Clarifying Cuba Overflight Permits and NAV Fees

There have been some misconceptions in the industry with regards to Cuban Overflight Permits (COF) and Cuban airspace fees (NAV) pertaining to Cuban airspace. For airways that go through the Cuban Flight Information Region (FIR) and penetrate Cuba's inner Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) or overfly the island, a Cuban Overflight Permit is REQUIRED and a permit fee, plus airspace fees, will need to be paid to Cuba. However, there are several airways that go through the Cuban FIR in both lower, and upper, airspace that do not meet these requirements and they are (lower/upper) B646/UB646, B764/UB764, B879/UB879, M346/UM346 and UM463. These airways are considered OCEANIC airways, and an overflight permit is not required. And here is where the misconception comes in……

Cuban COF's are issued by Cuba's Civil Aviation Department IACC while airspace fees are assessed by Cuba's ECNA, a different agency of the Cuban government. When an aircraft flies on an OCEANIC airway an airspace fee is still assessed but as no permit was issued, ECNA doesn't know who to bill and the unpaid fees accumulate against that tail number. Over time, and with enough flights, that tail number will be blocked and that information given to the IACC and to Cuba's ATC which can result in that aircraft being denied entry into Cuban airspace. Unfortunately, we have seen this occur and we have had to assist several aircraft operators resolve this problem...

Therefore, if you have been utilizing these OCEANIC airways, and have NOT been paying Cuba for those flights, be advised that you may be denied entry on your next attempt to fly through the Cuban FIR.