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Coll 5/31 ‘Air Route to India: Prohibition of private flights along the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf’ [‎447r] (893/1247)

The record is made up of 1 file (622 folios). It was created in 14 Jun 1933-3 Dec 1948. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
Pol. Dept. Memo. B. 443.
CONFIDENTIAL. P.Z. 7399/34 & P.Z. 540/35
MUSCAT CIVIL AIR AGREEMENT.
1- —Heads of Agreement between His Majesty’s Government in the United King’dom and
His Highness the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.‘ :;: '
1. The Sultan agrees to grant to His Majesty’s Government exclusive rights to
establish and maintain as his agents and subject to the provisions of this Agreement
and of the Air Navigation Regulations for Civil Aircraft issued by him, an aerodrome
or aerodromes and ancillary services within the Sultan’s territory and to charge fees
in respect of the use of the aerodrome or aerodromes and such ancillary services.
2. The Sultan agrees that sole discretion as to the appointment of agents (a) to
manage and (6) to maintain the aerodrome or aerodromes on their behalf shall be vested
in His Majesty’s Government during the period of this Agreement. Such agents shall
exercise supervision, in respect of such aerodrome or aerodromes, necessary for the
carrying out of the Air Navigation Regulations, with the exception of air sanitary
formalities which will be exercised by the Quarantine Medical Officer, and of the
passport and customs regulations, which will be exercised by the Passport and
Customs officials respectively of the Sultan.
3. Aircraft authorised by the Sultan under the Air Navigation Regulations to fly
in his territory shall be permitted to use the aerodrome or aerodromes subject to the
conditions of this Agreement.
4. His Majesty s Government shall not grant without the consent of the Sultan the
use of the aerodrome or aerodromes to foreign aircraft.
o. All transactions and correspondence, whether by -British or foreign companies or
pilots, shall be conducted through the British Political Authorities.
6. The use of the aerodrome (or aerodromes) and facilities shall be subject to the
conditions approved by the Sultan set out in the Schedule attached to this Agreement,
subject to such amendments as may from time to time be agreed.
7. I he Sultan agrees that His Majesty s Government may erect, maintain and
operate, either directly or through agents appointed by them, a wireless transmitting
and receiving and direction-finding station for the purpose of communicating with
aircraft.
8. Aircraft authorised to fly over and. land in the territory of the Sultan shall be
allowed to send and receive communications by wireless to and from such station.
9. The Sultan agrees that His Majesty’s Government directly or though their
agents shall charge landing and housing fees and other charges at the rates specified
in Schedules 1 and II to this Agreement as amended from time to time, and that in
recognition of His Majesty’s Government’s expenditure on the aerodrome and of the
consideration paid to the Sultan under clause 17 below, His Majesty’s Government
shall for the period of this Agreement retain such fees and charges.
10. His Majesty’s Government shall fix and post up in a prominent place at the
aerodrome a scale of charges for attendance and facilities for aircraft and personnel
using the aerodrome.
11. His Majesty’s Government shall have the sole right to supply either directly or
through their agents fuel and lubricants to users of the aerodrome at rates which shall
be posted up in a prominent place on the aerodrome.
12. Ihe Sultan agrees to grant to His Majesty’s Government or their appointed
agents the right to send from and receive at any W/T station established and
operated under this agreement wireless communications relating to aircraft and to levy
and retain charges in respect of such communications.
* T hese Hea ds of Agreement between the Sultan of Muscat, and His Majesty’s Government are
confulyntjal <ind are not for publication.
3858 100 6.35

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Content

The file contains correspondence and notes on the subject of private (or chartered) flights through the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. states in special treaty relations with the British Government, these states being: Bahrain, Kuwait (also spelt Koweit), Muscat (Oman), and Sharjah. Prior to 1946, the correspondence is concerned with the British policy of maintaining a strict prohibition on flights by private aviators and on chartered flights by airlines. From 1946 onwards, the correspondence is more concerned with facilitating private and chartered flights through the aforementioned states; British restrictions on private aviation had to be lifted once Britain became a signatory of the Chicago Convention (1944).

Specific measures covered in the file include: British efforts to convince the rulers of Bahrain, Kuwait, and Muscat, to delegate to them the authority to refuse private aviators access to these territories; a subsequent effort to obtain, from the Shaikh of Bahrain, permission to grant access to Bahrain to private flights; and measures taken to notify aviators of the restrictions in place (prior to 1946) on private flights through the Arabian Coast Route.

Another topic covered in the file is the introduction of sanctions for breaches of the Air Navigation Regulations for Bahrain, Kuwait, and Muscat. The sanctions were specifically aimed at deterring private aviators from using the Arabian Coast Air Route without prior authorisation. The file therefore includes copies of draft notices of the introduction of King's Regulations in 1936 under the Kuwait Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. (folio 374, final edition on folio 364), the Bahrain Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. (folio 375), and the Muscat Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. (folio 376). It also includes a draft notification of regulations to be introduced by the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (folio 373).

Copies of a number of orders in council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. have been included in the file:

The details of a number of flights, or proposed flights, made by private aviators are recorded within the file, either as a result of an unauthorised landing or a proposal to fly through Arabia. This includes the following: the landing of Maurice Wilson at Bahrain in 1933, the landing of Mr de Montaigu at Bahrain in 1934, the landing of Francis William Rickett at Sharjah in 1937, a proposed round the world flight by Amelia Earhart in 1937, and a proposed circular flight round the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by Hassan Anis Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. in 1938. From 1946 references to private flights become much more common, and the details supplied much more brief. However, basic itineraries of proposed flights (including details such as dates, times, and stopping points) can still be found within the file.

The French language content of the file consists of a small amount of correspondence received from the French Embassy in London, and a single letter from the Belgian Embassy, also in London.

The main correspondents in the file are as follows: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait, and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and Consul at Muscat. There is also correspondence with officials of the following departments: the Air Ministry, the Foreign Office, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. (the Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947), the Foreign and Political Department of the Government of India (External Affairs Department from 1937), and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It also includes correspondence with British representatives from around the world, a few letters from various oil companies, and diplomatic representations from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United States.

There is no correspondence in the file for the years 1939-45.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (622 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 623; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 5/31 ‘Air Route to India: Prohibition of private flights along the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf’ [‎447r] (893/1247), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1981, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100037267988.0x00005e> [accessed 24 April 2024]

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