Astronomy Picture of the Day

2007 August 19

A Sonic Boom
Credit: Ensign John Gay, USS Constellation, US Navy

In addition to communicating with the local air traffic control facility, aircraft are required to give the Iranian Air Defense Radar (military) a ten minute 'heads up' that they will be transiting Iranian airspace.

This is a common procedure for commercial aircraft and involves giving them your call sign, transponder code, type aircraft, and points of origin and destination.

This conversation was overheard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency
121.5 MHz while flying from Europe to Dubai . It's too good not to pass along.

The conversation went something like this...

Air Defense Radar: 'Unknown aircraft at (location unknown), you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.'

Aircraft: 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.'

Air Defense Radar: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'

Aircraft: 'This is a United States FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up!'

Air Defense Radar: (no response ...total silence)