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Conditions for Grant of Flight Clearance for Military Aircraft of Both Countries

In

1. The side requesting permission for their military aircraft to fly through the air space of the other country or for landing(s) by such aircraft at airfield(s) in the other country, will approach the respective Air HQ through their Air Advisor for clearance to undertake the flight, at least seven days before the scheduled date(s) of the flight(s). If, due to unforeseen circumstances, this notice is less than seven days, the other country would, as far as possible, make all efforts to accommodate the request. The following details of each flight will be intimated to the concerned Air Headquarter:

 

    a. Aircraft type.
    b. Aircraft registration number.
    c. Aircraft call sign.
    d. Name of the Captain of the Aircraft.
    e. Number of the crew.
    f. Cruising level.
    g. General nature of cargo carried and number of passengers who are on board the Aircraft.
    h. Purpose of the flight.
    j. Standby aircraft number and call sign.
    k. Name of standby Captain and air crew.
    l. Flight plan for outbound and return legs including air route, Flight Information Region (FIR) entry/exit points and times, Expected Time of Arrival (ETAs/Expected Time of Departure (ETDs) and flight levels etc.
    m. Type and quality of fuel required at various air fields landing.

2. All flights approved will be valid for 3 days within plus/minus three hours of the given time schedule of each day provided flight details remain unchanged. Any subsequent changes of the flight plan will require fresh clearance from Air HQ, for which advance notice of 72 hours will be essential.

3. Routes to be followed by aircraft will be specified by respective countries at the time of requesting flight clearance. If the route proposed by the originator country is, for any reason, not acceptable to the other country, the latter would, if possible, suggest a viable alternative route at the earliest.

4. The aircraft will not fly below 8000 ft or over 40,000 ft Above Ground Level (AGL).

5. The concerned Flight Information Center of the other country will be contacted by the transiting aircraft during the flight before entering the airspace of the other country.

6. Flights across each other’s air space will normally be completed between sun rise and sun set. Over-flights by night may be permitted, on specific request, under special circumstances.

7. No war-like material e.g. arms, ammunition, explosives, (except escape aid explosives), pyrotechnics (except emergency very light pistol signal cartridges), nuclear/fissionable material, Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) materials, photographic material (whether or not installed), electronic devices other than required for normal operation of the aircraft, may be carried in the aircraft.

8. Non-professional cameras belonging to the passengers and which are not capable of aerial photography, may however be carried but photography at Airports or of defence installations, bridges and industries etc. is not permitted.

9. Normally, both countries shall permit over flights to transit across the other’s airspace along approved international Air Traffic Services (ATS) routes without the aircraft having to make a technical halt. However, each country has the sovereign right to insist on such a halt if the country being overflown so desires.

10. Special care is to be exercised by the transiting aircraft to stay within the ATS routes and not to stray outside the limits of the route.

11. Visas for the crew and passengers will be issued by the respective Embassy with utmost promptness.

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