U.S.-Flagged Plane in Iran

[skibeagle]

Now here is an article of interest from the NY Times.

N reg being used as a flag of convenience is nothing new of course, but with this situation, just maybe, things may change. I suspect the State Department, Commerce Department and FAA are all too overworked to be bothered though. The only thing that will jolt them in to doing anything will be if the US Government feels sufficiently embarrassed.

Governments do tend to act decisively when they are embarrassed - MH370 and the initial total lack of Chinese Government interest (as per usual) comes to mind...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/19/world/middleeast/paper-shows-us-flagged-plane-in-iran-has-ties-to-ghana.html?ir=Canada&_r=0

[HEMS driver]

There is no law or regulation that prohibits an N registered aircraft from landing in Iran. This airplane is operated by an engineering firm in Ghana. These articles are typical American "yellow journalism."

[robbreid]

However they were able to solve the mystery of the owner and posted an update to their query.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/19/world/middleeast/paper-shows-us-flagged-plane-in-iran-has-ties-to-ghana.html

It is also easy to comment on the owner after the fact, there are very strict embargoes placed on Iran, and American's doing business in Iran - and a history that almost took down a USA presidency.

[Boudreaux Bob]

Better dig a bit deeper about the "Law". There are Restrictions and One is obliged to obtain certain permissions before going to Iran in a US Registered aircraft.

[4HolerPoler]

If you can quote me a specific (official) reference which states that specific approval/ authorization is required I will be very grateful (and very surprised). There's the UV blog that states that OFAC approval (temporary sojourn) is required but I have been unable to find any clear directive on any official site that states such a requirement.

Export restrictions, sure, there are plenty and well documented. But one-off flight restrictions for business that is not connected with the regime - I can't find any.

The above being said, the underwriters make it very clear that any insurance claim made for damage incurred on operations to or from Iran may not be paid out to the claimant in terms of current embargoes and the proceeds of such will be paid into an escrow account which may only be claimed/ contested once these embargoes are lifted or amended. Which is unlikely.

I'd be very surprised if you can come up with a specific reference which 'requires certain permissions' for the conduct of such operations.

[dallas]

The FAA site here lists countries and their Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ifim/us_restrictions/

There's nothing seemingly listed to prevent overflight or landing in Iran, and if you click the link to NOTAMs in the Korea, North section https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ifim/us_restrictions/fdc_notams/pdf/International%20NOTAMS%20Part%203.pdf
it lists a SFAR for North Korea but nothing for Iran.

We've quickly obtained Iran OVF permits for a N-reg Challenger, and I expect with the right sponsorship landing would not be an issue either. Likewise the FAA haven't banned EP- reg jets in their airspace, just said they need pre-approval in excess of other registrations.

The main difficulty is paying Iran or being seen to pay Iran, as there are worldwide moritoria in place, although as with all things there is often a process to do if required.

[Brian Abraham]

From Mystery N-Registered Bizjet in Iran - AVweb flash Article (http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Mystery-N-Registered-Bizjet-in-Iran221882-1.html)

Despite strict economic sanctions in place against Iran, a U.S.-registered Bombardier Challenger, N604EP, was spotted on the ramp at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran earlier this week. Who is traveling in it and who is flying it are mysteries as the jet is registered to the Bank of Utah as trustee for the investors who have a financial stake in the airplane. The Bank of Utah is shown as the trustee for over 1000 aircraft on the federal aircraft registry. The New York Times is reporting that it interviewed a Bank of Utah executive, Brett King, who explained about its ownership as trustee and said that the bank has no idea why the airplane was in Tehran and that it was investigating further. Iranian officials have declined to comment on the purpose of the jet’s visit or the identities of the occupants, as has the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the government’s primary enforcer of sanctions against Iran.

With “plane spotting” especially popular outside the U.S., and enthusiasts posting images of arrivals and departures of aircraft, it is no surprise that N604EP has been tracked, with reports of it in Zurich near the time of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last January and departing from London for Ghana last October. Of course speculation is rife that a single financial mover and shaker is behind the flights to Iran, Switzerland and Ghana, there is currently no information as to the occupants on each. The open presence of the jet is an indication that its flight was approved as part of a legitimate business trip; plus it is said that an easily identifiable aircraft is unlikely to be part of a diplomatic mission. King went on to say that “The Bank of Utah is very conservative, and located in the conservative state of Utah. If there is any hint of illegal activity, we are going to find out and see whether we need to resign as trustee.”