In addition to communicating with the legal Air Traffic Centrel
facility. all aircraft in the Persian Gulf AOR are required to give
the
Iranian Air Defense Radar {military} a ten minute 'heads up' if
they will be transiting Iranian airspace. This is a common
procedure for commercial aircraft and involves giving them year
call sign, transponder code. type aircraft, and points of origin
and destination.
This conversation was overheard en the VHF Guard {emergency}
frequency 121. 5 MHz while Flying from Europe to Dubai.
The commers; ation went like this....
Iranian Air Defense Radar: 'Unknown aircraft yen are in Iranian airspace. Identify yean' celi'.'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.‘
Air Defense Radar: ‘Yen ' e in Iranian airspace. If yen do not depart om' airspace we will laguh
Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps fighten. Send 'em up, I' ll waita
Air Defense Radar: (no response ... total silence)
...
