Hundreds of commercial and cargo flights cross the airspace of Pakistan each day. For example, there are 300+ daily flights alone between four airports in Europe (Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris CDG, and Frankfurt) and four in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore). Most of these flights cross the airspace of Pakistan.

NOTAM - A Notice To Airmen is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight.

MANPADS - Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems

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KICZ A0036/19 - SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADVISORY FOR PAKISTAN

THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN FLYING INTO, OUT OF, WITHIN, OR OVER THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF PAKISTAN DUE TO EXTREMIST/MILITANT ACTIVITY.

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 FLY INTO, OUT OF, WITHIN, OR OVER THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA MUST REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FAA REGULATIONS, LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION, MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, INCLUDING UPDATING 8450.

C. OPERATIONS. EXERCISE CAUTION DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS. THERE IS A RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATING IN THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF PAKISTAN DUE TO EXTREMIST/MILITANT ACTIVITY. THERE CONTINUES TO BE A RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION FROM ATTACKS AGAINST AIRPORTS AND AIRCRAFT, PARTICULARLY FOR AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND AND AIRCRAFT OPERATING AT LOW ALTITUDES, INCLUDING DURING THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PHASES OF FLIGHT. THE ONGOING PRESENCE OF EXTREMIST/MILITANT ELEMENTS OPERATING IN PAKISTAN POSES A CONTINUED RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION FROM SMALL-ARMS FIRE, COMPLEX ATTACKS AGAINST AIRPORTS, INDIRECT WEAPONS FIRE, AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE, ANY OF WHICH COULD OCCUR WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. WHILE, TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF MAN-PORTABLE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS (MANPADS) BEING USED AGAINST CIVIL AVIATION IN PAKISTAN, SOME EXTREMIST/MILITANT GROUPS OPERATING IN PAKISTAN ARE SUSPECTED OF HAVING ACCESS TO MANPADS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A POTENTIAL RISK FOR EXTREMISTS/MILITANTS TO TARGET CIVIL AVIATION IN PAKISTAN WITH MANPADS. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT SAFETY AND/OR SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT +1 202-267-3333.

THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS ADVISORY WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 1 JAN 2021. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: 

SFC - UNL; 30 DEC 15:20 2019 UNTIL 01 JAN 23:59 2021. CREATED: 30 DEC 15:23 2019 

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There are continuing risks to U.S. civil aviation operating in the territory and airspace of Pakistan, particularly for aircraft on the ground and aircraft operating at low altitudes, including during the arrival and departure phases of flight, from various extremist/militant groups. For this reason, on 30 Dec 2018, the FAA published Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) KICZ A0029/18, advising U.S. civil aviation to exercise caution when operating into, out of, within, or over the territory and airspace of Pakistan. With the ongoing presence of extremist/militant elements operating in Pakistan, there is continued risk to U.S. civil aviation from small-arms fire, complex attacks against airports, indirect weapons fire, and anti-aircraft fire, any of which could occur with little or no warning.

Between 2014 and 2018, extremist/militant groups operating in Pakistan, have demonstrated their ongoing capability and intent to target civil aviation through multiple attacks on aviation infrastructure, including airports. In July 2017, media sources reported on extremists’ intent to conduct attacks at Jinnah International Airport (OPKC) in Karachi. In 2015, extremists/militants attacked two remote airfields in Baluchistan Province and one Pakistani Air Force Base in Peshawar, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries. In an August 2015 attack on Jiwani International Airport (OPJI), extremists/militants destroyed an air traffic control radar facility, and in June 2014, extremists/militants attacked Jinnah International Airport (OPKC), resulting in over 30 deaths and damage to airport facilities. During several separate incidents in 2014, aircraft on approach into Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport (OPPS) were fired on by small arms, which resulted in one fatality.

Additionally, cross-border tensions in the Kashmir region can escalate with little or no warning and may result in temporary airspace restrictions being issued by the air navigation service providers responsible for managing that airspace.

While, to date, there have been no reports of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) being used against civil aviation in the territory and airspace of Pakistan, some extremist/militant groups operating in Pakistan are suspected of having access to MANPADS. As a result, there is a potential risk for extremists/militants to target civil aviation with MANPADS. Some MANPADS are capable of reaching a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet above ground level.