Prohibition Against Certain Flights Within the Territory and Airspace of Iraq

This action is taken to allow U.S. civil flight operations to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah International Airports in Northern Iraq by any United States (U.S.) air carrier or commercial operator, any person exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA except such persons operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier (who are not covered by the prohibition), or a person operating an aircraft registered in the United States unless the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier (which also is not covered by the prohibition). The FAA has recently determined that a full flight prohibition is no longer necessary for these airports in Northern Iraq, and this action will allow flights to be conducted provided that certain measures are taken. Additional adjustments to the current flight prohibition may be appropriate as the risk to aviation safety and security lessens in other parts of the country, and ultimately the prohibition may be lifted completely.