i received the following story over the Internet. I asked an ex-Navy pilot if it rang true, and he responded that very possibly it is, so enjoy (please forgive formatting transfer problems--it is readable anyway):
AIRSPACE VIOLATION PROTOCOL
According to a Marine Pilot:
In addition to communicating with the local Air Traffic Control
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 your call sign, transponder code, type aircraft, and points
of origin and destination.
I just flew with a guy who overheard this conversation 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 Marine Corps FA-18 fighter.
Send 'em up, I'll wait!'
Air Defense Radar: (... total silence... )
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