Asia
Trip Support
Permit timelines, parking limits, crew visas and handling across Asia, with a country guide for China and sections for India, Pakistan, Singapore, Japan and South East Asia, from the desk that files the long permits.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 10 September 2026
The working reference
How Asia works for a private flight
Asia is where the permit lead time is the plan. China wants the aircraft registered in the CAAC pre-flight system at least five business days before any permit request, then seven to ten working days for the permit itself across three authorities, with no schedule or routing change afterwards without reapplying, and two weeks around the national holidays. India has historically asked for about 72 working hours. Airspace is the second layer: Pakistan closed to international transit in 2019 and left one route between India and Iran, and GPS interference has hit crews out of Lahore with no NOTAM. Weather is the third: large-scale weather deviation procedures over the South China Sea from June to October hold business jets below FL400, add flow control and crossing-time restrictions, and call for thirty extra minutes of fuel. Parking is the fourth: Beijing Capital is squeezed by government events, Shanghai closes to general aviation for the Import Expo in November, and Beijing Daxing has closed its self-taxi stands. The desk registers the aircraft the day the trip is confirmed, files the permits with the full passenger data, holds the alternate field, and briefs the airspace and weather picture with the flight plan.
Permits
China: CAAC pre-flight registration five business days before the request, then seven to ten working days for the permit, processed Monday to Friday outside Chinese holidays, no change without reapplying. India: allow about 72 working hours. Every FIR on the routing needs its own overflight permit with the number in Item 18.
Airspace
Pakistan: the 2019 closure left one route between India and Iran and pushed detours of thirty to fifty minutes through Indian airspace with extra fuel. GPS interference: a Phenom 300 out of Lahore lost GPS and heading reference for fifteen minutes at FL270 with no NOTAM. The desk watches other traffic and briefs the current picture.
Weather
Large-scale weather deviation over the South China Sea roughly June to October: published flight level allocation on the main airways, business jets held below FL400, flow control, crossing-time restrictions and start-up delays. Carry at least thirty extra minutes of fuel.
Parking
Beijing Capital is squeezed by government events with last-minute slot changes; Beijing Daxing has six general aviation stands plus two borrowable commercial stands, first come first served, twenty minutes by vehicle from the FBO. Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao restrict general aviation for the Import Expo in early November. The China guide has the alternates.
Crew and passengers
China: crew normally on a C visa when arriving on the aircraft, the US 15-day visa-free entry is transit only, and secondary airports can require a local sponsorship letter and a navigator or safety pilot. Full passenger data goes on the permit. English-speaking on-site representatives are advised.
Countries without a page yet
India, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are filed with the trip; the South East Asia weather guide covers the airways and the diversion fields at Singapore Changi and Tokyo Haneda.
Country guides
The countries with their own page
Each opens to a full working reference: permits and lead times, slots, airports of entry, seasons, crew rules and the airport guides.
Country by country
The rest of the region at a glance
India
Landing and overflight permits with the request about 72 working hours ahead, filed with the aircraft documents and the passenger list. Detours through Indian airspace add thirty to fifty minutes when Pakistan is closed.
Pakistan
Closed to international transit in 2019 and reopened in stages; P518 was the one route between India and Iran. Check the current NOTAMs; the desk carries the routing with the permit. GPS interference has been reported out of Lahore.
Singapore and Japan
Changi and Haneda are the diversion fields of choice during South China Sea weather deviations, with handling booked ahead. Both run slots for arrivals and need the permit filed with the trip.
Guides and updates
Asia articles from the desk
The detailed pieces behind this page, newest first, each with the year it was written and the discipline it belongs to.
Flight Support for Weather Diversions in SE Asia
Explains South China Sea LSWD procedures during the monsoon, the flight-level allocation by airway, and fuel and flow-control planning tips.
Read the guide2022Safety and riskTrip Support Service and Crew Safety: The Case of the Phenom 300 GPS jamming
Case study of a Phenom 300 GPS/AHRS outage near Lahore used to argue that real trip support means flight watch and planning, not just below-wing handling.
Read the guide2019Permits and overflightPakistan Airspace Restrictions
A 2019 notice on Pakistan's partial airspace closure during the India standoff, the few remaining transit routes, and congestion and fuel advice for rerouted traffic.
Read the guideQuestions
Asia trip support questions
How far ahead do I need to plan a private flight into China?
Register the aircraft in the CAAC pre-flight system at least five business days before any permit request, then allow seven to ten working days for the permit, and two weeks around Chinese holidays. No schedule or routing change is possible afterwards without reapplying.
Do I need an overflight permit for every Asian country I cross?
Yes. Each FIR issues its own permit and the approval number must be entered in Item 18 exactly as issued. The desk files them together with the trip.
Is Pakistani airspace open?
It closed to international transit in 2019 and reopened in stages; the desk checks the current NOTAMs for every routing and carries the detour and the extra fuel in the plan when a closure returns.
What is a large-scale weather deviation?
A procedure over the South China Sea roughly June to October that assigns flight levels by airway, holds business jets below FL400 and adds flow control, crossing-time restrictions and start-up delays. Carry at least thirty extra minutes of fuel.
Where can my jet park in Beijing?
Daxing for most general aviation arrivals: six general aviation stands plus two borrowable commercial stands, first come first served. Capital is squeezed by government events. For a longer stay Capital can be the better field because Daxing has closed its self-taxi stands.
Can I fly into Shanghai in November?
Not easily during the China International Import Expo in the first ten days of the month, when Pudong and Hongqiao severely restrict general aviation. The desk plans Hangzhou or Nanjing as alternates.
What visa does the crew need for China?
Normally a C visa when arriving on the aircraft, other visas if entering commercially. The US 15-day visa-free entry covers transit only. Secondary airports can ask for a local sponsorship letter and a navigator or safety pilot.
What happens if GPS fails over South Asia?
Crews revert to alternative navigation and heading references, report to ATC and, if needed, return to origin as a Phenom 300 crew did out of Lahore. The desk monitors other traffic and arranges handling and fuel for the re-departure.
Which Asian countries have their own page?
China, with a full country guide below. India, Singapore, Japan and South East Asia are covered in sections on this page and in the weather diversion guide.
What does the desk need to file an Asian trip?
Aircraft registration, airworthiness, radio licence, insurance and noise certificates, the cabin layout for China, crew licences and medicals, full passenger data, and the dates at least two weeks out. It comes back with the registration done, the permits filed and the parking held.
Get it filed
Flying into Asia? Filed from the desk
Send the dates, the aircraft and the stops two weeks out. You get the registration and permits filed on time, the routing checked against the current airspace and weather picture, and a number you can hold us to.
Contact UsPrefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email tripsupport@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.