New guidelines for overflying?
The DGCA has stipulated — in a draft regulation issued — that foreign military aircraft can only overfly Indian airspace if the diplomatic mission of that country in India receives permission from the Indian ministry of external affairs and the necessary “AOR code” from the concerned armed forces headquarters. In the draft regulation
issued titled “procedure for issue of non-scheduled flight clearances to foreign registered aircraft...”, the DGCA has also stated that in case of civilian non-scheduled flights that overfly Indian airspace or seek to land in India, prior approval must be obtained from the DGCA, including the “AFTN signal” reference number which should be communicated to the air traffic control at the time of the flight “due to reasons for safety of flights”.
“Overflying aircraft that are unable to quote the authority are liable to make a landing in India, and shall be subject to search/interrogation by authorities upon landing,” the DGCA said. In the recent past, there was an incident in which an aircraft operated by the US military — that was overflying Indian airspace — was ordered to make a landing in India after it failed to transmit the concerned military call sign.
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