Prohibition against certain flights within the Flight Information Region of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

This action amends SFAR 79, issued on April 18, 1997, to permit certain flight operations within the international airspace controlled by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by any United States air carrier or commercial operator; by any person exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA; and by any operator using an aircraft registered in the United States. Due to the lack of certain information from the DPRK necessary to the safety of flight operations in the area, the FAA issued SFAR 79, which prohibits certain flight operations within the Pyongyang Flight Information Region (FIR), pending resolution of outstanding questions related to safety of flight operations in the area. The FAA recently completed a review of safety information from the DPRK, and has determined that an acceptable level of safety exists in the Pyongyang FIR east of 132 degrees east longitude. The FAA therefore amends SFAR 79 to remove the prohibition on flight operations in that area.