Originally Posted by
Sam Rutherford
I heard afterwards that we were the only private helicopter trip (not state-supported) to ever get to Moscow (most end up waiting at the border for a few days until they abandon and go home). Beautiful country, great people, nearly impossible by both financial and paperwork measures - but a great trip!
Last year they lifted the requirement of having local navigator/leader. You have to file for an airspace use permit in 2 month advance. That's a lot of paperwork, but free. AOPA Russia will help you with that, and you'll be welcomed at any private airfield you fly to here. Yet, having someone Russian-speaking and with radio communication skills will be handy anyway. Some zone controllers still don't speak English here, especially those at under FL60.
Also, entry via Pskov is pretty expensive (120 Euros whereas same services in Tartu cost 23) but not impossible once you have the said permit.