Amendments to country's air code ease restrictions on operators of light aircraft
Bowing to industry pressure, Russian authorities are taking steps to stimulate general and business aviation.
A set of recently adopted amendments to the country's air code covers light aircraft and helicopters weighing less than 5,700kg (12,500lb) and 3,100kg, respectively. They allow operators of such aircraft to carry out flights at short notice without requiring permission from regulators.
New legislation has also set down simplified rules governing light aircraft ownership as well as certification, registration and maintenance procedures.
The civil aviation administration FAVT has also cut red tape for non-scheduled cross-border services by business jet operators, who had had to submit flight plans at least 24h before departure.
FAVT deputy chief Yevgeny Bachurin says the regulator intends to remove the constraint from aircraft with 20 passenger seats or fewer than 20 passengers, adding that it will publish the list of relevant carriers "shortly".
The move is expected to give further impetus to Russia's booming business aviation sector, which has grown by 30% a year over the past few years and, by some estimates, has reached an annual turnover of up to $900 million.
"It's a long-overdue decision," says Alexander Yevdokimov, managing director of executive air services specialist JetTransfer. "It will help us compete with foreign rivals who enjoy fast-track treatment by their regulators."
Source: Flight International
