Flying over Cuba
 

I'm a student at an aerospace university and I have an argument to settle with one of my aerospace professors. We were discussing IATA, ICAO, etc and he mentioned how it is not legal for part 121 US carriers to overfly Cuba on their way to Jamaica. I openly disagreed with him, as I have been to Jamaica and as I recall I flew there on a Northwest A320 out of MEM. Was I actually flying KLM? I went to flightaware.com and tracked flights between MEM and Montego Bay and the tracking coverage drops off about 100 miles north of Cuba, but it appears that it would be unbelievably inefficient to fly around Cuba. I remember seeing other major US airlines in Montego Bay while I was there. Anyways, did we fly over Cuba legally there and back? Is my professor wrong when he says, "it's not legal for US airlines to fly over Cuba." Thanks

Also, I've heard that Cubana is allowed to fly to Canadian destinations through U.S. airspace. What about Canadian carriers flying to/from Havana? Anyone know what those rules are?

No problem flying over Cuba. And Varadero is one cool spot to relax on the beach...

And the Cubans are allowed to overfly the U.S., too?

Hay carumba!!!
 

Your professor needs to go back to school himself about US carriers flying over Cuba. All one needs is an over-flight permit approved by the Cuban government along with payment in US green backs in return for the over-flight permit, and voila, enjoy the view of Havana from 35,000 feet.

Yes, they are. I hear Cubana occasionally on center frequencies along the east coast.

Back in the late 70s I used to fly DC-3s to Havana and Veradero out of PIE. Yes, we were flying a US registered plane on a 135 certificate. Back then, if you spoke Spanish to Havana Center you could even get off airway direct routings. It has been many years, but there were two International Corridors open, the one I used most often went from Varedero to Giron, and then on to either Grand Cayman or Montego Bay. BTW, Giron is where the Bay of Pigs is on the south coast.

Havana was funky with one long runway (15,000') with a railway crossing it at mid field. When you pulled up to the gate, you were escorted to Cubana operations to enter/exit as crew and pay your fees. It was really funny to see the Cubana Captains checking in for their trips and getting issued Gen-u-ine Jeppesen charts in brown leather binders! True to the Russian way, there was a Doctor in ops to give quickie pre flight physicals. The cigars were cheap, the coffee was in little cup and quite strong and the rum was rot-gut.

Very true.
You pay them money and set prior flight over there airspace and is it is not a problem. The set up process can take a some time sometimes but most of the time it is not a hassel for your Dispatcher. The permit can also be requested through Jeppensen services for a small fee. For the most part there is always an exception to every rule if the airline is willing to PAY THE MAN. Countless time Airliners will land an aircraft that is bigger than what what the runway limits are in the AFD but after you set prior arrangment with the airpport authorities (pay the man) they have no problem with you landing a larger aircraft on the runways past its AFD axle limits.
Remeber Basic Aerodynamics= $$$$$$$:D

I've flown over Cuba many times. No problems. The airline handles the permits and I fly the plane.

Air Canada as many many flights to Cuba, I think they have like 5 or 6 destinations in Cuba. Air Canada basicly has a monopoly over the North America-Cuba market I do believe AC gets charged for over flights of cuba when flying to other destinations though

I've been told by several CAL pilots and it was "confirmed" by one of them that they have a few flights a day from MIA to Havana. It's some sort of gov't contract for Cubans that live here but still have family there. To travel, you need to have good reason - i.e. dying parent. Maybe a CAL guy has more info?

True statement. Our airline did subservice for them back in 2000 and 2001 during the christmas/new years period

Gotcha... I was under the impression that it was still happening.

Still is as far as I'm concerned. Other carriers provide supplemental lift for CAl during the X-mas season.

I have flown over Cuba and landed there plenty of times, never had a problem. You need an overflight to fly over the island, but you can fly on their airspace without. The charts do mentioned that their airspace only reaches fl410, i would be almost curious to see what would happen flying over at fl450 without a permit....

Here's some proof that you can print out and take directly to your professor:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/EGF9530

FlyerJosh, nice post I will use this for sure.

Im not sure about CAL, but Eagle does a lot of MIA-Cuba charters in the ATR. I dont know who the pax are for these flights, but its a common occurence to do a Cuba out-and-back from our MIA base.

All the major U.S. Airlines flying to Central America/South America over-fly Cuba. American, Delta, US Air, Northwest and others can be heard on the frequency when I am in HAV Airspace. I've also heard Cubana flying over Florida on their way to Toronto.

I've heard them on many occasions on the way to SA.

Several US carriers fly to a couple of cities in cuba from MIA, Gulfstream, American Eagle, CAL and Falcon Air.

Ive flown over Cuba a bunch of times on my way down to MBJ or Costa Rica. Honesty their controllers have the best English south of the border, and are very nice to work with.

something else you can show

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%...tional_Airport

read terminal 2

Cubana is indeed allowed to fly throught the American Aerospace but with some restrictions. Not that I'm a real pilot, but I have both flown on ACA964 and CUB180, ACA reach Cuba faster than Cubana's flight, I therefore don't see any other eason other than restrictions to fly over certain airspaces.

ACA uses an A319 and Cubana a leased A320 from Grupo TACA