The Ministry of Defence has explained an important rule about airspace, helping people understand when aircraft need permission to enter and when they do not.
What is a country’s airspace?
A country has full control, or sovereignty, over:
- its land
- its territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles from the coast)
- the airspace above these areas
This means aircraft, especially military planes, must get permission before entering this space.
What is international airspace?
Beyond the 12 nautical mile zone is international airspace.
In this area:
- aircraft can travel without asking permission
- countries do not have full control
What is the Flight Information Region (FIR)?
The Ministry also explained something called the Flight Information Region, or FIR.
The FIR is:
- a large area assigned to a country for managing air traffic
- used to guide and monitor flights for safety
But it is important to note:
- it does not belong to the country in the same way as its land or territorial airspace
Why can planes enter FIR without permission?
Aircraft can travel through the FIR without permission because:
- it is meant for safety and coordination, not control
- it often includes international airspace
- global aviation rules allow free movement over international waters
Air traffic controllers in the FIR still help guide flights and share important information, even though the country does not have full authority there.
Why is this important?
The clarification comes during discussions about how countries’ airspace is used during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Photo Credits: Ministry of Defence, Maldives
