Soviet/Moscow airspace experiences in the 1970`s.

[luffers79]

In the early 1970s, aircraft were not supposed to cross the Soviet border without obtaining clearance 10 minutes beforehand. From the South it was often virtually impossible due to weak radio reception & extremely congested channels – it was chaos sometimes - too many frustrated people trying to talk (unsuccessfully) at the same time. Coming up from Africa direction, it became commonplace to, eventually, cross & then get clearance shortly (a minute or so) afterwards – where the clarity rapidly improved. On landing one night at Moscow I was told to report to ATC & report to the Chief Controller ! He was an ugly senior military officer in boots & breeches with a monocle (a Colonel - a Baddie out of a 007 James Bond film). His office was dark – only illuminated by a weak desk lamp. Via a female interpreter, he asked Why had I crossed without permission 10 MINUTES BEFOREHAND ? I said that your radios were too congested & weak to get permission from that direction until very shortly inside your border !! He said nothing - but got up from his desk & went to look out of his window at the illuminated airfield for a long minute. He then said I may go. On our return flight (to a different destination) he got his revenge - making us orbit for three & a half HOURS !! before giving permission to exit his territory & cross his border. We had to divert to Vienna to refuel.

[luffers79]

Flying regularly into Moscow, if on time, we were just 5 minutes behind a BEA Trident from London - & were always parked alongside each other. One day, about an hour after arriving, I heard the Trident call for "Startup Clearance" - I followed. "Standby" ATC said. After a delay of about 5 minutes we repeated our requests. "Standby" again. BEAline Captain said, "What is the reason for the delay?". Tower :- "The President (it was Brezhnev then) is in the air - no further takeoffs until he lands - in 4 and a half HOURS" !!!. We asked was he flying into Moscow ?. "He is flying somewhere over the Soviet Union - no more flying allowed until he lands !!". So both aircraft sat there with passengers aboard - not allowed to disembark them - & the whole airport stopped operating. Eventually we were given Startup Clearance ... four & a half HOURS later !! (The outside air temperature was minus 25 degrees centigrade with snow on the ground. The usual solitary military armed guard remained just ahead of our nose throughout