Flights over Cuba

[Synoopy]

I fly in GA aircraft, typically in and around the Carribean. Cuba is a considerable go around because you cant as a private pilot enter Cuban airspace. Simbrief flight Plans typically will transverse this space. Wondering if that fact has been a consideration when creating flight plans in this area when developing accurate flight plans for the end user.

[jsokoloff]

Hello, I know that commercial flights go over Cuba to the Caribbean. Having said that, you may have to use the route calculator to create your own custom routing for GA flying.

[Synoopy]

I am flying GA not commercial. GA is restricted. I will use the route calculator to see if that is a good alternative - thanks

[dougsnow]

We dispatch commercial 121s across Cuba all the time, not TO nor FROM Cuba. We have coordinated with the Cubans, and we file their permission code within the remarks of the ATC FPL (e.g., RMK/CUBA ABC123) and as long as we pay the overflight fees (probably thru some middleman), no harm no foul.

According to our overflight group, their overflight permissions authority is very easy to work with.

[Synoopy]

Pulled this information up

The U.S. federal rule from 2019, it is not just rare but virtually impossible for a U.S.-registered private aircraft to get a permit for an overflight of Cuba for general purposes.

@dougsnow

The key to understanding this is the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) rule itself. It explicitly made U.S.-registered, non-commercial private aircraft ineligible for the “License Exception” that previously allowed them to fly to Cuba. The only exceptions are for very specific circumstances, such as:

• Commercial flights and certain authorized public charters.

• Humanitarian missions and air ambulance operations.

• Government flights.

This rule is a legal prohibition on the type of aircraft, not a matter of a permit being difficult to obtain. For a standard recreational, business, or even most philanthropic private flights, there is no application process available to get an overflight permit under the current regulations.

[Rodeo314]

I found the following “guides”:

Cuba Ops Guide: Why Most Private Jets Can’t Go

• Overflights: Fine, but pay NAV fees or risk being blocked. US operators must use a third-party vendor to arrange both the overflight permit and payment of fees.

Clarifying Cuba Overflight Permits and NAV Fees

Depending on which airway you use you may not even need an overflight permit, apparently.

Going from/to Cuba Part 91 seems to be a big no, however.

Regards,

Tim

[Synoopy]

I will check the airways, but since I fly GA, I usually dont use them except for when I am my Citation X. But this is a consideration