The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an advisory saying that due to the current security situation in Pakistan with the presence of violent non-state actor groups with confirmed anti-aviation weaponry, there is a continued possible threat to civil aviation resulting in a high risk to operation at altitudes below FL 260 (26,000 feet).
Additionally, Kashmir region remains the site of territorial dispute with sporadic military operations posing a potential inadvertent risk to civil aviation due to a potential risk for misidentification in case of military escalation, particularly in the FIR Lahore, said the advisory received by KUNA from EASA on Monday.
EASA also advised air operators not to conduct flights over FIR Karachi and FIR Lahore below FL 260.
Operators should take this information and any other relevant information into account in their own risk assessments, alongside any available guidance or directions from their national authority as appropriate it said. The advisory is valid until 31/01/2024.
EASA says that as an independent and neutral body, it ensures confidence in safe air operations in Europe and world-wide by proposing and formulating rules, standards, and guidance.
The EASA has an office in Brussels but its headquarters are located in the German city of Cologne.
Source: Kuwait News Agency