Private flying in Russia

[Jan Olieslagers]

Just as we could read Russia Liberalizes Airspace (http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/Russia_Liberalizes_Airspace_203550-1.html) , I happened across a place suspiciously reminiscent of a G/A airfield, only it is deep in the Russian heartland:

Chelyabinsk, Province of Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Chelyabinsk,+Province+of+Chelyabinsk,+Russian+Federation&sll=58.474444,-62.654167&sspn=0.049726,0.181789&g=58.474444,-62.654167&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Chelyabinsk,+gorodskoy+okrug+gorod+Chelyabinsk,+Provin ce+of+Chelyabinsk,+Russian+Federation&ll=54.950463,61.507473&spn=0.027307,0.090895&t=h&z=14&lci=com.panoramio.all) just SSE of Chelyabinsk has it all, to judge from the associated photography.

Would we really be able to organise a VFR trip to St Petersburg anywhere soon? Will there really be English-speaking staff handling their frequencies?

[Ultranomad]

Jan, English-speaking staff can only be found at CONTROL frequencies and at international airports receiving regular foreign traffic, and even there you can run into problems (last year's Swissair bird strike incident at ULLI is a testimony to that). So, you certainly need a Russian speaker in the cockpit - if not in every cockpit, then at least one per group of aircraft to relay the R/T traffic. I can volunteer to be one, and I can also be your guide in the air and on the ground around St. Petersburg (which is where I was born and learned to fly). I am based in Prague and may be available for a trip to St. Petersburg in late November or December; alternatively, it can be done next spring or summer. January to March (or even April) is probably not a good season to visit.
The place near Chelyabinsk is probably the Chelavia flying club / FBO, very friendly and one of the best such organizations in Russia.

[Katamarino]

Sounds like fun...

[hpeier12]

I like to fly my experimental Single Engine Airplane (SX300) from Alsaka true Russian Airspace to Europa, how would I go about this ?
any suggestions are welcome
regards
Heinz

[Jan Olieslagers]

Heinz, with a long-time fascination for the subject, and lots of internet research done, but not a hair's worth of hands-on experience, I should think you will be much better off flying through Canada and the North Atlantic - or perhaps even mid-Atlantic, through Bermuda and the Açores.

Earlier observations from Anton K coincide with several other reports I found on the www. The best resource is the Alaskan Bush Fliers, who did manage to get a VFR route approved from Nome PAOM to Providenyia UHMD, it is called the B369. Their next step was to extend that route to Anadyr UHMA but I never found any report of success there, actually their latest information was none too positive even about the leg to Provideniya.

AFAIK, Russia still requires one to have a local-approved navigator on board - the rates are impressive, they're in the Russian AIP somewhere - and no guarantee the navigator you end up with speaks a single syllable of English or any other language besides Russian.
But I'll be glad to learn better, so please keep posting your experience here!

[Ultranomad]

Actually, the requirement for a navigator is not strictly enforced, but if you don't speak Russian, you simply won't get anywhere without one.
There are, however, a few more problems, the most important one being the lack of avgas. As far as I know, SX300 is fitted with a 300-hp IO-540 - a high-compression engine. Running it on mogas of unverifiable quality is not a wise choice.

[overandout]

A group of single engined aircraft managed to fly that way in 2009. Through Mongolia, then all through Siberia to Anadyr and than accross Bering to Nome. neede one Russian navigator for the group. Fule pre-purchased and pre-placed in drums all the way.
You can do it if you try.
lots of web sites info if you look.

Overandout

[Ryan5252]

It can be done! It has been done before... C172 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathias_Rust#Flight_profile) landing in Red Square ring any bells??

:D:D:D

[Morane]

"It can be done! It has been done before... C172 landing in Red Square ring any bells??"

and it ended in prison! :}

[Studefather]

Try to get hold of a small book "Around the World at 90 Knots".

Story of 1 failed and 1 successful circumnavigation in successive years by RAF crew in a pair of Chipmunk aircraft with Islander as support.

Fascinating sections on the preparation for and events arising during actual transits of Russian territory.

[IO540]

Russia has restructured its airspace in a move that's bound to foster more GA activity in the country. Gone is the requirement to submit a detailed flight plan at least 24 hours in advance. Flight notification can now be done an hour in advance online. The changes were announced in April and went into effect Monday. According to TASS (http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15643675&PageNum=0) the new rules and airspace designations "are designed to meet the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)." Perhaps the biggest change is the creation of uncontrolled airspace.

The country has divided airspace into A, C and G zones. Class A airspace is 8,100 meters (26,575 feet) and higher and all flights are IFR and under ATC control. Class C is controlled airspace for both IFR and VFR flights up to 8,100 meters and Class G is uncontrolled but the one-hour notification is required and is open to all aircraft, including light planes and helicopters. Its ceiling varies from 300 meters to 4,500 meters. The Russian version of flight services will supply NOTAMs and weather. The government is also pledging to reduce the amount of closed and restricted airspace, but the airspace over Moscow is expected to remain restricted

Amazing... Class A above 26575 feet :ok: