FAA Warns Pilots: Venezuelan Airspace Risky Amid Military Buildup

RedState 

Well, this could get interesting. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an advisory stating pilots should exercise caution in and around Venezuelan airspace, citing an increase in military activity in the region as well as a "worsening security situation."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned pivots (sic) to “exercise caution” when operating in the region around Venezuela because of the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity” in and near the South American nation as tensions with the United States simmer.

The FAA’s advisory, issued on Friday, notes that “threats could post (sic) a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes” in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region. A handful of operators, such as LATAM Airlines and Iberia, have since canceled some flights to and from Venezuela.

The advisory is effective until Feb. 19, 2026.

One wonders just what kinds of risks aircraft operating in that airspace may encounter. Any hostile acts would have to come from the Venezuelan military, unless the cartels are now operating jet interceptors and anti-aircraft weaponry, which doesn't seem likely. And American forces, which we know have been busy detonating drug-smuggling speedboats, generally are pretty good about identifying their targets.

So, what may be going on? The Hill's report continued:

“Since early September, Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces,” the FAA wrote in a background information document accompanying the advisory. “While Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as potential low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and anti-aircraft artillery.”

The FAA also noted that some civil aircraft recently reported navigation system interference while traveling in the region “which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight.”

Venezuela's air force, the Venezuelan National Bolivarian Military Aviation, has at last report, 21 Russian Sukhoi SU-30MK2 fighters, and three F-16A/B Falcons in dubious condition - meaning they may be barely flyable junk. Were the United States to move south in force with F-22, F-35, or F-15 air superiority fighters, the Venezuelan air force, if they took off and entered the battle en masse, would last approximately six minutes.

Of course, that's no reason not to be appropriately cautious. As one old F-16 pilot of my acquaintance was fond of saying, "You don't have to go up, but if you do, you do have to come down." The real question here is how fast one comes down.

Last week, President Trump indicated that he has "sort of" made up his mind as to what to do about Venezuela; of course, he's not talking about what he may have in mind, but then, he shouldn't. Also, there are murmurings from some quarters of some kind of a deal, which would necessarily involve Maduro stepping down.

It sure looks like it's about to become a very interesting time in northern South America. Stay tuned; this is a developing situation, and as always, we'll do our best to keep you informed.