Flying in Russia?

[JohnV85]

Hello

What is the private flying scene like in Russia, if there is any to speak of? I will be in stationed in Moscow with work for the best part of 6 months from March and would like to keep flying during this period if possible.

Thanks

John

[PlasticPilot]

No idea. My best tip would be to get in touch with AOPA Russia: http://www.aopa.ru

Be ready however to receive clearances with altitudes and windspeed in meters. Check the UUDD (Moscow) METAR on www.easymetar.com (http://www.easymetar.com), you'll see the MPS (meters per second) letters after the wind speed.

Good luck.

[Romeo Tango]

As I understand it (last investigated about 6 months ago). Russia will not accept avgas aircraft unless they can show they have sufficient range to get in and out without refuelling.

Added complications of needing a Russian navigator if going off airways .... and the MEAs tend to be a bit high once east of Moscow.

Sep 2009:
Some more information. I'm recently back from a trip through Russian far east.
Avgas can be obtained for a price
No security problems.
Everyone friendly BUT there is always some bureaucrat who makes things difficult. Essential to have a Russian speaker as part of the team.
We often went below airways, this required a Russian navigator but we were allowed to share one navigator amongst 10 aircraft.

As to private flying in Russia I gather that there is much unofficial flying. As long as one does not go near large airfields and stays below radar a blind eye is turned. A similar situation in Alaska.

[Rhys S. Negative]

Moscow's "sport flying" airfield used to be Tushino - a PPL I was on a trip with in the late 90's managed to get a dual flight in a Yak-18T there, after about 2 hours of negotiation through an interpreter. Sadly, Tushino is now closed.

On a visit last year, there were a few light aircraft (including Cessnas and Robinsons) at Bykovo, so that might be the place to enquire. Good luck!

Rhys.

[Ultranomad]

There are lots of flying clubs around Moscow, but prices of both aircraft rental and avgas are very high, and you can't just take a plane and fly wherever you want. For all flights outside ATZ, whether VFR or IFR, you have to file a flight plan (usually 24 hours in advance, potentially more). On the other hand, virtually every club has at least one Yak-52, and lessons in aerobatics will probably cost you less than in the UK.
My home base in Russia is in St. Petersburg, so I have very little information about Moscow. The best place to ask would be at www.aviaforum.ru (http://www.aviaforum.ru), which has a dedicated section for English speakers.

[Jack Au]

....:rolleyes: