28SEP: Hurricane Maria – trail of Airport destruction, NAT airspace closure – International Ops Bulletin – International Ops 2024

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NZZZ/New Zealand Ops are slowly returning to normal in New Zealand as the fuel crisis which has affected operators in the region for the last 2 weeks is almost resolved. A pipeline fracture north of Auckland on Sep 16 brought supplies there to nil, meaning operators had to refuel at Wellington, Christchurch and other South Pacific airports instead. Ops through Fiji and Rarotonga were busier than normal with the increase in tech stops restricting supplies there also. Check with your handler for the latest.

ENSB/Longyear The Norwegian Ministry of Transport is planning to change the status of ENSB to domestic only effective 01 Oct, meaning that international flights may no longer be accepted. Negotiations ongoing with CAA. Not yet clear whether this will affect use of ENSB as an enroute alternate.

FHAW/Ascension is scheduled to be closed for repairs from Oct 21-30 and Nov 2-8.

LGSA/Chania has limited fuel supply due to an equipment issue, through Oct 2 at present.

VHHH/Hong Kong CAD permit office is closed for a public holiday Oct 2-5. They advise that non-scheduled aircraft will not be processed during this time, so arrange your flight well in advance.

VICG/Chandigarh has restricted Ops from Oct 2 due to runway repairs; it will close on Sundays, and only open 5am-4pm local on all other days.

WADD/Denpasar Mount Agung, a volcano on the Island of Bali, has been showing signs of impending eruption. Some airlines are taking the precaution of carrying extra contingency fuel into Denpasar. WADD airport is currently functioning as normal, but is anticipating closure if any volcanic activity does occur. If Agung follows its previous eruption pattern there is potential for WARR/Surabaya to be affected.

KSMO/Santa Monica From 09 Oct to 30 Dec work to shorten KSMO’s only runway from 5000ft to 3500ft will begin. The runway will be closed overnight from 09OCT to 20DEC, and then closed completely for a ten day period from 20-30DEC. The goal is to reduce air and noise pollution by reducing overall traffic.

LIPH/Treviso will be closing at 2200 on Oct 3 for runway repairs, reopening 0500 on Oct 19. Most scheduled services will be using LIPZ/Venice instead. If you want to do the same, plan ahead as it’s likely to be busy.

LLLL/Tel Aviv FIR Everything – Airspace and airports – closing from 1100Z on Sep 29, until 2030Z on Sep30 for Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year. Only emergency ops will be accommodated.

SOOO/Cayenne FIR Industrial action ongoing, contingency plan in place between 1100-2030Z. Essentially it all becomes uncontrolled, unmonitored airspace for the time period specified. No speed or level changes, position reporting required. Specified routes only. They recommend avoiding the airspace if you can, so do we.

EGPK/Prestwick Experiencing ongoing staff shortages which will affect services at night. Check before flying. Procedural approaches, airport closures will be in place on and off from now through Oct 30.

ORZZ/Iraq Tensions around the Kurdish autonomous region are rising, Iran will not accept aircraft that have departed from ORER and ORSU. The Iraqi govt is demanding to be given control of the airports and the Turkish govt is threatening armed intervention in the region. The Turkish govt is also threatening to close its borders with Iraq.

VNKT/Kathmandu Frequent unscheduled closures due to a deteriorating runway surface.

RKZZ/South Korea All government offices in South Korea will be closed starting the afternoon of September 29 through October 9 due to a series of holidays that fall together this year. Normal working hours will resume on October 10. May affect your permit applications.

EINN/Shannon Night works continue throughout Sep which will be closing the main runway (06/24) – and therefore the airport. Try EICK or EIDW as alternates (but check Dublin’s runway too). Notams are regularly update for EINN, check those.

MMZZ/Mexico Ops at Mexico City Airports (MMMX, MMTO) are back to normal following the most recent earthquake. MMMX was closed briefly for a runway/taxiway inspection. Terminal damage, but not affecting international ops airside.

KZZZ/USA A new travel ban has been announced. Effective Oct 18 citizens of the following countries are restricted from travelling to the USA: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

URSS/Sochi is expecting to be busy in Oct as CIS heads of state are meeting there 08-10 Oct. BA/GA flights not taking officials to that meeting will be limited to 2hrs on ground. Tanker as much there as you can. Long delays for arrivals and a request to minimise time on the ground by not refuelling there.

HRYR/Kigali The airport will be closed daily from 08-13z for runway repairs through the end of October.

EIDW/Dublin Runway 10/28 will be closed at night from 2200-0400 through Oct 1.

LPAZ/Santa Maria is not providing Metar/TAF information overnight (0000-0600Z) until Oct 10.

CZZZ/Canada If you have paid Nav fees to Nav Canada in the previous year, you are likely in for a refund in the form of an account credit. They are also reducing their fees.

28SEP: Hurricane Maria – trail of Airport destruction, NAT airspace closure – International Ops Bulletin