Aircraft permits and clearances worldwide, filed by one desk

Who our aircraft permits and clearances service is for

A single international trip can cross several countries, each with its own rules for who needs permission to overfly or land. Operators need the permits filed correctly. Brokers need to know early whether a schedule can be met. Flight departments need someone to keep track when the passengers change the plan. LFS acts as one permits desk for all of them.

This page explains the commercial service and how to request it. Country procedures and permit types are covered in detail on the LFS permits capability page.

Overflight and landing permits worldwide

Overflight permits

Many states require permission for foreign civil aircraft to cross their airspace, especially for charter or non-scheduled flights. The desk checks each state on your planned route, prepares the application with the aircraft, operator and route details the authority asks for, and tracks it until a permit number is issued.

Landing permits

Landing permission often depends on more than the aircraft. Some authorities want to see confirmed handling, passenger or cargo details, or the purpose of the visit before they approve. LFS prepares the full picture with the ground arrangements already in place, so the application does not come back with questions.

Slots and prior permission

Some airports also need a slot or prior permission request. These are filed with the airport or coordinator in line with the landing permit so the two do not contradict each other.

Diplomatic clearance and international flight permits

State, government and military aircraft generally need diplomatic clearance rather than a civil permit. These are usually requested through diplomatic channels, such as an embassy or ministry, with the operational details prepared by the operator or its trip support partner. LFS prepares those details and coordinates with the parties involved so the request carries the information the receiving state expects.

For mixed trips, where a government passenger flies on a civil aircraft for example, the desk checks which type of permission applies in each state before filing.

Permit service for private jets, including short notice

Private jet trips are often booked late and changed later. LFS accepts short-notice permit requests around the clock. What can be done depends on the country, the day and the type of flight, so the desk tells you straight away what is realistic for your schedule instead of making promises.

Our direct working relationships with civil aviation authorities help when a request needs following up, a question needs answering or a schedule changes after approval. The permit plan is built with flight dispatch, so permit times and the filed flight plan match.

What information operators need to send

• Operator name, air operator certificate where applicable, and contact details
• Aircraft type, registration, MTOW and registration and insurance documents
• Route, entry and exit points, schedule and alternates
• Crew names and licences; passenger names and nationalities where required
• Purpose of flight: private, charter, cargo, medevac, government or other
• Handling arrangements at the landing airport, if already booked

Requirements change and differ by country. The desk confirms the current list for each state on your route. Ground arrangements are booked through ground handling.

Why permits are refused or delayed, and how we avoid it

Most permit problems come from a small number of causes: missing or expired aircraft documents, a route that does not match the filed flight plan, passenger or cargo details that arrive late, or a schedule that changes after the application has gone in. Each one can send a request back to the start.

Complete applications

The desk checks documents before filing: registration, airworthiness, insurance and noise certificates where asked for, and crew licences. If something is missing or close to expiry, we tell you before the application goes in, not after the authority asks.

One route, one schedule

Because the permits desk works alongside dispatch, the entry and exit points and times on each permit match the flight plan that will be filed. That avoids the common problem of a permit that is valid for a route the aircraft will not actually fly.

Changes handled early

When the schedule moves, the desk checks which permits are affected and amends or re-files them. The crew briefing pack always shows the latest permit numbers and any conditions, such as validity windows or required routings. Everything is recorded in the trip file so the operator, broker and crew see the same status at the same time.

Where we file

LFS files permits worldwide and operates its own stations in several countries. See the coverage map for LFS stations, or search any airport on flight support.

Whether you need a single landing permit for a one-off charter or permits for a multi-country tour with several changes along the way, the process is the same: one request, one named dispatcher, one trip file and written confirmation of every permit before the aircraft departs. Send us the trip as early as you can, and we will tell you what each state on the route requires and what the desk still needs from you.

How we support your trip

1. 01

   Request

   Send the route, aircraft, schedule and purpose of flight. A named dispatcher opens the trip file.

2. 02

   Plan

   Every state on the route is checked for overflight and landing requirements against the planned flight path.

3. 03

   Permits

   Applications are prepared, filed with each authority and tracked until the permit numbers are issued.

4. 04

   Handling

   Handling is booked where landing permits require confirmed ground arrangements.

5. 05

   Fuel

   Fuel is arranged for each stop so the permit, handling and uplift all match the same schedule.

6. 06

   Wheels-up

   The crew receives permit numbers and conditions in the briefing pack; changes are amended by the desk.

Frequently asked questions