Hello again, I was planning a flight in my FMC from Miami Intl to South America (specifically Cali Columbia). I wanted to know if there are any restrictions for American airliners flying through Cuba airspace? Can my flight plan pass through Cuban Airspace or do you have to fly around it via another airway? Thank You. :-)

On a USAirways flight from Charlotte to Montego Bay, Jamaica this summer, we flew right over the middle of Cuba. I was a little surprised at this, but I guess international relations are secure enough to allow this.

Flights to Jamaica would be quite a bit longer if you had to bypass Cuba. Not sure on this, but aren't US flights from FL banned over Cuba, but from all other states they're allowed? :-hmmm

>>Not sure on this, but aren't US flights from FL banned over Cuba, >>but from all other states they're allowed?I thought the restriction was only for US aircraft landing in Cuba. I

Hey guys,Ok, I'll admit it....you picked my interest on this one. My very first flight as a new Captain (at this airline) was a charter flight from KCVG to Grand Cayman, this took us directly over Cuba. I remember being a bit concerned with how Havana Center would handle us, but they were very friendly and it was a "no brainer".I just checked all my manuals, and couldn't find anything about restrictions over Cuba. I did find this:"All flights into or out of Cuban airspace, including those in the established Maya and Giron air corridors, must be able to establish and maintain communications with the appropriate (Havana or Miami) center 10 minutes prior to airspace entry. All flights must have a flight plan on file with the Havana Center at least one hour prior to airspace entry."This I found interesting...."Any airplane which flies over Cuban national territory or jurisdictional waters may be intercepted and required to land if:--flying over national territory and jurisdictional waters without proper authorization.--flying without proper authorization outside national routes or established international corridors.--executing inappropriate manevers, and,--does not carry out the instructions from Air Traffic Control.Aircraft that have been ordered to land, or have landed without proper authorization will be subject to whatever penalties the Cuban authorities may prescribe, without recourse."Interesting, eh?I do distinctly remember on my one and only trip over Cuba back in '94 that our operations manual stated that it was "illegal" to let the passengers take pictures of Cuba. I was to make a P.A. to the cabin expressing such, and the passengers were required to lower their window shades until we had passed over the island..... Yeah, right. I remember making the P.A., but I'm sure that just made them all want to dig their cameras out and start snapping away. :)I noticed that little statment is no longer in our manuals.....hehe. I'm sure the warmer relations with Castro is a direct result of my state govenor's visit a few months ago (the ex-professional wrestler Gov. Jesse Ventura of Minnesota). :)take care,BBall--------------------Capt. William "BBall" BallBoeing 757, Northwest AirlinesSenior Editorwww.frugalsworld.com

Oops, William beat me to it. :-)Here is what my (outdated) Jepp charts say anyway:"All aircraft entering Cuban airspace:a. Must be able to establish and maintain communications with Havana CTA/FIR 10 minutes prior to airspace entry.b. Must have a flight plan on file with Havana CTA/FIR at least 1 hour prior to airspace entry.c. Must adhere strictly to Cuban requirements for overflight of their territory."So as long as you talk to them, file a flight plan, and obey their "requirements" it doesn't seem to be a problem.Martin767 fetishistIt's a lot like life and that's what's appealing

Hi Bill,I flew a lot of trips down to Cayman from Miami in the DC-9 years ago and most of the time Havana Center was very helpful. I did have one trip when there was a huge thunderstorm over the center of Cuba right on the airway. I asked Havana Center for clearance to cross Cuba on the airway on the eastern part of the Island and they told me all they would approve was a ten mile deveation east or west of the airway I was on. This wouldn't clear the area of weather and I couldn't top it so I told them "Well you can just show me holding at 35000ft in the clear at my present position until the weather clears the airway". The controller said "Ok you can hold where you are but look out for other aircraft" which is exactly what I did. There's no way they didn't have radar in Cuba back then. They knew where we were all the time and the non-radar position reports we had to make were a big joke.Regards,Ed Weber a.k.a tallpilot

Hey Ed,You gotta love it! :DThose pesky Cubans....but they do make a great cigar, eh?BBall------------------Capt. William "BBall" BallBoeing 757, Northwest AirlinesSenior Editorwww.frugalsworld.com

Interesting stuff.