Cyprus: Strong Concern Over Turkish Violations in Nicosia FIR

The Flight Safety Foundation – Southeast Europe – Cyprus (FSF-SE-Europe-Cyprus) has voiced significant concern regarding ongoing Turkish violations within the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR). The foundation condemned these actions, which involve Turkish military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating without the necessary coordination with air traffic control services.

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Our country: Strong concern for Turkish violations in the Nicosia FIR

These incursions are particularly worrying as they occur near crucial air routes and the approach paths for Larnaca and Paphos airports. The FSF-SE-Europe-Cyprus highlighted that such activities create additional operational risks and complicate the work of air traffic controllers, running counter to the principles of safe and coordinated international civil aviation management.

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Strong concern for the continuous violations of the Nicosia FIR by Turkish military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

The foundation extended its full support and recognition to the air traffic controllers and the operational and technical staff at the Nicosia Area Control Center and the control units at Larnaca and Paphos airports. It acknowledged their high level of professionalism, continuous training, and readiness, which are crucial for maintaining flight safety in Cyprus.

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Such actions create additional operational risks and burden the work of Air Traffic Controllers, as they are not in line with the principles and procedures governing the safe and coordinated management of international civil aviation.

Despite the challenges posed by these violations, the FSF-SE-Europe-Cyprus stressed that the level of aviation security within the Nicosia FIR remains high. However, it underscored that strict adherence to international civil aviation rules and procedures, ensuring the safety of flights and passengers, must remain an "uncompromising priority."

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uncompromising priority