Prohibition Against Certain Flights Between the United States and Iraq

This action removes Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 61-2, which prohibits flight operations between the United States and Iraq, except under certain conditions. SFAR 61-2 is removed because the United Nations Security Council has lifted sanctions on Iraq and has encouraged all countries to participate in the reconstruction of that country, to include providing humanitarian flights. This final rule informs the public that the restrictions on flights between the United States and Iraq, which are contained in SFAR 61-2, are lifted. This action does not remove the Iraq flight prohibition of SFAR 77, which affects certain operations by U.S. air carriers and commercial operators, by any person exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA except persons operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier, or by an operator using an aircraft registered in the United States unless the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The flight prohibition under SFAR 77, which was imposed for safety reasons, remains in effect.