Cabotage issues in Russia
 

Next week we will be flying a St Petersburg Moscow flight and the handler warned us that there have been extra checks on cabotage flights in Russia lately and somebody even got grounded. We fly M reg with the boss on board so I don't expect any issues but can anybody enlighten me:

• Is this due to the sanctions?
• Is this only applicable to commercial operators or also to M reg?
• Who has been grounded and how did they solve this?

Any feedback is appreciated!

Hello GG,

We have been based in Southern Russia for almost 3 years and this still evades me sometimes that as a foreign registered aircraft we occasionally run into difficulty. So much so, the rules seem to depend on who makes the phone calls behind the scenes; ie how important your VIP is:E.

We have made the exact same route many times and depending on the customs chief on duty determines what treatment we get. Sorry I can't be more precise and goodluck.

Cabotage only relates to a third country OPR impinging on the domestic market of another country, so shouldn't be a player, however I have heard it crop up against private flights, albeit G-reg carrying a Russian owner.

The Russians should be experienced enough now to recongise M- as solely private, but it helps to have a sensible Russian agent on your side in the event of a problem. If your pax has been manifested from first entering Russia to leaving this will also help, but Russians may be suspicious if the pax just pop up in St Petersburg, get flown to Moscow and then you depart empty.

It relates to all foreign registered aircraft operating in Russia, M reg or not.

If they think you are doing an illegal charter customs will come down on you like a ton of bricks. As DD said above if you have a Russian agent paying off the right people then all should go well.

The fine by the way is 10% of the aircrafts value in cash, so assuming your "Global-Global" name relates to the aircraft you operate then that could be a big payday for someone.

My understanding is that for every such flight a tender must be opened, and other local operators have the opportunity to veto this flight.
But as others have suggested in the end it depends all on connections, and rubels, ...

Another advise, you will get a customs letter for the domestic sectors. You MUST adhere to the route stated thereon (in kyrillic), or must have customs revise that letter BEFORE departing for a flight different from the original routing.
Non-adherence can result in a severe hiccup...

WRT the customs document and routing, the captain has to sign it to say the flight is non charter ie private even if it is ahem not. But keep in mind when it goes pete tong it's your signature and it's you they will be warmly inviting for a conversation.

Good luck!

D and F:8

Cabotage
 

Who would be in trouble if they found out?
PIC or company?

PIC, company and aircraft owner I would think.