Iraq
Risk Level: Two - Danger exists
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There are high risks to civil aircraft. Iraqi airspace (ORBB/Baghdad FIR) should be avoided entirely, except for specific routes and altitudes. Several countries have issued airspace warnings advising against operating in Iraqi airspace at the lower flight levels. The airspace adjoining the Baghdad FIR is also at risk: Iran, Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
The primary risk is intentional targeting by terrorist organisations who possess portable anti-aircraft weaponry. Civil aircraft may also be misidentified by the air defence systems of both local and foreign military who are active in the country. Drone attacks from Turkey and Iran are common in northern Iraq, which could place civil aircraft at risk - especially at ORSU and ORER airports. Airspace warnings issued by foreign aviation authorities allow for overflights at the higher flight levels (and eastern airways UM860 and UM688 are heavily flown international air routes), but there is a clear risk to civil aircraft operating throughout the FIR at all levels.
The secondary risk is from GPS spoofing. Since Sep 2023, OPSGROUP has received several reports of enroute aircraft being targeted with fake GPS signals, leading to complete nav failures.
Major events:
Aug 2024: Potential for short-notice airspace closure early August, due to Iranian strikes on Israel. Missiles and drones may transit airspace.
Apr 2024: Airspace closed due to Iran drone/missile strike on Israel.
Sep 2023: Several reports of GPS spoofing in northern Iraq.
Apr 2023: Several instances of drone and missile attacks in northern Iraq, launched from Turkey and Iran. ORSU and ORER airports targeted several times. Turkey closed its airspace to any flight operating to or from ORSU over security concerns.
Oct 2021: US operators can now overfly the ORBB/Baghdad FIR above FL320. KICZ Notam A0036/20 which banned flights at all levels has been cancelled, and the SFAR now applies.
The primary risk is intentional targeting by terrorist organisations who possess portable anti-aircraft weaponry. Civil aircraft may also be misidentified by the air defence systems of both local and foreign military who are active in the country. Drone attacks from Turkey and Iran are common in northern Iraq, which could place civil aircraft at risk - especially at ORSU and ORER airports. Airspace warnings issued by foreign aviation authorities allow for overflights at the higher flight levels (and eastern airways UM860 and UM688 are heavily flown international air routes), but there is a clear risk to civil aircraft operating throughout the FIR at all levels.
The secondary risk is from GPS spoofing. Since Sep 2023, OPSGROUP has received several reports of enroute aircraft being targeted with fake GPS signals, leading to complete nav failures.
Major events:
Aug 2024: Potential for short-notice airspace closure early August, due to Iranian strikes on Israel. Missiles and drones may transit airspace.
Apr 2024: Airspace closed due to Iran drone/missile strike on Israel.
Sep 2023: Several reports of GPS spoofing in northern Iraq.
Apr 2023: Several instances of drone and missile attacks in northern Iraq, launched from Turkey and Iran. ORSU and ORER airports targeted several times. Turkey closed its airspace to any flight operating to or from ORSU over security concerns.
Oct 2021: US operators can now overfly the ORBB/Baghdad FIR above FL320. KICZ Notam A0036/20 which banned flights at all levels has been cancelled, and the SFAR now applies.
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | SFAR 77 | 16 Oct 2024 | 26 Oct 2027 | |
| Russia | Notam UUU A6785/24 | 02 Oct 2024 | 03 Nov 2024 | |
| Iraq | Notam ORBB A0310/24 | 03 Aug 2024 | 04 Nov 2024 | |
| Italy | AIC 33/23 | 10 Jul 2023 | 05 Oct 2024 | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Iraq | 06 Oct 2022 | Ongoing | |
| UK | UK AIP ENR 1.1 (1.4.5) | 12 Sep 2022 | Ongoing | |
| Germany | AIC 06/24 | 02 Sep 2022 | Ongoing | |
| France | AIC 15/24 | 28 Apr 2022 | Ongoing | |
| Canada | AIC 21/24 | 18 Nov 2021 | Ongoing | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Iraq | 15 Jun 2021 | Ongoing | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Iraq | 08 Jun 2021 | Ongoing | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Iraq | 23 Apr 2021 | Ongoing | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Iraq | 15 Apr 2021 | Ongoing |
Source: USA
Reference: SFAR 77
Issued: 16-Oct-24, valid until: 26 Oct 2027
Plain English: US operators are prohibited from overflying the ORBB/Baghdad FIR below FL320 due to risks posed by terrorist and military activity.
This action extends the prohibition against certain flight operations in the Baghdad Flight Information Region (FIR) (ORBB) at altitudes below Flight Level (FL) 320 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, for an additional three years, from October 26, 2024, to October 26, 2027. The FAA finds this action necessary to address the unacceptable level of risk to the safety of U.S. civil aviation operations in the Baghdad FIR (ORBB) at altitudes below FL320 from Iranian-aligned militia groups' (IAMGs') activities and third-party military operations that are not likely to be effectively deconflicted with civil aviation. The FAA also republishes the approval process and exemption information for this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.
Source: Russia
Reference: Notam UUU A6785/24
Issued: 02-Oct-24, valid until: 03 Nov 2024
Plain English: Russia has banned its operators from flying at night (between 16-06z) in the airspace of Israel, Iran, and Iraq.
ATTENTION TO RUSSIAN OPERATORS. DUE TO THREAT TO SEFETY OF CIVIL ACFT OPS, FLIGHTS TO/FROM AIRPORTS OF ISRAEL AND IRAN AS WELL AS FLIGHTS WI AIRSPACE OF ISRAEL, IRAN AND IRAQ WILL BE SUSPENDED DRG 1600-0600 UTC. OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY HIGHLY VIGILANT, WHEN PERFORMING FLIGHTS WI AIRSPACE OF THESE COUNTRIES AND USE ALTN ROUTES, PUBLISHED IN NOTAM OF THESE COUNTRIES. 02 OCT 12:30 2024 UNTIL 02 NOV 23:59 2024 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 02 OCT 08:56 2024
Source: Iraq
Reference: Notam ORBB A0310/24
Issued: 03-Aug-24, valid until: 04 Nov 2024
Plain English: Iraq is warning operators to expect GPS jamming and spoofing in the northern part of the country.
GPS JAMMING OR SPOOFING INTERFERENCE WITHIN THE NORTHERN PART OF IRAQ. OPERATORS SHOULD INFORM ATC IMMEDIATELY AND EXPECT RADAR VECTORING. 03 AUG 00:00 2024 UNTIL 02 NOV 23:59 2024. CREATED: 31 JUL 19:13 2024
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 ORBB/Baghdad FIR due to the risk from anti-aircraft weaponry.
Italian air carriers and captains of acft in charge of air service managed by carriers holders of operating italian issued licence, whether they are contractual carriers and/or de facto carriers, or performing air service with commercial charter agreement or with code sharing and to all flights performed with italian acft registration, are recommended to maintain a flight level equal to, or above, FL320 in FIR Baghdad (ORBB). Potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry.
Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Iraq
Issued: 06-Oct-22, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Ongoing political turmoil, militant activities, and military operations in Iraq poses an elevated risk to aviation and airspace safety. In recent months, militants have fired rockets in Baghdad’s Green Zone, causing flight disruptions at nearby ORBI/Baghdad airport; Iran continues to target northern Iraq with missile and drone attacks; and Turkey has been launching attacks along Iraq’s northern border.
Title: FAA Information Note - Iraq - Violence Poses Elevated Risk to Civil Aviation amidst Political Turmoil.
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Source: UK
Reference: UK AIP ENR 1.1 (1.4.5)
Issued: 12-Sep-22, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: UK operators should not overfly the ORBB/Baghdad FIR below FL320, due to potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry.
Security - Hazardous Situation in Iraq
UK civil air operators are recommended not to enter FIR BAGHDAD (ORBB) below FL 320. Potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry.
Contact UK Department for Transport +44 (0)207-082 6639 or +44 (0)207-944 3111 out of hours.
UK civil air operators are recommended not to enter FIR BAGHDAD (ORBB) below FL 320. Potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry.
Contact UK Department for Transport +44 (0)207-082 6639 or +44 (0)207-944 3111 out of hours.
Source: Germany
Reference: AIC 06/24
Issued: 02-Sep-22, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: German operators should not overfly the ORBB/Baghdad FIR below FL280.
Level 2 warning (medium). Civil German air operators are recommended not to enter FIR BAGHDAD (ORBB) below FL280. Potential risk from military operations, anti-aviation weaponry and terrorist attacks. Civil German air operators are advised to take potential risk into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions within FIR BAGHDAD (ORBB) at and above FL280. Potential risk from antiaviation weaponry.
Source: France
Reference: AIC 15/24
Issued: 28-Apr-22, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: French operators overflying the ORBB/Baghdad FIR should only be on airways UM860 or UL602/L718 northbound or UM688 southbound, at or above FL320.
From 28/04/2022 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 Iraq (ORBB FIR (BAGDAD)), except for routes UM860 (between GADSI and NINVA), UM688, UL602 (between TASMI and ALPET) and L718 (between ALPET and KABAN) on which a flight level above or equal to FL320 is requested to be maintained at all times.
Subject to the agreement of the organizations providing air traffic control services, it is authorized, always maintaining at all times a flight level above or equal to FL320, to take the following direct trajectories:
Northbound : TASMI – UL602 – ALPET – L718 – DEBNI DCT EMIDO – L718 - KABAN
Northbound : TASMI DCT SEPTU DCT ROXOP - - UM860 – NINVA Southbound : RATVO – UM688 – KEDIM DCT SISIN - UM688 – SIDAD
Subject to the agreement of the organizations providing air traffic control services, it is authorized, always maintaining at all times a flight level above or equal to FL320, to take the following direct trajectories:
Northbound : TASMI – UL602 – ALPET – L718 – DEBNI DCT EMIDO – L718 - KABAN
Northbound : TASMI DCT SEPTU DCT ROXOP - - UM860 – NINVA Southbound : RATVO – UM688 – KEDIM DCT SISIN - UM688 – SIDAD
Source: Canada
Reference: AIC 21/24
Issued: 18-Nov-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Canadian operators should not overfly the ORBB/Baghdad FIR below FL320, due to the potential risk from anti- aviation weaponry and military operations.
Level 2 (Recommendation)
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAQ. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended to maintain a flight level equal to or above flight level FL320 in FIR Baghdad (ORBB). Potential risk from anti- aviation weaponry and military operations.
SECURITY – HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAQ. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended to maintain a flight level equal to or above flight level FL320 in FIR Baghdad (ORBB). Potential risk from anti- aviation weaponry and military operations.
Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Iraq
Issued: 15-Jun-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: ORBI/Baghdad airport was targeted by weaponized drones on June 14, for the second time in a week. Local militia continue to show intent to target US interests at airports. This is exposing low level aircraft to risk from rocket and drone activity along with air defence systems.
Title: FAA Information Note - Iraq - Weaponized UAS Attack against U.S. Interests at Baghdad International Airport.
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Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Iraq
Issued: 08-Jun-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Recent rocket and drone attacks on ORBI/Baghdad and a nearby air base. Local militia are showing a renewed intent to target US interests at airports. This is exposing low level aircraft to risk from their activities, along with misidentification or miscalculation by air defence systems.
Title: FAA Information Note - Iraq - Attacks on US Interests in Iraq
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Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Iraq
Issued: 23-Apr-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: More weaponised drones and indirect fire attacks are likely across Iraq, increasing the risk to aviation. At least three rockets were fired at ORBI/Baghdad on Apr 22, which wounded one person. Several more unfired rockets were found stashed on the rooftop of a nearby building which overlooks the airport. Iranian backed militia are thought to be responsible and continue to actively target US interests at airports throughout Iraq.
Title: FAA Information Note - Iraq - Rocket Attack Hits Baghdad International Airport.
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Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Iraq
Issued: 15-Apr-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Explosive drone attack by militia on US interests at ORER/Erbil Airport on April 14. It is unique as these kinds of attacks usually use less accurate rockets and mortars. It may signify that militia have increasing access to more sophisticated weapons which may pose a new threat to airports throughout Iraq including ORBI/Baghdad.
Title: FAA Information Note - Iraq - UAS Attack against Erbil Air Base.
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