The Russian authorities moved to stimulate development of general and business aviation by easing air traffic requirements. They are to allow uncontrolled visual flight rules operations at low level and a notification system for higher levels.
Alexander Neradko, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, says: "All Russian airspace will be divided into three classes. The first two classes will be administered according to a permit system, as before. These two classes cover high-altitude airspace - over 8,100m [26,570ft] as well as slightly lower altitudes for long-distance aircraft flying at high speeds."
The third class of airspace will be administered according to a notification system as opposed to a permit system. This mainly applies to small aircraft and helicopters. Pilots previously had to wait 24h for permission after applying, now they will be able to use Russian airspace after about 1h after notifying authorities about their flight. This corresponds to rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and is bound to facilitate the development of private aviation in Russia.
The rules, published on 11 March, include allowance for aircraft to operate free of air traffic control in visual flight rules in airspace below 9.800ft - so-called Class G airspace - if they are flying at less than 245kt (450km/h).
The move has been met with scepticism by operators, who have long called for the air traffic system to be reformed to resemble that used elsewhere in the world.
Leonid Koshelev, head of the United Business Aviation Association, says the new rules, due to come into force in November, are insufficient without a regulatory system in place to govern general aviation in Russia, in which he says the government seems unwilling to get involved.
He says the government needs to create a mechanism to guarantee flight safety. "It's as if they let everyone drive on the roads without any traffic police," Koshelev says. "There will be no development of general aviation in Russia without this. Private flyers here are totally unprepared for flying like this without safety mechanisms. If you ask people flying here, they think that there will not be much change without reform and restructuring of the authorities, and there's doubt that they want to do it."
Several schemes involving private and government air services have fallen foul of the air traffic and regulatory regime in Russia in the past few years. A Moscow city government plan to introduce helicopter air taxis to the city's business district was scrapped after difficulties with air traffic regulations. A ban remains on most flights over the Russian capital.
Source: Flight International
