The primary risk is a misident by Iranian air defense systems. Iran has shown willingness to use long-range, advanced anti-aircraft-capable weapons during heightened tensions and in close proximity to heavily flown international air routes. There is also a potential for Iranian surface-to-surface missile fire from western Iran, targeting terrorist positions in Iraq.
The secondary risks come from ballistic missile test launches with no warning by Notam, GPS jamming (including in overwater airspace over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman), and GPS spoofing.
Major events:
Oct 2024: Iranian attack on Israel, and possible response.
Apr 2024: Israel aerial attack on Iran during the night of Apr 19. Iran temporarily closed the western part of the FIR.
Feb 2024: Report of GPS spoofing on airway M701 from ENEDA to NAGRO - the closest airway to Iraqi airspace. One GPS showed no position and the remaining GPS and all 3 IRS showed radically different positions.
Jan 2024: Pakistan launched retaliatory air strikes into southeastern Iran, after Iran carried out strikes in Pakistan the previous day.
Sep 2023: Several reports of GPS spoofing in northern Iraq, plus some in northern Iran.
Jul 2023: Four countries took Iran to the UN court over the the shootdown of UIA flight 752 over Tehran in Jan 2020. Part of their allegations were that Iran has still not provided sufficient evidence that measures are now in place to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.
Jan 2023: Lufthansa temporarily suspended all flights to Iran as a precaution, after an Israeli drone attack on a munitions factory located near the central city of Isfahan.
Jan 2020: Iranian Armed Forces shot-down Ukraine Int Airlines flight 752 over Tehran, having mistaken the aircraft radar return for an inbound missile. Just hours prior to the shoot-down, the US FAA issued “Emergency Order” Notams banning all US operators from overflying the airspace of Iraq and Iran. This was in response to an Iranian missile strike on US military bases in Iraq, which had occurred earlier that night.
June 2019: Iran shot down a US military unmanned aircraft operating in airspace over the Gulf of Oman with a SAM system.
Since 2017: Iran has conducted multiple ballistic missile test launches without issuing any Notams to warn civil operators, the latest taking place in late Dec 2019.
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Notam EGTT V0053/24 | 17 Dec 2024 | 02 Apr 2025 | |
| Germany | Notam EDWW B1219/24 | 11 Dec 2024 | 15 Feb 2025 | |
| USA | SFAR 117 | 03 Oct 2024 | 31 Oct 2027 | |
| EASA | CZIB 2024-3 | 02 Oct 2024 | 31 Oct 2024 | |
| Italy | AIC 33/23 | 10 Jul 2023 | 05 Oct 2024 | |
| USA | SFAR 117 | 20 Sep 2022 | 31 Oct 2024 | |
| France | AIC 15/24 | 09 Apr 2020 | Ongoing | |
| USA | Notam KICZ A0016/20 | 17 Feb 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Germany | AIC 06/24 | 30 Jan 2020 | Ongoing | |
| UK | UK AIP ENR 1.1 (1.4.5) | 20 Jan 2020 | Ongoing | |
| Canada | AIC 21/24 | 10 Jan 2020 | Ongoing |
Source: United Kingdom
Reference: Notam EGTT V0053/24
Issued: 17-Dec-24, valid until: 02 Apr 2025
Plain English: UK operators recommended not to enter the Tehran FIR at all levels. (Overrules the recommendation in their AIP which advises against overflights below FL250.)
SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAN. OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO ENTER FIR TEHRAN (OIIX). POTENTIAL RISK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY AND HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY. THIS NOTAM SUPERSEDES THE ADVICE IN THE CURRENT UK AIP. FOR INFO CONTACT UK DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT 02070 826639 OR 02079 443111 OUT OF HOURS. AR-2024-6719/AU4. SFC - UNL, 02 JAN 00:00 2025 UNTIL 01 APR 23:59 2025. CREATED: 17 DEC 12:04 2024
Source: Germany
Reference: Notam EDWW B1219/24
Issued: 11-Dec-24, valid until: 15 Feb 2025
Plain English: German operators recommended not to enter the Tehran FIR. (Overrules the recommendation in their AIC which just advises caution.)
SECURITY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAN CIVIL GERMAN AIR OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO ENTER FIR TEHRAN (OIIX). POTENTIAL RISK FROM ESCALATING CONFLICT AND ANTI-AVIATION WEAPONRY. THIS NOTAM OVERRULES THE RECOMMENDATION PROVIDED IN CURRENTLY APPLICABLE AIC. 11 DEC 14:11 2024 UNTIL 14 FEB 23:59 2025. CREATED: 11 DEC 14:12 2024
Source: USA
Reference: SFAR 117
Issued: 03-Oct-24, valid until: 31 Oct 2027
Plain English: US operators are prohibited from overflying the OIIX/Tehran FIR due to the risk of misidentification, and unannounced military activities in the region.
This action extends the expiration date of SFAR No. 117 from October 31, 2024, to October 31, 2027. SFAR No. 117 prohibits certain flight operations in the Tehran FIR (OIIX) by all: 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 when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action necessary to address significant unacceptable safety of-flight risks to U.S. civil aviation that continue in the Tehran FIR (OIIX) during periods of heightened regional tensions and increased military activities, conditions that led to the January 2020 accidental shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (PS 752) by Iranian air defences. The FAA also republishes the approval process and exemption information for this flight prohibition SFAR, consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.
Source: EASA
Reference: CZIB 2024-3
Issued: 02-Oct-24, valid until: 31 Oct 2024
Plain English: New EASA CZIB: EASA recommends not to operate in the airspace of Iran at all flight levels.
In view of the Iranian attack against Israel on 1 October 2024 and the announced Israeli retaliation, the Iranian airspace represents high risks to be considered by air operators in their risk assessments. 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 in the airspace of Iran at all flight levels.
Source: Italy
Reference: AIC 33/23
Issued: 10-Jul-23, valid until: 05 Oct 2024
Plain English: Italian operators should maintain FL320 or above in the OIIX/Tehran FIR.
Italian air carriers and captains of aircraft in charge of air services operated by carriers holding an operating license issued by Italy, whether they are contractual carriers and/or operating carriers, or performing air services through a wet lease or a codeshare agreement as well as for any flight made with an aircraft registered in Italy, are recommended to maintain a flight level equal to, or above, FL320 in FIR Teheran (OIIX).
Source: USA
Reference: SFAR 117
Issued: 20-Sep-22, valid until: 31 Oct 2024
Plain English: US operators are prohibited from overflying the OIIX/Tehran FIR due to the risk of misidentification, and unannounced military activities in the region.
This action extends, for an additional two years, the prohibition against certain flight operations in the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR) (OIIX) by all: 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 when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action to be necessary to address continuing hazards to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations. The FAA also republishes, with minor administrative revisions, the approval process and exemption information for this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.
Source: France
Reference: AIC 15/24
Issued: 09-Apr-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: French operators should not overfly the western half of the country (everywhere west of 54 Degrees East longitude); overflights of the eastern half should be at or above FL320.
From 09/04/2020 and until further notice, pilots in command of aircraft performing air services mentioned in paragraph 1.1 are requested not to penetrate in the part of the TEHRAN FIR (OIIX) located west of the 54th meridian and to ensure that their aircraft maintain at all times a flight level above or equal to FL320 in the part of the TEHRAN FIR (OIIX) located east of the 54th meridian.
Source: USA
Reference: Notam KICZ A0016/20
Issued: 17-Feb-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: US operators should exercise caution in the overwater airspace in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Avoid the airways nearest to the OIIX/Tehran FIR whenever possible, to reduce the risk of miscalculation or misidentification by air defence systems.
A0016/20 (Issued for KICZ)
SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADVISORY FOR OVERWATER AIRSPACE ABOVE THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE GULF OF OMAN.
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN OVERWATER AIRSPACE ABOVE THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE GULF OF OMAN IN THE KUWAIT FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) (OKAC), JEDDAH FIR (OEJD) , BAHRAIN FIR (OBBB), EMIRATES FIR (OMAE), AND MUSCAT FIR (OOMM) DUE TO CONTINUED ELEVATED MILITARY POSTURING AND POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE REGION.
NOTAM KICZ A0002/20, WHICH PROHIBITS U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS IN THE TEHRAN FIR (OIIX), REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.
B. PLANNING. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A PLANNING TO OPERATE IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA MUST REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FAA REGULATIONS, OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION, INCLUDING UPDATING B450.
C. OPERATIONS. AVOID AIR ROUTES NEAREST TO THE TEHRAN FIR (OIIX) BOUNDARY, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF MISCALCULATION OR MISIDENTIFICATION BY AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA MAY ENCOUNTER INADVERTENT GPS INTERFERENCE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING, WHICH COULD OCCUR WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT SAFETY AND/OR SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT +1 202-267-3333. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: HTTPS://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/.
SFC - UNL, 17 FEB 19:54 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 17 FEB 20:00 2020
SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADVISORY FOR OVERWATER AIRSPACE ABOVE THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE GULF OF OMAN.
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN OVERWATER AIRSPACE ABOVE THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE GULF OF OMAN IN THE KUWAIT FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) (OKAC), JEDDAH FIR (OEJD) , BAHRAIN FIR (OBBB), EMIRATES FIR (OMAE), AND MUSCAT FIR (OOMM) DUE TO CONTINUED ELEVATED MILITARY POSTURING AND POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE REGION.
NOTAM KICZ A0002/20, WHICH PROHIBITS U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS IN THE TEHRAN FIR (OIIX), REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.
B. PLANNING. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A PLANNING TO OPERATE IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA MUST REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FAA REGULATIONS, OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION, INCLUDING UPDATING B450.
C. OPERATIONS. AVOID AIR ROUTES NEAREST TO THE TEHRAN FIR (OIIX) BOUNDARY, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF MISCALCULATION OR MISIDENTIFICATION BY AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA MAY ENCOUNTER INADVERTENT GPS INTERFERENCE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING, WHICH COULD OCCUR WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT SAFETY AND/OR SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT +1 202-267-3333. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: HTTPS://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/.
SFC - UNL, 17 FEB 19:54 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 17 FEB 20:00 2020
Source: Germany
Reference: AIC 06/24
Issued: 30-Jan-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Caution to German operators in the OIIX/Tehran FIR due to risk posed by anti-aircraft weaponry.
Level 1 (Lowest risk). Civil German air operators are advised to take potential risk into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions within FIR TEHRAN (OIIX). Potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry.
Source: UK
Reference: UK AIP ENR 1.1 (1.4.5)
Issued: 20-Jan-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: UK operators should not overfly the OIIX/Tehran FIR below 25,000ft AGL, due to potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry.
Hazardous Situation in Iran
Potential risk to aviation overflying this area at less than 25,000 FT above ground level (AGL) from dedicated anti-aviation weaponry.
Operators are advised to avoid operating at less than 25,000 FT above ground level (AGL) in the Tehran Flight Information Region.
Potential risk to aviation overflying this area at less than 25,000 FT above ground level (AGL) from dedicated anti-aviation weaponry.
Operators are advised to avoid operating at less than 25,000 FT above ground level (AGL) in the Tehran Flight Information Region.
Source: Canada
Reference: AIC 21/24
Issued: 10-Jan-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Canadian operators should not enter the OIIX/Tehran FIR, due to the potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry and military operations.
Level 2 (Recommendation)
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAN. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended not to enter FIR Tehran (OIIX). Potential risk from antiaviation weaponry and military operations.
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAN. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended not to enter FIR Tehran (OIIX). Potential risk from antiaviation weaponry and military operations.