Efficient Business Aviation Permissions for Overflight and Landings at United States International Airports

Landing Permits in the United States’ International Operations

Companies or individuals with operational control over aircraft that require advance notice of arrival may request an exemption from the landing requirements. Single overflight exemptions may be granted for emergency air ambulance operations and non-emergency medical treatment cases, subject to the discretion of the port director. Exemption requests should be submitted to the appropriate port director with specific timeframes:

• At least 30 days before the first arrival for annual exemptions.
• At least 15 days before a single flight.
•  In emergency air ambulance situations or non-emergency medical transport, within 24 hours before departure or even in-flight if necessary.

The request content should include aircraft details, pilot and crew information, passenger information, business activity description, intended first landing airports, foreign place of origin, and reasons for the exemption request. If granted, the aircraft commander must notify Customs at least 60 minutes before specific U.S. border crossings, maintain instrument flight plans, and adhere to other Customs requirements. Changes and notifications about aircraft, pilots, or crewmembers must be promptly reported to Customs. The aircraft subject to exemption must be available for inspection by Customs to ensure compliance with requirements.