The United States FAA extended a security warning for the Egypt Sinai Peninsula by another year due to continuing concern for flight safety.
The initial Notam was issued on March 30, 2015, based on the FAA’s assessment that international civil air routes that transit the Cairo (HECC) Flight Information Region (FIR) over the Sinai Peninsula and aircraft operating to and from Sinai airports are at risk from potential extremist attacks involving antiaircraft weapons, to include Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), small arms fire, and indirect fire from mortars and rockets targeting Sinai airports.
The FAA reports that the Islamic State in Iraq and ash-Sham in the Sinai (ISIS-Sinai), an Egypt-based affiliate of ISIS, continues to conduct attacks in northern and southern Sinai, some of which demonstrate their capability and intent to target civil aviation. In February 2017, ISIS-Sinai focused indirect fire on Eilat, Israel using rockets fired from southern Sinai.
International civil air routes that transit the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula below FL260, and aircraft operating to and from Sinai airports, are at risk from extremist/militant attacks involving small arms, indirect-fire weapons such as mortars and rockets, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft capable weapons including man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). These weapons could also be used to attack airports and aircraft on the ground. Some MANPADS could target aircraft up to a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
Emirates flight EK748 from Tunis to Dubai is avoiding the Sinai Peninsula since 26 march 2018
Based on this information, the FAA continues to advise U.S. airlines and operators to avoid flying below FL260 in this area.
Source: FAA.gov
