Published on 27/12/2024 21:40
Reading time: 1min – video: 2min
Airspace: how to avoid accidents in times of war?
The crash which took place in Kazakhstan on December 25 once again raises the question of air safety in conflict zones. With the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, companies must adapt their flight plans.
(France 2)
The crash which took place in Kazakhstan on December 25 once again raises the question of air safety in conflict zones. With the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, companies must adapt their flight plans.
After the crash in Kazakhstan, the safety of airliners near war zones raises questions. Each country establishes its own list of dangerous areas. France prohibits its companies from flying over eight countries. Added to this are also the bans imposed by other nations, such as Russia which closed its airspace to European companies.
Consequence: a plane going from Paris to Tokyo must now bypass the area and will take 14 hours to reach its destination. A plane from a Chinese company, authorized to cross Russia, will only take 12 hours.
Flying over other countries is not recommended but permitted with precautions. For example, over Pakistan and Afghanistan, planes must fly higher and stay at 8,000 or even 10,000 meters above sea level. Routes can be risky but often faster; it is up to the companies to assess the danger. The task is not always easy.
Watch the full report in the video above.
