Iran overflight
 

Anyone care to offer recent advice for an Iran overflight?

We have a trip next month routed over Iran and would love any current info.

Thanks in advance.

Any details of dept and dest?
We use the idea of "if they don't like us, we don't fly over or through".
Iraq, Iran, N Korea, etc

Non issue.


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I haven't overflown Iran in a few years, but it wasn't a big deal. ATC was good, you'll need to have estimate and level request before departure from the Gulf states. There's a not about calling Tehran Military with squawk and routing, try but their VHF may not reach where you are entering; just tell ATC to pass it on. If you enter Karachi from Tehran, max level was F390. You might get re-routing for military airspace, happened to me once.

Consider it like an ocean crossing and not plan on diverting into Iranian airport. You'll be greeted fine and welcomed, but delays getting maintenance support in can take days.

GF

I've done it a few times in the last 6 months or so. I'm not sure what kind of prep work is required getting over-flight and FIR clearances. That stuff just shows up on our flight plans, so there may be some hoops to jump through if it's a one time thing.

Once you're enroute it's pretty routine. Air Defense Radar does want to hear from you 10 minutes prior to the FIR boundary (127.8 or 135.1). They usually don't answer until you're about 20 miles from the FIR. I don't know if it's a crappy radio or they just like to hear us call them 20 times before they answer.

Once inside Iranian airspace, the comm is usually reasonable. Their radios work and their English is better than other folks in the region. I would concur on the divert ops. I'm going to do all I can to avoid setting it down anywhere in that country.

We overfly Iran quite a bit with "N" registered aircraft. It is a no brainer as others have posted. Make sure you have a valid permit. Call Air Defense 10 min from the FIR with your ETA and FL at the FIR. ATC radios are a bit antiquated and the quality is not very good but they do speak good enough English to get through with no problems.

Thanks all for the great responses. Russia to Dubai is the route.

Don't listen to the propaganda, (most of) Iran isn't really a 3rd world country, and most of their citizens are not bad people.

No issue. Make sure your overflight permit is valid for the time or you expect to overfly Iran. Contact them 10 minutes from your eta to the FIR as discussed above. Iranian ATC very professional, friendly and accommodating.

Two points to my comment on diverting into Iran. First, due to various sanctions and export controls, shipping in parts can be difficult and time consuming. Second, their own bureaucracy can be full of red tape. Visa for tech, access to ramp areas, flights in and out for parts and/or tech staff. A friend went into Tehran and spent 8 days arranging for an oil leak fix that took a couple of hours. The Iranian people are fine.

GF