Diverting to Cuba?

TurdBird

TurdBird

Well-Known Member
This may be a simple answer, I'm just wondering. Say for example you are flying back from somewhere in South America or that area and you are approaching Cuba's airspace on the way to Florida. Obviously there is no going overhead, only around. While you are going around something major happens to the aircraft that requires you to land immediately. I know that there are a lot of other islands in the area and how you would/should be able to make it to one of them, but say you can't.

Is there anyway you could divert to Cuba and land safely? Is it allowed? I'm sure there would be a lot of drama involved if a landing is even allowed. What's the deal?
 
I'd bet you could safely divert. If I remember correctly there was a Northwest DC-10 that diverted to Tehran a year or so ago due to a fire indication in the cargo compartment. These leaders are crazy, but I think they're smart enough that doing something to a plane full of civilians is not in their best interests.
 
You can actually overfly Cuba, it just requires the proper overflight permit. I would imagine that if you did have to divert it would not be that much of a problem, probably just have to work with the governments to provide the appropriate solution. If you are flying from MIA to Cancun, and had an emergency a third of the way there, the closest and most likely best place to go would be Cuba.
 
FiveO said:
This may be a simple answer, I'm just wondering. Say for example you are flying back from somewhere in South America or that area and you are approaching Cuba's airspace on the way to Florida. Obviously there is no going overhead, only around.
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You can overfly Cuba. I've been over it several times. As a matter of fact, the english of the controllers at Havana Center is a lot better than some other FIRS in the Carribbean. All you need is to file for and receive overflight clearance, then just call them up 10 minutes out going Northbound. Southbound, Miami will hand you off. Sure makes getting to Jamaica, and the Caymans easy.
 
Also, don't some airlines do charters to Cuba? For example, Gulfstream comes to mind for some reason. I guess you gotta deport people somehow.
 
Cptnchia said:
You can overfly Cuba. I've been over it several times. As a matter of fact, the english of the controllers at Havana Center is a lot better than some other FIRS in the Carribbean. All you need is to file for and receive overflight clearance, then just call them up 10 minutes out going Northbound. Southbound, Miami will hand you off. Sure makes getting to Jamaica, and the Caymans easy.
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Isn't there also a fee you have to pay?
 
Overflight permits allow you to overfly, but you are not allowed to take pictures. No idea how they would enforce it though.
 
If you go here:

[FONT=ARIAL, Helvetica, Geneva][FONT=ARIAL, Helvetica, Geneva][FONT=ARIAL, Helvetica, Geneva]http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0345106/L/

you'll see that it's no problem at all. In fact, American Airlines and other US airlines fly to Cuba often as part of regular "unscheduled" charter flights mainly for Cubans living in America wishing to visit their families back home.

Also, pretty much every major European and Canadian airline flies to Cuba regularly so it's less of an issue than you might think it is.

If you go to flightaware type in "MUHA" (ICAO code for Havana) you'll see Gulfstream and American Eagle have several flights from Miami.
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FiveO said:
I'm sure there would be a lot of drama involved if a landing is even allowed. What's the deal?
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The "Cayman Caravan" goes over this when they help you fill out the overflight permit. Acording to them there is very little drama, just a the expected amount of paperwork both there and back home. Several airplane have done it. Declare an emergency, follow Havana center's instructions, land, don't take pictures of the shiney MIGs.

The biggest problem would be finding a liscensed mechanic to make any major repairs.
 
I don't think it's that big of a deal. I flew into Havana quite a bit with Eagle, and Cptchia is right--their english is definitely better than most other carribean countries. They've also got an ILS, which is somewhat rare down there. If you divert to, say, Key West while coming back from Cuba, I've heard it's a big deal.
 
I lived in Cuba for a few months a few years back. Then something happened with the embargo and we had to leave because we were American :banghead:. The Cuban gov doesnt care if your there, you will run into trouble though when you try to enter the US again with a Cuban stamp on your passport. It's a really great culture I certainly wouldnt mind if the plane I was on had to divert to Cuba.:nana2:
 
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