Understanding Air Navigation Fees for Business Aviation

5 Questions about Navigation Fees Answered

Navigation Fee is an essential part of the aviation industry. People of our aviation industry know that there is a lot going on behind the scene for the actual flight to take place. Amongst other things there are airport charges, flight permit cost, and Navigation Fees is one of them. Navigation Fee, as explained by the CEO of iJET is, “In exchange for providing navigation aids to aircraft overflying their territories and landing at their airports, countries impose overflying navigation fees.” In other words, the operators have to pay navigation fee when an aircraft transit through a FIR of some country. Navigation Fee seems simple but there are a lot of questions people have about it. iJET today tries to answer frequent questions people ask about Navigation Fees.

Do all countries impose it?

Almost all the countries in the world impose navigation fee for using their airspace. The difference is how the countries collect it. For instance, USA charges navigation fee only after a specific volume of airspace usage every month. If you’re do not operate frequently to USA, chances are you won’t have to pay the fee. But Russia and China collect navigation fee for each time you enter their airspace.

How is it calculated?

Navigation fees are calculated per sector in different ways. Hence, the method differs from country to country. The main factors used to calculate the navigation fee are:

• The Maximum Takeoff Weight of the aircraft flown (MTOW )
  MTOW or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) is the maximum weight of an aircraft at which the pilot is allowed to take off.
• The distance flown in the country’s airspace
• Other factors include the time of year and wingspan of the aircraft.

The way it is calculated differs. For example, for Eurocontrol airspace, the fee is published online and can be calculated using the calculator available online. Some countries publish it in their Aeronautical Information Publications (AIPs). some publish it in the International Air Transport Association (IATA). But there are countries where only a local entity can get it for you.

Who collects the navigation fee?

A Country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) generally imposes overflying navigation fee. In some cases, it can be another aviation authority in the country like the airport authority, or specialist local government bureaux.

The navigation fee is collected by CAA in countries like Algeria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania. In certain places it is outsourced. For instance, for the European Region, Eurocontrol collects the fee, ASECNA collects it for West African countries, while IATA also collects the navigation fee for various countries.

Can I avoid paying Navigation Fees?

Once you overfly a region you cannot avoid Navigation Fee. In fact, failure to do so or outstanding navigation fees can lead to to penalties or you may not be permitted to enter the airspace. For countries with expensive navigation fess, you can try to use a different route. In certain areas operators plan routes of flight accordingly to make sure that they avoid areas with these high navigation fee.

Should I use a flight support partner?

Navigation fee can be complicated too. There can be language barriers with the local authorities in certain Asian and African countries. The navigation fee is updated annually or biannually, or in some cases monthly too. Usually, it is billed separately from landing permit and overflight permit. In certain countries the authorities prefer to have a 3rd-party provider to manage the navigation fee. A flight support company like iJET, like can you keep your account with the concerned party updated.

When you use iJET Navigation Fees Services, we ensure that the correct amount is calculated and paid. Also, with our knowledge of updated CAA regulations we know the exact amount you have to pay.