Armed conflicts around the world. They are everywhere, and even if you live in a country that is at peace, you can be confronted with war just by getting on a plane. Here are all the no-fly zones in the world and the areas that airlines prefer to avoid.
The no-fly zones where it is not advisable to fly over
Areas where overflight is strictly prohibited
Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Eastern Ukraine are five countries that are forbidden for airlines to fly over. There is a rule that an airliner must never fly over an area of armed conflict, at least in principle.
As a reminder, Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was destroyed by a ground-to-air missile.
Areas that are not recommended for aerial overflight
Countries in the FL 240 overflight group
For Afghanistan, Pakistan, Southern Sudan and Somalia, overflight is possible but under one condition, flying above FL240, i.e. the aircraft must be above 24,000 feet, or 7,300 metres.
The country concerned by the FL 320 zone
Overflying Mali is also problematic, in particular, because of the resurgence or appearance of armed groups in the north of the country. This country is in the FL 320 overflight zone, which is the flight level just before the total ban on overflights.
When an area is classified at FL 320, it merely means that the aircraft must not be below 32,000 feet.
Special cases
Saudi Arabia and North Korea are also two countries where overflight is not recommended and where pilots are asked to be particularly vigilant.
The Saudi authorities have banned flights over the city of Mecca and the Kaaba, the place where pilgrims come to gather in front of the sacred black stone. This kind of decision is frequent, moreover, since in Greece it is forbidden to fly over the Parthenon in Athens or Machi Pichu in Peru. Another exception, this time zanier, the United States has banned flying over Disneyland Park.
As far as North Korea is concerned, caution is called for because of the many missile tests that this country is carrying out.
Other areas that long-haul pilots prefer to avoid
The North Pole
Pilots fear this part of the world for several reasons. The first problem is related to the magnetism of this geographical area. This could have a very negative impact on the aircraft’s navigational tools.
The second problem at the North Pole is the strong winds in this part of the world. The shallow temperatures are a danger for air navigation. Indeed, when a cold polar air mass meets a warm air mass, it causes violent winds known as “Jet Stream”. And the more significant the difference between the two air masses, the stronger the winds will blow. These Jet Streams, or high-altitude currents, usually sweep between 300 and 400 km/hour.
Note: winds at high altitude are always more reliable than the winds at sea level.
The third problem is solar dust and its radiation. Do you probably remember that you have to be above the Arctic Circle to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora borealis? The problem is that the Earth’s shield is less effective at the North Pole, so the radiation doses received by passengers and crew there are quite high.
The South Pole is not affected by the aerial overflight.
The Himalayas
Although pilots and airlines prefer to avoid this area, there is still a small amount of air traffic. Lukla airport is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It has a very short runway between the mountains, which is also sloping. And right after the track, there is a ravine, so you shouldn’t miss your landing.
But if planes avoid the Himalayas so carefully it is more as a precautionary principle than a real risk. Indeed, in the event of cabin depressurization, the plane is capable of supplying between ten and twenty minutes of oxygen to all the people on board. Afterwards, the aircraft should descend to an altitude of 3,000 metres. This is a sufficiently low altitude where there is a sufficient concentration of oxygen in the air. Outside it is not possible to fly at this altitude in this part of the world.
photo credits: Fred & Yann