Press Release

Issued by European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

April 3, 2014

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published a Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) which addresses the potential safety risks encountered by aircraft operators which may use the airspace controlled by the Flight Information Region of Simferopol in Crimea. EASA strongly recommends to the National Aviation Authorities of the EASA Member States that all aircraft operators are made aware that the airspace should be avoided using available alternative routings. Siim Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission said that “ such measures should always be taken immediately when serious risks to the safety of international civil flights arise”. Patrick Ky, EASA executive director added: “it is unsafe if more than one air traffic service provider is in charge of one single Flight Information Region (FIR); no compromise can be made with the safety of the flying passengers”.   The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the network manager in charge of the European aviation network also strongly recommended that the airspace controlled by the Simferopol FIR should be avoided and circumnavigate due to the existing safety concerns. Please go to http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2014-10 to access the Safety Information Bulletin.