ASN News » FAA issues updated Notam to avoid Mali airspace below FL260
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a new Notam, advising to avoid flights in Mali airspace below FL260 due to insurgent activities.
The African state of Mali has seen armed conflicts within the country since 2012 with intervention by among other French forces. The security situation in Mali led the FAA to issue a Notam in 2014, stating that “U.S. operators and airmen should avoid flying into, out of, within or over Mali at or below FL240. ” Following a re-evaluation of the security situation, the FAA issued a new Notam , effective February 26, 2015. In this Notam the minimum altitude was raised to FL260. The Notam further stated that the operators and pilots should “exercise extreme caution during flight operations due to the risk to safety from small-arms, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, anti-aircraft fire and shoulder-fired, man-portable air defense systems (manpads)”.