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14.2.3 Flight Information Regions. Flight Information Regions (FIRs) are areas ofairspace allocated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Every portion ofairspace belongs to a defined flight information region. Within each flight information region, aflight information service and an alerting service are provided by the national authoritiesresponsible for air traffic control. These services are the most basic levels of air traffic service,and they provide information to aviators necessary for the safe and efficient conduct of flights. 42A flight information region normally encompasses substantial areas of internationalairspace and does not necessarily reflect international or national airspace borders. 43beyond. A generally acceptable definition is that outer space begins at the undefined upper limit of the earth’sairspace and extends to infinity.”); 2006 AUSTRALIAN MANUAL 8-2 (“While views differ as to the precise verticaland horizontal extent of airspace, for practical purposes, it can be said that the upper limit to a state’s rights inairspace is above the highest altitude at which an aircraft can fly and below the lowest possible perigee of an earthsatellite in orbit. The result is that anything in orbit or beyond can safely be regarded as in outer space.”); 2004 UKMANUAL 12.13 (“Views differ as to the precise vertical and horizontal extent of airspace. For practical purposes, itcan be said that the upper limit to a state’s rights in airspace is above the highest altitude of what an aircraft can flyand below the lowest possible perigee of an earth satellite in orbit. The result is that anything in orbit or beyond cansafely be regarded as in outer space.”).41 Kenneth Hodgkins, U.S. Advisor to the United Nations, Legal Subcommittee (LSC) of the United NationsCommittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) 719th Meeting [unedited transcript] (Apr. 8, 2005) (“Aswe have stated on previous occasions, the United States is firmly of the view that there is no need to seek a legaldefinition or delimitation for outer space. The current framework has presented no practical difficulties and, indeed,activities in outer space are flourishing. Given this situation, an attempt to define or delimit outer space would be anunnecessary theoretical exercise that could potentially complicate existing activities and that might not be able toanticipate continuing technological developments. The current framework has served us well and we shouldcontinue to operate under this framework until there is a demonstrated need and a practical basis for developing adefinition or delimitation.”); Stephen Mathias, U.S. Advisor to the United Nations, U.S. Statements on SpecificAgenda Items before the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (2003) (“At thistime, the United States remains convinced that there is no need to seek a legal definition of delimitation for outerspace. Activities in outer space and in airspace are flourishing and have raised no practical need for a definition orlimitation between the spheres. In the absence of a real need, any attempt to develop a definition would be illadvisedas there would be no experience to call upon in agreeing upon any particular definition or delimitation.”);U.S. Statement before the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of OuterSpace regarding the Definition and Delimitation of Outer Space and the Character and Utilization of theGeostationary Orbit, Apr. 4, 2001, 2001 DIGEST OF UNITED STATES PRACTICE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW 721 (“Ourposition continues to be that defining or delimiting outer space is not necessary. No legal or practical problems havearisen in the absence of such a definition. On the contrary, the differing legal regimes applicable in respect ofairspace and outer space have operated well in their respective spheres. The lack of a definition or delimitation ofouter space has not impeded the development of activities in either sphere. … It would be dangerous for the LegalSubcommittee to agree to an artificial line between air space and outer space, when it cannot predict theconsequences of such a line.”).42 Information Provided to U.S. Embassies in Rangoon and New Delhi Regarding Transit Through FlightInformation Regions and International Airspace, May 2007, 2007 DIGEST OF UNITED STATES PRACTICE ININTERNATIONAL LAW 635, 636 (“A Flight Information Region, or FIR, is simply an area over which a civil aviationauthority has responsibility for provision of flight information services. FIRs are allocated to coastal states by theInternational Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to facilitate the safety of civil aviation. Some FIRs encompassboth national and international airspace. Civil aviation authorities may confuse responsibility for and authority overcivil aviation in a FIR for sovereignty over the area.”).43 DOD DIRECTIVE 4500.54E, DoD Foreign Clearance Program (FCP), Glossary (Dec. 28, 2009) (“flightinformation region. An airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information service and alerting service906