Military restrictions impede civilian planes flying to Eilat

JERUSALEM, June 26 (JTA) — Israeli military restrictions placed on flight patterns pose risks to civilian planes en route to Eilat. The southern flight route to Eilat has turned into a security risk because of the limitations set by the air force, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported this week. In recent months, a number of incidents occurred including several near collisions between passenger planes. The Transport Ministry has been examining ways to alleviate the crowded airspace, which is also a problem in approach paths to Ben- Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv. The southern flight corridor to Eilat is only three miles wide, compared to the a standard width of 10 miles set by the world aviation association. The air force also limits the altitudes for civilian flights to and from Eilat. Sources in the civil aviation authority complained that the air force does not consider seriously the needs of the civilian flights and does not include the authority in efforts to increase safety.