FAA Prohibited Flight Operations in Ethiopian Airspace

July 19, 2014

(WP) – After Flight 17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, the Federal Aviation Administration expanded an existing regulation that prohibited certain flights from operating in the region. The FAA regularly issues airspace restrictions and prohibitions for U.S. aircraft traveling through potentially hostile airspace.

Here’s where the FAA has issued flight advisories and prohibitions for U.S. aircraft as of July 18.

Ethiopia

Flight operations are prohibited in Ethiopian airspace north of 12 degrees latitude. The FAA also warns that Ethiopian forces may fire upon aircraft crossing into Ethiopian airspace from northeastern Kenya. View document »ETHIOPIA 

FDC 0/4999 

KFDC A0012/00 

Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 87 - Prohibition against Certain Flights Within the 

Territory and Airspace of Ethiopia. 

a. Applicability. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 87 applies to all U.S. air 

carriers or commercial operators, all persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate 

issued by the FAA unless that person is engaged in the operation of a U.S.-registered aircraft for 

a foreign air carrier, and all operators using aircraft registered in the United States except where 

the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. 

b. Flight prohibition. Except as provided in paragraphs c and d of this SFAR, no person 

described in paragraph a may conduct flight operations within the territory and airspace of 

Ethiopia north of 12 degrees north latitude. 

c. Permitted operations. This SFAR does not prohibit persons described in paragraph a from 

conducting flight operations within the territory and airspace of Ethiopia where such operations 

are authorized either by exemption issued by the Administrator or by an authorization issued by 

another agency of the United States Government with the approval of the FAA. 

d. Emergency situations. In an emergency that requires immediate decision and action for the 

safety of the flight, the pilot in command of an aircraft may deviate from this SFAR to the extent 

required by that emergency. Except for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators that are 

subject to the requirements of 14 CFR 121.557, 121.559, or 135.19, each person who deviates 

from this rule shall, within ten (10) days of the deviation, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and 

Federal holidays, submit to the nearest FAA Flight Standards District Office a complete report of 

the operations of the aircraft involved in the deviation, including a description of the deviation 

and the reason therefor. 

e. Expiration. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation shall remain in effect until further 

notice. (FAA/AIA-1005/14/02) 

ETHIOPIA/KENYA 

KFDC A0012/97 

Ethiopia/Kenya Advisory: Potentially Hostile Situation.Attention U.S. Operators: 

Aircraft that cross into Ethiopian airspace while taking off or landing at Mandera Airstrip in 

Kenya may be fired upon by Ethiopian forces. Mandera is located in the extreme northeastern 

corner of Kenya, adjacent Ethiopia and Somalia. Operators considering flights to northeastern 

Kenya should familiarize themselves with the current situation. (FAA/AIA-100 5/14/02) 

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