FAA Has Restricted Airspace Around Venezuela

In a likely prelude to action, the FAA issued the following NOTAM (Notice To Airmen):

KICZ A0001/19- SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADVISORY FOR VENEZUELA
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN FLYING
INTO, OUT OF, WITHIN OR OVER THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF VENEZUELA BELOW FL260 DUE
TO POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO CIVIL AVIATION ASSOCIATED WITH ONGOING POLITICAL INSTABILITY
AND INCREASED TENSIONS IN VENEZUELA.
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, OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION, INCLUDING UPDATING B450.
C. OPERATIONS. EXERCISE CAUTION DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF INADVERTENT RISKS TO CIVIL AVIATION FROM VENEZUELAN MILITARY AND SECURITY ACTIVITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH ONGOING POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND INCREASED TENSIONS IN VENEZUELA. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT SAFETY AND/OR SECURITY INCIDENTS
TO THE FAA AT +1 202-267-3333 OR +1 202-267-3203.
HTTPS://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/
SFC– FL259; 22 FEB21:072019UNTILPERM. CREATED:22FEB21:142019
And the following:
FAA Background Information Regarding U.S. Civil Aviation– Venezuela
Due to ongoing political instability and increasing tensions in Venezuela, the FAA assesses there is an increasing inadvertent risk to U.S. civil aviation operating into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Venezuela at altitudes below Flight Level (FL) 260. As a result, on 22 February 2019, the FAA published Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) KICZ A0001/19, advising U.S. civil aviation to exercise caution during flight operations into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Venezuela at altitudes below FL260.
The FAA is concerned about increased tensions associated with the ongoing political unrest and Venezuela’s recent military posturing, which included a national-level military exercise and the blockage of humanitarian aid on the Colombian border. The Maduro regime has publicly threatened to defend its sovereignty from any military aggression and to disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid. This confluence of events presents an increasing potential for miscalculation and/or misidentification of civil aircraft, which represents an inadvertent risk to U.S. civil aviation operations in the territory and airspace of Venezuela.
Venezuelan forces have large stockpiles of advanced man portable air defense systems (MANPADS), and some MANPADS may be capable of engaging aircraft up to 25,000 feet. Although Venezuelan military forces are believed to have no intent to target civil aviation, the political instability and heightened tensions in Venezuela creates a concern for the possible loss of state control of some MANPADS
into the hands of potentially violent and unpredictable non-state actors who may have different intent and a lower level of training.
There is also the potential for Venezuela to operate GPS jammers in a leadership force protection role in and around Caracas, particularly in light of the August 2018 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) assassination attempt. Use of GPS jammers for counter-UAS operations may cause inadvertent GPS interference with civil aviation operations in Venezuelan airspace.
The FAA will continue to monitor potential risks to U.S. civil aviation operating the territory and airspace of Venezuela and make adjustments to its advisory for U.S. civil aviation as necessary.
Posted:22 FEB 2019
While in effect since February, it appears as though due to the ongoing and now widespread unrest, support very well might be inbound. Along with US accusations against Cuba and Russia, it might be a good time to review the following posts from earlier in the year:

The Russians have made it clear they intend on keeping the Maduro regime in power, whether the reports of their orders to Maduro are true or not, simply by their actions in the nation over the past year. This situation could rapidly and unpredictably spiral out of control, and at a minimum presents a Syria / Ukraine situation just to our south.

Review your plans.

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3 Comments

  1. Reverend Bow May 2, 2019 at 00:43

    Any bets on weather or not the US does military air strikes? Supposedly there are 2 aircraft carriers heading in thwart general direction …

    • NC Scout May 2, 2019 at 05:15

      It really depends on how things shape up on the ground. At the moment at least one key defector was exposed and neutralized, so it’s a wait and see game now.

  2. Anonymous May 2, 2019 at 09:35

    5

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