Mumbai Movement Liaision Unit (MLU) called Indian Air Force at 2205 last night to confirm clearance for a United States Air Force Boeing-747 aircraft flying from Nairobi to Hong Kong and entering Indian airspace at ORLID (reporting point) at 0047 hrs IST. As there was no Air Operations Routine (AOR) available for this aircraft or any other military aircraft flying this route, from 27 Jul 06 to 01 Aug 06, MLU was advised to inform the aircraft through Mumbai Flight Information Centre (FIC) that it was not permitted to enter Indian airspace.
At 2300 h Mumbai MLC called to inform that the aircraft was now coming as a civil registered aircraft operated by Atlas Air and had obtained Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clearance and asked for Operations Room advice. They were informed to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This morning at 0055 hrs, Duty Officer South Western Air Command called to inform that he was refusing clearance to this aircraft due to the suspicious change in aircraft particulars from military to civil. At 0210 hrs, he informed that the aircraft was being asked to land at Mumbai to verify its antecedents. He was then advised to keep Ops Room informed on the status of the aircraft after it lands. The aircraft landed at 0303 hrs and was checked by Duty Officer Mumbai MLU who confirmed that it was a civil registered aircraft and the pilot had stated that there was a mix up by Nairobi Air Traffic Control (ATC) in forwarding the aircraft particulars. The aircraft is still at Mumbai and is yet to file further Flight Plan.
SS/NK
(Release ID :19276)