I would be grateful for your thoughts on this. There are two aspects: Diego Garcia, and the rest. For Diego I think there is a strong case for us to ask the US authorities, via our En ssy, to rule on the matter. Any block clearance they might be prepared to agree would of course require the French in Djibouti to
to clear any flight into Diego direct with the US authorities on the island.
For the more general request for block clearance into all dependant territories the easy answer is of course "no" on all counts and up to now this has been our normal response. However, The French grant us block clearance for any UK aircraft to overfly New Caledonia, French Guiana and the French West Indies. Of course these are "Departements/Territoires Outres Mer" ie administratively part of France without the particular status of our Dependent Territories. But if we turn their request down out of hand it is just possible that they might reconsider the terms of the block clearance we enjoy over their own territories.
Personally I feel that our dependent territories should now be sufficiently self confident to grant block clearance to any country to whom we had granted such clearance for the UK. All aircraft movements would of course still be
be subject to the granting of
of prior
prior permission by the relevant ATC/airfield authorities, and we would only expect to be notified in FLS if Dangerous Air Cargo or VIPs were involved. There is of course the added complication of the US presence on Bermuda, Ascension and Diego, but even if these three remained on a special list, achieving block clearance for the rest would be a great advance.
You may wish to consider asking the territories concerned for their views. I am of course happy to discuss the matter further if you wish.
Copy to: Sec (AS) 2a DA Paris
Yours Sincerely,
Por
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