Narrative:

After completing all departure checks; including verifying ATC flyover permits; all proceeded well. Upon the last sector of karachi; we were queried on the india permit. We had verified we had an india flyover permit number; we read it back to karachi. Three times we were asked to verify permit; karachi handed us off to indian and we were advised to hold over tiger. We advised company dispatch of the situation. We began to enter the hold; we again called company operations to advise we were holding over tiger and needed to verify the correct permit. We were advised they were discussing the permit issue.we also had 0 hold fuel for this unscheduled enroute hold and also advised the company. Finally after several attempts with india; we were advised to leave the hold which hadn't been fully established since we were passed tiger and having to turn back to hold at tiger; the results are less than one full circle; in the hold. No follow up from the dispatcher as to the current status; no follow up on fuel or any status until sometime later when we advised we were out of holding and heading to destination.not sure of the cause anymore; starting to believe this is standard ops since this is the third time in the last year I have held with this same airplane twice and one other airplane. It has been route holding for non-standard routing; it is holding for restricted airspace and now permits.starting to look like we as a company need to verify the usefulness of permits and to call and verify permits or find out why we are the only ones holding over indian airspace as I see with lower than standard fuel requirements; this is going to present either a diversion or another low fuel situation. Verify permits either daily; weekly or find some way to prevent enroute holding. This is a non-standard practice and is going to lead to a low fuel situation. There has to be a better way to verify a fly over permit instead of the 'having discussion with another dispatcher;' meanwhile we are holding at altitude. We as crew can only verify we have a permit; many times permit missing is labeled on flight plan; these need to be corrected as well. Flight plan quality is lacking with many essential items missing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain; while transiting Indian airspace; reported being issued holding while the flight's Transit Permit was verified even after the crew communicated the permit number. Only one holding turn was needed but the flight had no holding fuel.

Narrative: After completing all Departure checks; including verifying ATC Flyover Permits; all proceeded well. Upon the last sector of Karachi; we were queried on the India Permit. We had verified we had an India Flyover Permit Number; we read it back to Karachi. Three times we were asked to verify permit; Karachi Handed us off to Indian and we were advised to hold over TIGER. We advised company dispatch of the situation. We began to enter the hold; we again called company operations to advise we were holding over TIGER and needed to verify the correct permit. We were advised they were discussing the permit issue.We also had 0 Hold Fuel for this unscheduled enroute Hold and also advised the company. Finally after several attempts with India; We were advised to leave the hold which hadn't been fully established since we were passed Tiger and having to turn back to Hold at tiger; The results are Less than one full circle; in the hold. No follow up from the dispatcher as to the current status; no follow up on fuel or any status until sometime later when we advised we were out of holding and heading to Destination.Not sure of the cause anymore; starting to believe this is standard ops since this is the third time in the last year I have held with this same airplane twice and one other airplane. It has been route holding for non-standard routing; it is holding for restricted airspace and now permits.Starting to look like we as a company need to verify the usefulness of permits and to call and verify permits or find out why we are the only ones holding over Indian airspace as I see with lower than standard fuel requirements; this is going to present either a diversion or another low fuel situation. Verify Permits either daily; weekly or find some way to prevent enroute holding. This is a non-standard practice and is going to lead to a low fuel situation. There has to be a better way to verify a Fly over permit instead of the 'Having discussion with another dispatcher;' meanwhile we are holding at altitude. We as crew can only verify we have a permit; many times permit missing is labeled on flight plan; these need to be corrected as well. Flight plan quality is lacking with many essential items missing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.