US aviation agency warns of 'military activities' over Latin America
Washington, Jan 17
The US Federal Aviation Administration alerted airlines to potential risks, advising them to "exercise caution" over Mexico and several other Latin American countries, due to "military activities."
"The FAA issued flight advisory notices to Airmen for specified areas of Mexico, Central America, Panama, Bogota, Guayaquil and Mazatlan Oceanic Flight Regions, and in airspace within the eastern Pacific Ocean," an FAA spokesperson said, adding that the advisory is effective for 60 days beginning on Friday.
The agency warned that potential disruptions to global navigation satellite systems could occur, creating conditions that may pose safety risks to aircraft, Xinhua news agency reported.
The FAA issued warnings of a "potentially hazardous situation" in a number of areas, including above parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortes.
Meanwhile, Mexico's Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport said the aeronautical notice issued by the FAA is preventive in nature and does not imply restrictions or affect Mexican civil aviation.
The notice does not constitute a prohibition, but rather a precautionary measure aimed at reinforcing vigilance and care in air operations within certain regions of the airspace, the ministry said in a statement.
"There are no operational implications or restrictions for Mexico, nor for Mexican airlines or operators," it said.
The FAA advisories came against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions following a US military operation in early January that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The world is getting more unstable. While this is far from India, it shows how interconnected global security is. Our government should also keep a close watch on such developments.
Respectfully, the article seems to mix facts with a specific narrative. The FAA advisory is a standard precaution. The link to the Venezuela operation feels like editorializing. Let's stick to the aviation safety aspect.
GPS disruptions are no joke. It's good they issued the warning. I remember reading about similar issues near our borders sometimes. Aviation authorities everywhere need to be proactive.
Mexico saying it doesn't affect their aviation is typical. Every country tries to downplay risks to avoid panic. But if the US FAA is warning, pilots should definitely listen. Better safe than sorry.
The 60-day effective period is interesting. Suggests they expect these "military activities" to be prolonged. Wonder what's really going on over there that they can't talk about openly.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.