Warning Issued About Crimean Airspace
EASA, ICAO, and EUROCONTROL have recommended that airspace users take alternative routes to avoid the Simferopol Flight Information Region.
An April 3 Safety Information Bulletin posted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned there may be serious risks to international civil flights in the Simferopol Flight Information Region, which is under the responsibility of Ukraine, because there may be two air traffic service providers controlling flights within that airspace as of April 3.
It cites NOTAM A0569/14, published by the Ukrainian authorities, and says the Russian Federation has published a series of notices to airmen (NOTAMs) "modifying the Simferopol FIR which is under the responsibility of Ukraine, and their intent to provide air traffic services (ATS) within this airspace."
The bulletin calls attention "to the possible existence of serious risks to the safety of international civil flights. Due to the unsafe situation where more than one ATS provider may be controlling flights within the same airspace from 3 April 2014, 0600 UTC onwards, consideration should be given to measures to avoid the airspace and circumnavigate the Simferopol FIR with alternative routings."