How far does a country's airspace extend?

Social Studies · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021

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 A country's airspace typically extends to the same boundaries as its territorial land and waters. The internationally recognized vertical limit to a country's airspace is up to an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level, which is known as the Kármán line. This is the point where aeronautics ends and astronautics begins, as it's considered the edge of space.

The airspace above a country also includes its territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles from the coastline according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Within this zone, the country has exclusive rights to the air above as well.

There is also a concept called an "air defense identification zone" (ADIZ) which extends beyond a country's territorial airspace, where the country tries to identify, locate, and control civil aircraft, though these zones do not have any international legal standing.

However, it is important to note that there are differences in airspace regulation and enforcement in various parts of the world and that not all countries adhere strictly to the same guidelines.