Poland Introduces Air Traffic Restrictions in the Country’s East

Poland has imposed new air traffic restrictions in the east, creating a controlled zone that extends from the ground to flight level 95, or roughly three kilometers above the surface. Commercial passenger aircraft flying higher than that will not be affected.

The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency announced the measure through a Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, under the designation EPR134. The new designation replaces the existing EPR131 zone.

The Operational Command of the Armed Forces, known as DORSZ, said the decision followed a request from the commander of armed forces operations. It linked the measure to the continuing conflict in neighboring Ukraine and the need to protect Polish airspace. “Protecting national airspace remains the top priority,” the command said.

“

Protecting national airspace remains the top priority.

The command said the new measures would give air defense systems full freedom of action against possible threats while limiting disruption to civil aviation and other airspace users. The change in designation is administrative. Polish law allows temporary airspace restrictions to remain in force for no more than three months at a time, so authorities must technically close the existing zone and register a new code every 90 days.

The authorities want the buffer zone to continue indefinitely because Russian drones have repeatedly violated Polish airspace. The new designation allows the restrictions to remain legally in force despite the statutory time limit.

“

The new measures are intended to ensure complete freedom of action for air defense systems in dealing with possible threats, while minimizing inconvenience to civil aviation and other airspace users.