General Requirements
All aircraft entering the Syrian Arab Republic airspace must comply with the regulations set forth by GACA and the national laws governing civil aviation.
Overflight Permits
Non-scheduled flights (charter, private, military, state) require prior overflight/landing permission from GACA. The permission number must be inserted in Item 18 of the flight plan.
Customs, Immigration and Health
All international traffic must use designated airports of entry/exit. Passengers and crew are subject to immigration, customs, and health clearance procedures.
Airports of Entry
- OSDI — Damascus International Airport
- OSAP — Aleppo International Airport
- OSLK — Lattakia International Airport
Transit Requirements
Aircraft transiting through Syrian airspace without landing must:
- File an IFR or VFR flight plan through Damascus ACC at least 24 hours before the planned flight
- Obtain an overflight permit from GACA for non-scheduled operations
- Operate along ATS routes as specified in ENR 3 and establish two-way radio contact with Damascus ACC on 121.300 MHz five minutes before crossing the FIR boundary
- Maintain a continuous listening watch on the assigned ACC frequency throughout transit
- Comply with SSR transponder code assignments from Damascus ACC
Departure Requirements
- Departing aircraft must have valid ATC clearance before engine start
- Customs and immigration formalities must be completed at the aerodrome of departure
- General aviation departures are handled by the airport operations authority
- Flight plans must be filed at least 30 minutes prior to EOBT for IFR flights
Diplomatic/State Aircraft
Diplomatic and State flights require specific clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and GACA. Applications must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance through diplomatic channels.
Aviation Security
Aviation Security Authority
Aviation security within the Syrian Arab Republic is administered by the Aviation Security Division of GACA in accordance with ICAO Annex 17 — Security: Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference.
Security Requirements
- All passengers and cabin baggage are subject to security screening prior to boarding at international aerodromes
- Hold baggage screening is mandatory at all international airports (OSDI, OSAP, OSLK)
- Cargo and mail security procedures follow ICAO standards
- Aircraft operators are responsible for security of their aircraft during ground operations
- Access to restricted areas of aerodromes is controlled by airport security pass system
National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP)
Syria maintains a National Civil Aviation Security Programme in accordance with ICAO Annex 17. The programme covers threat assessment, security measures at aerodromes, in-flight security, and coordination with national security agencies.
Unlawful Interference Procedures
In the event of unlawful interference with an aircraft, pilots shall:
- Set transponder to Code 7500
- Attempt to notify ATC on the current frequency
- Follow the procedures outlined in ENR 1.13