23Nov: NAT changes in 2 weeks, new Overflight Permit map, airspace update

Weekly International Ops Bulletin published by FSB for OPSGROUP covering critical changes to Airports, Airspace, ATC, Weather, Safety, Threats, Procedures, Visas. Subscribe to the short free version here, or join thousands of your Pilot/Dispatcher/ATC/CAA/Flight Ops colleagues in OPSGROUP for the full weekly bulletin, airspace warnings, Ops guides, tools, maps, group discussion, Ask-us-Anything, and a ton more! Curious? See what you get. Rated 5 stars by 125 reviews.

GOZZ/Senegal They’ve built a whole new international airport at Dakar, called GOBD/Blaise Diagne International Airport. On Dec 7 at 12z, all scheduled operations will switch to there from the current airport – GOOY/Dakar. After that, they plan to close down the old airport. No official word yet on when exactly that will happen.

OYSN/Sanaa The Houthi-led government which runs the capital city has said that Sanaa Airport is now repaired and ready to receive international flights, after being damaged by a Saudi airstrike on Nov 14. The Saudi-led coalition will re-open the airport to aid flights on Nov 23, but there is still a ban on commercial traffic.

LTZZ/Turkey US nationals arriving in Turkey on flights originating from outside of the US used to be issued a visa sticker on arrival, no questions asked. Now that’s all changing – you’ll need to prove you have legal residency in a country other than the United States. The U.S. and Turkey both massively reduced issuance of visas for each other’s countries in October, following the arrest of a U.S. consulate worker in Turkey.

LIZZ/Italy More strikes and travel disruption throughout Dec. On Dec 1, some airport workers will strike for 24 hours at airports in Milan: LIMC/Malpensa and LIML/Linate. Nationwide, some Alitalia staff will be on strike all day on Dec 7 and Dec 15. And expect some delays on the trains across the country on Dec 17, when some staff are planning an eight-hour strike from 9-17 local time.

WADD/Denpasar There was a small eruption at Bali’s Mount Agung on Nov 21, with volcanic ash being reported up to FL130. So far no disruption to ops, however the forecast upper level winds in the next 24hrs may push the cloud south towards the airport.

KSMO/Santa Monica The airport will be completely closed from Dec 12-23, as they’ll be pressing ahead with their runway shortening project, despite ongoing litigation by NBAA and other parties against this. The airport’s only runway will be shortened from 4,973ft to 3,500ft.

NGFU/Tuvalu has signed up to the Chicago Convention, and is set to become the 192nd Member State of ICAO on Dec 18.

SOZZ/French Guiana Continuing ATC strikes. Airspace will be uncontrolled from 00-11z across the entire SOOO FIR. All airports in the country, including SOCA/Cayenne, will now be closed each day from 0000-0300z and 0630-1100z until Dec 1 due to the strike action.

EGKK/Gatwick Every night from 2300-0530z until the end of Nov, the main runway (08R/26L) will be closed. During that time, the northern runway (08L/26R) will be open – the one that normally gets used as a taxiway! There’s no ILS on this runway, so approaches must be DME or RNAV.

KPBI/Palm Beach A Presidential TFR is in place at KPBI/Palm Beach for the entire Thanksgiving period, meaning no GA arrivals from 1715 local on Nov 21 to 1930 local on Nov 26. If you need to get to the area during those dates, gateway airport procedures are in place for arrivals to KMCO/Orlando, KFLL/Fort Lauderdale, KIAD/Dulles, KTEB/Teterboro and KHPN/Westchester. For gateway screening, make sure you register with TSA at least 24 hours prior to departure by calling them at 561-616-9650.

MHZZ/Honduras Expect heightened security and travel disruption over the next week, in the lead up to national elections on Nov 26. More than 30,000 military personnel will be mobilised across the country from Nov 20 onwards, to help maintain order. Rallies are likely in the major urban centres.

CYYR/Goose Bay Both runways are now open and the airport has returned to full operations, following a full airport closure earlier this month when a problem was spotted with runway sealant which was causing the surface to be ‘sticky’ in places.

Weekly International Ops Bulletin published by FSB for OPSGROUP covering critical changes to Airports, Airspace, ATC, Weather, Safety, Threats, Procedures, Visas. Subscribe to the short free version here, or join thousands of your Pilot/Dispatcher/ATC/CAA/Flight Ops colleagues in OPSGROUP for the full weekly bulletin, airspace warnings, Ops guides, tools, maps, group discussion, Ask-us-Anything, and a ton more! Curious? See what you get. Rated 5 stars by 125 reviews.