Lebanon
Risk Level: Two - Danger exists
[ about risk levels ]
The primary risk in Lebanon’s airspace (the OLBB/Beirut FIR) is along the border with Israel, where the Lebanese militia Hezbollah has been fighting with the Israeli army. Violence has increased here following the Israel-Gaza conflict in Oct 2023 - drone activity, sporadic rocket fire and the use of artillery have all been reported. Air defence activity on either side of the border may increase the risk to civil aircraft. Only the UK and Canada have issued airspace warnings for the OLBB/Beirut FIR so far. Read: Opsgroup article - Israel: Tel Aviv Airport and FIR Risk, Oct 2023
There is also risk in relation to Lebanon’s proximity to Syria: civil aircraft may be targeted in error, or caught in crossfire during ongoing air attacks involving Israel, Russia, Iran. Missiles may erroneously lock on to civil aircraft. There is a risk to civil aircraft operating on overwater airways east of Cyprus. Several countries have issued airspace warnings for Syria, banning operators from entering the OSTT/Damascus FIR. Many of these warnings include include the note that there is a potential risk to aircraft within 200nm of the Damascus FIR (i.e. the LLLL/Tel Aviv, OJAC/Amman, OLBB/Beirut and LCCC/Nicosia FIRs) due to military activity - possibility of GPS interference, communication jamming, and long-range surface to air missiles in the area.
The secondary risk is from GPS spoofing. In Nov 2023, OPSGROUP received several reports of enroute aircraft being targeted with fake GPS signals, leading to complete nav failures. This type of GPS spoofing has not been seen before – IRS is quickly “infected” by false position. Suggested Guidance and Procedures, and original crew reports, in Briefing PDF here: GPS Spoofing, Nov 2023 (OPSGROUP article)
Major events:
Nov 2023 - ongoing: GPS spoofing reported in the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
Oct 2023: Clashes reported along the border with Israel, including drone activity, sporadic rocket fire and the use of artillery.
Feb 2020: An A320 enroute OSDI/Damascus caught in crossfire during attack by 4 Israeli F-16’s, forced to divert to Russian controlled air base.
Sep 2018: Russian IL-20 shot down in error on FIR boundary with Cyprus (Nicosia FIR) - airline flights on UL620 within 50nm of this position.
There is also risk in relation to Lebanon’s proximity to Syria: civil aircraft may be targeted in error, or caught in crossfire during ongoing air attacks involving Israel, Russia, Iran. Missiles may erroneously lock on to civil aircraft. There is a risk to civil aircraft operating on overwater airways east of Cyprus. Several countries have issued airspace warnings for Syria, banning operators from entering the OSTT/Damascus FIR. Many of these warnings include include the note that there is a potential risk to aircraft within 200nm of the Damascus FIR (i.e. the LLLL/Tel Aviv, OJAC/Amman, OLBB/Beirut and LCCC/Nicosia FIRs) due to military activity - possibility of GPS interference, communication jamming, and long-range surface to air missiles in the area.
The secondary risk is from GPS spoofing. In Nov 2023, OPSGROUP received several reports of enroute aircraft being targeted with fake GPS signals, leading to complete nav failures. This type of GPS spoofing has not been seen before – IRS is quickly “infected” by false position. Suggested Guidance and Procedures, and original crew reports, in Briefing PDF here: GPS Spoofing, Nov 2023 (OPSGROUP article)
Major events:
Nov 2023 - ongoing: GPS spoofing reported in the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
Oct 2023: Clashes reported along the border with Israel, including drone activity, sporadic rocket fire and the use of artillery.
Feb 2020: An A320 enroute OSDI/Damascus caught in crossfire during attack by 4 Israeli F-16’s, forced to divert to Russian controlled air base.
Sep 2018: Russian IL-20 shot down in error on FIR boundary with Cyprus (Nicosia FIR) - airline flights on UL620 within 50nm of this position.
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Notam EGTT V0015/24 | 03 Apr 2024 | 03 Jul 2024 | |
| Canada | Notam CZQX H0064/24 | 08 Jan 2024 | 08 Apr 2024 | |
| Lebanon | Notam OLBB A0179/23 | 10 Nov 2023 | 18 Feb 2024 | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Syria/Israel | 23 Apr 2021 | Ongoing | |
| USA | Notam KICZ A0009/18 | 14 Apr 2018 | Ongoing |
Source: UK
Reference: Notam EGTT V0015/24
Issued: 03-Apr-24, valid until: 03 Jul 2024
Plain English: Caution to UK operators in the OLBB/Beirut FIR due to potential risk from military activity.
AIRSPACE SECURITY WARNING ISSUED BY THE UK DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT. HAZARDOUS SITAUTION IN LEBANON. UK CIVIL AIR OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE POTENTIAL RISK INTO ACCOUNT IN BEIRUT FIR (OLBB). POTENTIAL RISK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY AND HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY. FOR INFO CONTACT UK DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT 02070 826639 OR 02079 443111 OUT OF HOURS. AR-2024-273/AU1. SFC - UNL, 03 APR 14:27 2024 UNTIL 02 JUL 22:59 2024 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 03 APR 14:28 2024
Source: Canada
Reference: Notam CZQX H0064/24
Issued: 08-Jan-24, valid until: 08 Apr 2024
Plain English: Caution to Canadian operators in the OLBB/Beirut FIR due to potential risk from military activity.
AIRSPACE SECURITY WARNING ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE SECURITY SITUATION IN LEBANON. CANADIAN AIR OPERATORS AND OWNERS OF ACFT REGISTERED IN CANADA ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALL POTENTIAL RISK INFO INTO ACCOUNT IN THEIR RISK ASSESSMENT AND ROUTING DECISIONS WHEN OPERATING IN LEBANESE AIRSPACE AND FIR BEIRUT (OLBB) DUE TO POTENTIAL RISK TO AVIATION FROM MIL ACT. 08 JAN 18:39 2024 UNTIL 08 APR 17:00 2024 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 08 JAN 18:39 2024
Source: Lebanon
Reference: Notam OLBB A0179/23
Issued: 10-Nov-23, valid until: 18 Feb 2024
Plain English: Warning of GPS jamming and spoofing in the OLBB/Beirut FIR, pilots should stick to conventional ATS routes.
AIRCRAFT FLYING BEIRUT FIR SHALL BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE LOSS OF GPS/GNSS SIGNAL,AND DUE TO CURRENT SECURITY REASONS PREVAILED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA,THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN JAMMING AND/OR SPOOFING OF GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATTELITE SYSTEMS (GNSS). LEB ANS SET IN PLACE, CONTINGENCY PLAN, INCLUDING PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN CASE OF LARGE-SCALE GNSS JAMMING AND/OR SPOOFING EVENTS BASED ON:
-CONVENTIONAL ATS ROUTES,STARS AND APPROACH PROCEDURES (REF TO GROUND NAVAIDS) ARE CURRENTLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
-RNAV(GNSS) STARS AND RNP APPROACH PROCEDURES STILL POSSIBLE TO BE FOLLOWED IF PILOT REQUESTED AND UNDER HIS OWN DISCRETION.
10 NOV 18:10 2023 UNTIL 10 FEB 18:00 2024. CREATED: 10 NOV 18:08 2023
-CONVENTIONAL ATS ROUTES,STARS AND APPROACH PROCEDURES (REF TO GROUND NAVAIDS) ARE CURRENTLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
-RNAV(GNSS) STARS AND RNP APPROACH PROCEDURES STILL POSSIBLE TO BE FOLLOWED IF PILOT REQUESTED AND UNDER HIS OWN DISCRETION.
10 NOV 18:10 2023 UNTIL 10 FEB 18:00 2024. CREATED: 10 NOV 18:08 2023
Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Syria/Israel
Issued: 23-Apr-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: An errant surface-to-air missile fired by Syrian air defences missed its target and landed in Israel on 22 Apr 2021. Syria is actively using long range anti-aircraft weaponry which poses a risk to civil aircraft in the region. While US operators are banned from the OSTT/Damascus FIR, the FAA warns the threat is extended to adjacent FIRs in the Eastern Mediterranean region including the LLLL/Tel Aviv, OJAC/Amman, OLBB/Beirut and LCCC/Nicosia FIRs. Use caution if operating in the area.
Title: FAA Information Note - Syria/Israel - Errant surface to air missile impacts near Israeli critical infrastructure.
Click the link for full text.
Click the link for full text.
Source: USA
Reference: Notam KICZ A0009/18
Issued: 14-Apr-18, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Exercise caution within 200nm of the Damascus FIR due to military activity. Possibility of GPS interference, communication jamming, and long-range surface to air missiles in the area.
SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADVISORY FOR AIRSPACE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO DAMASCUS FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (OSTT FIR).
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN THE AIRSPACE WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OFTHE DAMASCUS FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (OSTT FIR) DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA. THIS MILITARY ACTIVITY MIGHT INCLUDE GPS INTERFERENCE, COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING, AND POSSIBLE ERRANT LONG-RANGE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ORIGINATING FROM SYRIAN TERRITORY, WITHIN THE OSTT FIR, AND STRAYING INTO ADJACENT AIRSPACE,THAT COULD POSE AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATING IN THIS REGION. TITLE 14, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, SECTION 91.1609, SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION NO. 114 PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE DAMASCUS FIR REMAINS IN EFFECT.
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 WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE OSTT FIR SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND 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. EXERCISE CAUTION DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE NAMED AREA DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA AND THE POTENTIAL RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION IN THE REGION.THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT ANY SAFETY/SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT ASH-AXE-CITE-WATCH@FAA.GOVOR +1 202-267-3333 OR 1-844-412-1794.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: https://www.faa.gov/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN THE AIRSPACE WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OFTHE DAMASCUS FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (OSTT FIR) DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA. THIS MILITARY ACTIVITY MIGHT INCLUDE GPS INTERFERENCE, COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING, AND POSSIBLE ERRANT LONG-RANGE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ORIGINATING FROM SYRIAN TERRITORY, WITHIN THE OSTT FIR, AND STRAYING INTO ADJACENT AIRSPACE,THAT COULD POSE AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATING IN THIS REGION. TITLE 14, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, SECTION 91.1609, SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION NO. 114 PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE DAMASCUS FIR REMAINS IN EFFECT.
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 WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE OSTT FIR SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND 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. EXERCISE CAUTION DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE NAMED AREA DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA AND THE POTENTIAL RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION IN THE REGION.THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT ANY SAFETY/SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT ASH-AXE-CITE-WATCH@FAA.GOVOR +1 202-267-3333 OR 1-844-412-1794.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: https://www.faa.gov/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/