Flying in Russia?
 

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

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, you'll see the MPS (meters per second) letters after the wind speed.

Good luck.

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.

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.

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, which has a dedicated section for English speakers.

TCAS
 

....:rolleyes: