Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

Flights outside U.S. territories are flights that take place in one or more foreign countries or international areas.

Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

Introduction to Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

  • When conducting flights, particularly extended flights, outside the U.S. and its territories, full account should be taken of the amount and quality of air navigation services available in the airspace to be traversed. Every effort should be made to secure information on the location and range of navigational aids, availability of communications and meteorological services, the provision of air traffic services, including alerting service, and the existence of search and rescue services
  • Test your understanding of Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories by completing the knowledge quiz, applying your knowledge in the interactive scenario, comparing your performance against the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and concluding with the topic summary to reinforce the key concepts before moving on to the next lesson.
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    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories Key Highlights

    • Flights outside the United States and its territories require additional planning, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
    • International flight operations may require customs procedures, overflight permissions, and specific aircraft equipment requirements.
    • Pilots must comply with the regulations and operational procedures of each country entered during flight operations.
    • Passports, pilot certificates, medical certificates, aircraft registration, and radio licenses may be required for international flights.
    • Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) submissions are required for many international operations involving the United States.
    • International flight planning should include fuel availability, navigation infrastructure, weather services, and communication procedures.
    • Differences in airspace classifications, phraseology, units of measurement, and operational standards may affect international flight operations.
    • Survival equipment, life rafts, emergency locator transmitters, and overwater planning may be required depending on route structure.
    • Pilots should review customs arrival procedures, airport entry requirements, and security protocols before departure.
    • Understanding international flight operations improves regulatory compliance, operational preparedness, and overall aviation safety.
    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flights Outside of the U.S. and U.S. Territories

    • Pilots should remember that there is a need to continuously guard the VHF (Very High Frequency) emergency frequency 121.5 megahertz (MHz) when on long over-water flights, except when communications on other VHF channels, equipment limitations, or cockpit duties prevent simultaneous guarding of two channels. Guarding of 121.5 MHz is particularly critical when operating in proximity to Flight Information Region (FIR) boundaries, for example, operations on Route R220 between Anchorage and Tokyo, since it serves to facilitate communications with regard to aircraft which may experience in-flight emergencies, communications, or navigational difficulties
    • The filing of a flight plan, always good practice, takes on added significance for extended flights outside U.S. airspace and is, in fact, usually required by the laws of the countries being visited or overflown. It is also particularly important in the case of such flights that pilots leave a complete itinerary and schedule of the flight with someone directly concerned and keep that person advised of the flight's progress. If serious doubt arises as to the safety of the flight, that person should first contact the appropriate FSS (Flight Service Station). Round Robin Flight Plans to Canada and Mexico are not accepted
    • All pilots should review the foreign airspace and entry restrictions published in the appropriate Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) during the flight planning process. Foreign airspace penetration without official authorization can involve both danger to the aircraft and the imposition of severe penalties and inconvenience to both passengers and crew. A flight plan on file with ATC authorities does not necessarily constitute the prior permission required by certain other authorities. The possibility of fatal consequences cannot be ignored in some areas of the world
    • Current NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) for foreign locations must also be reviewed. International Notices regarding specific countries may be obtained through the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) NOTAM Search External Links or the Air Traffic Plans and Publications web site. For additional flight information at foreign locations, pilots should also review the FAA's Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices website at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/us_restrictions/
    • When customs notification to foreign locations is required, it is the responsibility of the pilot to arrange for customs notification in a timely manner
    • Customs procedures are not uniform among general aviation airports because each U.S. Customs and Border Protection port may have different staffing, hours, lead times, facilities, and local operating instructions.
    • Before an international flight, consult the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) General Aviation Processing page and the destination airport's current fact sheet, transmit the required APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) manifest, and contact the responsible CBP port directly to obtain permission to land and confirm its local procedures before departing the foreign location.
    • Aircraft arriving to locations in U.S. territorial airspace must meet the entry requirements as described in AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) Section 6, National Security and Interception Procedures
    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flight Over the High Seas

    • C-130 Flying Over The Ocean
      C-130 Flying Over The Ocean
    • International law recognizes the right of aircraft of all nations to fly in the airspace over the high seas
    • By convention, procedures for international flight are prescribed and certain nations have agreed to provide air traffic services in designated airspace over the high seas
    • NOTE: When radar control of fixed-wing aircraft is being provided by a Navy ship or shore station in airspace managed by a FACSFAC, continuous two-way communication is required between that ship or shore station and the FACSFAC. Also the FACSFAC must maintain two-way communication with the appropriate FAA facility as required

    • North American Route Program:

      • The latest version of Advisory Circular 90-91, North American Route Program (NRP), provides guidance to users of the National Airspace System (NAS) for participation in the NRP (National Route Program). []
      • All flights operating at or above FL (Flight Level) 290 within the conterminous United States and Canada are eligible to participate in the NRP, the primary purpose of which is to allow operators to plan minimum time/cost routes that may be off the prescribed route structure.
      • NRP aircraft are not subject to route-limiting restrictions (e.g., published preferred IFR routes) beyond a 200 NM (nautical miles) radius of their point of departure or destination.
    • C-130 Flying Over The Ocean
      C-130 Flying Over The Ocean
    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories Interactive Scenario

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    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories Knowledge Check

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    Core Knowledge Review

    Review foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations. Topic: Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories.

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    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories Conclusion

    • Pilots can find points of entry at: https://www.cbp.gov/about/contact/ports.
    • Consider:
      • Air navigation services available
      • Communications and meteorological services
      • Air traffic services including alerting and existence of SAR (Search and Rescue)
    • The NRP is a tool for route planning purposes and aircraft participating in the NRP remain limited to a route of flight that can be conducted in accordance with the communication and navigation equipment on board the aircraft
    • The North American Route Program is a joint venture between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NAV CANADA.
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    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories

    Flights Outside The U.S. & U.S. Territories References