The IAA have published details of a Temporary Danger Area (TDA) that will be activated across the southern part of the Shannon FIR during certain periods of the coming week. The inaugural launch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper will use a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket to deliver the first satellites of the constellation into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Project Kuiper is Amazon’s LEO satellite broadband network.
The proposed launch will potentially affect aircraft operating in the vicinity of Gander, Shanwick Oceanic Control Airspace, Shannon FIR/UIR and London FIR/UIR. To protect aircraft from the debris risk, the operation will be contained within temporary danger areas across Shannon FIR/UIR and London FIR/UIR and several Stationary Reservations (Shanwick Oceanic Airspace).
The purpose of the Temporary Danger Area is to ensure the safety of aircraft operating within the Shannon FIR/UIR during the Atlas V Rocket launch (United Launch Alliance – Kuiper 1) in the period cited, as illustrated in the image below.
In the event of the launch not occurring on the primary date and time, 2300 UTC Monday 28th April to 0307 UTC Tuesday 29th April, alternate launch windows are scheduled daily until 05th May 2025, outlined hereafter:
- Alternate Launch window 1, Tuesday 29th April – Wednesday 30th April, 2025
- Alternate Launch window 2, Wednesday 30th April – Thursday 1st May, 2025
- Alternate Launch window 3, Thursday 1st May – Friday 2nd May, 2025
- Alternate Launch window 4, Friday 2nd May – Saturday 3rd May, 2025
- Alternate Launch window 5, Saturday 3rd May – Sunday 4th May, 2025
- Alternate Launch window 6, Sunday 4th May – Monday 5th May, 2025
A NOTAM will be issued in due course to notify of the TDA activation or deactivation.
To see the full notice is available here.
