Any foreign-registered aircraft flying to or over India requires prior approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Continuum’s permit services handle all India landing and overflight permits. A DGCA landing permit is mandatory for all general aviation flights into India, with a standard lead time of 3 working days (7 days for flights from certain “PRC” countries like China or Pakistan). Overflight permits (for aircraft simply transiting Indian airspace) require at least 24 hours’ notice.
Continuum Aviation submits the flight plan and required documents on your behalf via the DGCA portal. For landing permits, we prepare a complete application including aircraft certificates, pilot and crew passports, and passenger manifest. We also secure customs and immigration clearances in parallel so you can arrive ready to go. By using Continuum’s India permit services, operators avoid bureaucratic delays and obtain the needed permissions efficiently. We monitor permit status and coordinate with DGCA officials daily. In urgent cases (medical evacuation flights), DGCA may even issue permits within hours. Thus our seamless service – backed by DGCA rules – ensures your Indian flights proceed without permit hassles.
A DGCA Landing Permit is required for any aircraft touching down in India. An Overflight Permit is needed if the flight will pass through Indian airspace without landing. Continuum secures both as needed.
DGCA requires 3 working days’ notice for standard flights (overflights: 1 day). Flights from designated PRC countries need 7 days for landing and 3 for overflight. Continuum always submits on time.
For each permit: flight details (dates, route, alt airports), aircraft reg/type, owner/operator info, crew/passenger list, and aircraft certificates (registration, airworthiness, insurance). Continuum collects these and prepares the General Declaration for customs/immigration too.
DGCA itself doesn’t charge landing/overflight fees – those are handled by AAI (Airports Authority of India) and are paid in local currency (often as part of landing charges). Continuum will coordinate payment of any applicable fees (landing, parking, route) with local handler.
“Prior Reference Countries” that India flags for extra scrutiny (China, Pakistan, etc.). Flights from these nations require more notice and vetting.
Yes, medical evacuation or humanitarian flights can get expedited permits – often within the same day if documentation is ready. We can request an exception from DGCA based on flight purpose.
Those are arranged through embassies and Ministry of External Affairs, not via standard DGCA channels. Continuum can facilitate coordination if needed, but such flights have separate rules.
No – Indian carriers operate under bilateral agreements and don’t need overflight permits. This is only for foreign-registered aircraft transiting or landing.
DGCA examines the ATS routes you plan to fly. You must use approved airways (e.g. ‘U’ or ‘L’ routes). Continuum will draft and submit the flight plan along with the permit application to satisfy these requirements.
Any route or timing changes after permit issuance require amendment or a new permit. Continuum advises to get a slightly broader permit window or flexible route clearance when possible to avoid re-filing.
An India landing permit is valid for the flights on the dates requested. Overflight permits typically cover 72 hours. Continuum ensures the permit covers your entire operation (departure + return).
Most international airports allow GA. However, congested airports (like Mumbai, Delhi) require slots/PPR for GA. Continuum arranges these slots via handlers once permits are cleared.
No DGCA fees, but AAI route fees (billed per nautical mile) must often be paid in advance. Continuum handles payment coordination via Indian handlers.
Fuel import permits aren’t needed for international flights (fuel is delivered and documented by handlers). Overflight includes fuel stops (which we declare). Continuum calculates fees for any technical stop on the permit.
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