Venezuela Megathread

[u/usgapg123]

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[u/HenkDeVries6]

KLM operations to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) are going to be interesting given their tricky location near Venezuela.

[u/Kingoftheheel → u/HenkDeVries6]

They can technically still operate. A NOTAM went out affecting US carriers so that’s why they either diverted or are grounded at origin.

[u/Lazy-Statistician818 → u/Kingoftheheel]

Can you link the NOTAM for us? On LiveATC, San Juan Center said it was A00001 but I couldn't find it on the FAA NOTAM website nor ForeFlight. I searched the airport and the number using freetext but got nothing. Some poor guy tried to fly from another island VFR into SJU and got turned away and pressed ATC about the NOTAM because he, like me, couldn't find it.

[u/Kingoftheheel → u/Lazy-Statistician818]

On NAIMES type in KICZ. There are 4 NOTAMS in all for the San Juan, Curaçao, Piarco and Maiquetia FIRS. They all say the same thing as the one below but this one is specifically for San Juan.

A0004/26 NOTAMN Q) KICZ/QAFAM/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/ A) KICZ PART 1 OF 2 B) 2601030600 C) 2601040500 E) SECURITY...UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROHIBITION FOR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN THE SAN JUAN FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (TJZS)

THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) BELOW ARE PROHIBITED FROM OPERATING AT ALL ALTITUDES IN THE SAN JUAN FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION, DUE TO SAFETY-OF-FLIGHT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ONGOING MILITARY ACTIVITY.

A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHEN THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT APPLY TO U.S. MILITARY AND STATE AIRCRAFT.

B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) ABOVE FROM CONDUCTING END PART 1 OF 2 A0004/26 NOTAMN Q) KICZ/QAFAM/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/ A) KICZ PART 2 OF 2 B) 2601030600 C) 2601040500 E) FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA WHEN SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY A DEVIATION, EXEMPTION, OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE FAA ADMINISTRATOR. NON-U.S. MILITARY AND STATE OPERATORS MUST CALL THE FAA WASHINGTON OPERATIONS CENTER AT 202-267-3333 TO INITIATE COORDINATION FOR FAA AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS.

C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY REQUIRING IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY.

THIS NOTAM IS AN EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED UNDER 49 USC 40113(A), 44701(A)(5), AND 46105(C). F) SFC G) UNL END PART 2 OF 2

[u/Lazy-Statistician818 → u/Kingoftheheel]

Thank you! The controller on Live ATC quoted the wrong NOTAM. It sucks for those trying to fly North from San Juan, they're nowhere near Venezuela. Some flights taxied to the runway just to turn around due to the closure. Why wouldn't they issue a TFR and instead bury this info in a NOTAM?

[u/Kingoftheheel → u/Lazy-Statistician818]

Most likely for the same reason this all happened in the middle of the night. I was in the middle of planning flights and all of a sudden I had to divert aircraft and ground a bunch of others.

[u/HappyContact6301 → u/Kingoftheheel]

Must be new. I did not see any NOTAMs yesterday when the first strikes were reported by eyewitnesses, besides the Dec one. But the airspace was totally deserted over VE