Operating private aircraft in India is not hard. It requires proper preparation, though. The country is full of different regulations that should be considered before departure. Different kinds of documentation should be prepared, and each operator needs to know whether it will be easy to park an aircraft at particular airports. The challenges that are usually faced by foreign private jets while flying into India are as follows.
Lead Time for Landing Permits and the Restricted Countries List
All foreign private jets that operate in India should be provided with a valid landing permit issued by the DGCA before departure from the origin place. Not upon arrival but prior to departure.
Standard procedure: 3 days (the flight will operate on the fourth day); if the aircraft originates from the countries of China, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia or Nigeria, the extended period of 7 working days applies. DGCA offices and civil aviation authorities do not work on weekends and public holidays in India. If the correction of the permit is needed on Friday, it will be made on Monday. National holidays during processing time will prolong this period.
Validity of the permit is within 48 hours of the ETD mentioned in the application. Any change in origin and destination will require permit revision, which will be processed in the same manner as the original permit. No expediting procedure is available. If the operator is planning for a 3-day period of permit issuance but doesn’t check whether his origin country is on the extended list, he will face big problems with it.
Restart the Clock With Documentation Problems
The most common cause for applications being rejected instead of being processed is incomplete documentation. The typical application form requires a Certificate of Airworthiness, Certificate of Registration, Noise Certificate, Insurance Certificate, and Air Operator Certificate (if applicable). All flight, crew, and passenger information must be completed, with copies of passports and a General Declaration provided.
A discrepancy between the crew list and the passport number. The expiration of an AOC since the last Indian operation. Failure to include a Noise Certificate, as the previous handling agent did not require it. These problems cause applications to be rejected and the processing of the permit to start from scratch based on the resubmitted application. Having all the information documented the first time properly is not a convenience. It is the difference between a permit arriving on Day 3 versus Day 6 of what was a 3-day process.
Limited Parking and the 72-Hour Rule at Mumbai
Parking is allocated on a first come first serve basis at most Indian airports, with confirmation coming much closer to the date of operation than weeks in advance of the operation. Operators used to markets where parking is secured months in advance face a new reality.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, VABB, in Mumbai limits general aviation parking to 72 hours with repatriation required afterwards. Extensions up to 72 hours are possible only with prior approval, and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the end of the first 72-hour period. The standard repatriation location after the initial 72 hours for VABB is Ahmedabad (VAAH). Other possible alternatives are Surat (VASU) and Nagpur (VANP).
At Delhi (VIDP) and other Indian airports, parking during peak traffic times, including political events, international meetings, and holiday seasons, runs out sooner than operators would expect. Booking the parking ahead of time and not counting on its availability upon arrival is always recommended.
ATC Departure Procedure Differs from Other Market Procedures
When departing India on a privately or commercially operated aircraft, one needs to submit a manually completed flight plan to the ATC department at the departure airport. This does not involve any AFTN filing procedures. Moreover, a signature of either a captain or an authorised flight dispatcher is required.
The ATC department will provide two confirmation numbers before the plan is cleared: an Air Defence Clearance number and a Flight Information Centre number. Both numbers need to be received by the operator before departure clearance will be given. The pilot in command may be requested to confirm both numbers before starting engines. Skipping this procedure is not an option.
Approach plates for military and joint-use civil-military airports in India are classified and not provided in the India Aeronautical Information Publication. When operators plan a contingency diversion to any joint-use airfield, this needs to be considered during preparation because published information is limited by nature.
Requirements for Crew and Passengers Documents
All crewmembers arriving in India are obliged to fill out a Customs Crew Baggage Declaration at the first point of entry using the Athithi 2.0 application. This is an application available on the Google Play Store. It needs to be filled out before passing customs control at the first point of entry. Not only the first entry into India, but all subsequent entries require this step to be completed.
All international passengers flying to India, regardless of visa or nationality, are obliged to fill out a mandatory e-Arrival Card before arrival in India. The form should be filled out up to 72 hours before arrival at the official website, indianvisaonline.gov.in. The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in India. The use of satellite phones is strictly forbidden. Passengers and crew cannot bring these items to the country.
Requirement Of Tow Bar Which Surprises Many Operators
The aircraft flying to India must be equipped with a complete tow bar set, including tow head and tow bar. Although there might be some tow bars at some major Indian airports, their compatibility with the aircraft type cannot be assumed. The operators who did not have a tow bar and had an incompatibility between the local tow bar and the aircraft type experienced unnecessary delays which could have been avoided with a pre-departure check.
Lead Time For Defense Airports
Operations into Indian defense or military-controlled airfields take much more time than the standard procedure for a civilian airport. Standard lead time is 3-4 weeks, typically 15-20 business days, and the Air Operations Routine number is often necessary along with a landing permit.
If the application for a clearance was made less than one month prior to the scheduled operation, the clearance is usually not possible, no matter how urgent the situation might be. There is no way to expedite the defense clearance. Planning of the operation taking into account the real lead time is the only reliable option.
For 14 Days Limitation On Stay In India Of Foreign Aircraft
Foreign registered aircraft are allowed to be in India up to 14 days consecutively. Any operations which require longer ground presence either because of the nature of the mission or due to the change in schedule require the aircraft to leave India during the 14-day period and arrive back with a new landing permit. Repositioning to Nepal, Sri Lanka or Maldives is the most popular option considering the relatively short permit lead times at those destinations, but the aircraft would require a new Indian landing permit for returning, and this permit should be applied for prior to repositioning departure.
How VVIP Flight Helps With Foreign Private Jet Operation in India
Being considered as one of the specialists providing aviation services throughout India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives, VVIP Flight handles the entire pre-departure coordination procedure for private jet operators, including permit application and document check, slot and parking confirmation, ATC procedures briefing for pilots, customs crew declaration assistance and ground handling at all major Indian airports.
For any assistance related to your upcoming trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us via ops@vvipflight.com.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in the above article is subject to change without prior notice. We recommend contacting our operations team for the latest regulations and information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How early should a foreign private jet apply for a landing permit to India?
A minimum of 3 working days in case of a standard origin of the flight and a minimum of 7 working days in case of a flight from China, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia or Nigeria. The working days are those which exclude weekends and public holidays in India. It is recommended to apply earlier than the minimum period.
- What would happen in case of a change in the schedule after the landing permit has been issued?
Any alteration in the origin or destination airports would require a full permit revision on the same timeline as the initial one. The permit would be valid within 48 hours from the ETD indicated in the application.
- Do all private jets have to have a tow bar when landing in India?
Yes, all aircraft should have a tow bar on board together with its tow head. One cannot rely on the availability of the local facilities and check the compatibility of the equipment with the specific aircraft.
- What are the ATC departure procedures of private aircraft from India?
A manually completed flight plan signed personally by the pilot-in-command or an authorised dispatcher should be presented to the ATC of the departure airport. Two confirmation numbers, ADC and FIC numbers, should be received from ATC before approving the flight plan.
- For how long can a foreign-registered private aircraft remain in India?
Foreign-registered aircraft may stay in India no more than 14 days. An extended period would require a planned departure from India followed by landing on a separate landing permit.
