In addition to communicating with the local Air Traffic Control facility, all aircraft in the Persian Gulf AOR are required to give the Iranian Air Defence Radar (military) a ten minute ‘heads up’ if they will be transiting Iranian airspace.

This is a common procedure for commercial aircraft and involves giving them your call sign, transponder code, type aircraft, and points of origin and destination.

The following is a conversation apparently overheard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz while flying from Europe to Dubai.

 

Iranian Air Defence Radar: ‘Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.’

Aircraft: ‘This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.’

Iranian Air Defence Radar: ‘You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!’

Aircraft: ‘This is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet. Send ‘em up, I’ll wait!’

Iranian Air Defence Radar: (no response … total silence)

 

What's with the Negtive Ways!!