Airspace Safety and Security Warning

Introduction

Following adaption of Amendment 52 of Annex 11 and amendment 41 to Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and safety recommendations of Iran AAIB to promptly issue the NOTAMs in case of any change or restriction imposed in the provision of services due to potentially hazardous military activities or civil-military cooperation considerations independently of the operational  application , Iran Military authority with partners Civil Aviation Organization, Iran airport and air navigation company and Civil aviation security, undertook a review of the provision of security advice to Iran air operators by government, seeking to enhance and streamline extant processes.

Security advice to Iran air operators by government is issued in the form of a notification to provide guidance or direction on airspace security risks. The Military authority with partner of Iran CAO has developed an Airspace Security Warning Protocol that culminates in the issue of an airspace security warning as Airspace Security Warning which is indicated in AIM Site by address "ais.airport.ir". Most of these issues will relate to potential risks to civil aircraft from security threat that may arise.

  1- The opening text of the Security Warning takes the form: "HAZARDOUS SITUATION WITHIN THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF [country/ies/aerodrome/ region]". The Security Warning will clearly specify the particular FIR(s) affected, and, where appropriate, give more precise details of the geographic area of concern, using coordinates, or by other means of demarcation (e.g. "...IN THE xxxx FIR, EAST OF……). This may be followed by a brief description of the type of threat, e.g. "POTENTIAL RISK EXISTS FROM DEDICATED ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY".

2- Where the potential risk is from Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), there is likely to be a restriction on flying below 25,000 FT AGL. Where there is a potential threat from air defense systems with a greater operational ceiling, this is likely to be 'Surface to Unlimited'.

3- In the case of a threat from missiles, it is possible to extend their effective ceiling by launching from elevated terrain. For that reason, any height restriction stated in an airspace security risk Security Warning will be noted as ‘Above Ground Level' (AGL).

 Guidance

 Following the information on location and threat, there will (usually) be one of 3 forms of wording employed in expressing Security guidance to operators:

Level 1 Security Warning "OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE THIS POTENTIAL RISK INTO ACCOUNT IN THEIR RISK ASSESSMENTS AND ROUTEING DECISIONS".

Level 2 Security Warning "OPERATORS ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF [country] / THIS AREA / THIS FIR".

Level 3 Security Warning "IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIRECTION UNDER THE AVIATION SECURITY ACT by high level national security counsel, Iran   REGISTERED OPERATORS SO SERVED SHALL NOT ENTER THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE [(INCLUDING ??? FIR)] OF THE STATE OF [country]".

 The wording will generally follow the patterns above, but could vary as, e.g., it may not always be possible to specify the precise nature of a potential security risk to aircraft, or, the geographic area may be complex to describe.