Published: 6/19/1998

Most Russian airports, if not certified by the beginning of 1999, will be deprived of the right to service and maintain aircraft, general director of theAirport, the Association ofRussian Civil Aviation, Viktor Gorbachev said. Only about ten of Russia's airports have received certificates, he said. The Federal Aviation Service (FAS) has ruled that, from January 1999, licences will not be issued to airports that have not been certified, he added - the problem is that certification of airports is very costly. Vnukovo airport paid about Rbs1.5m for the process, and Sochi airport in southern Russia paid Rbs1.2 m. The conference proposed two ways of solving the problem. First, the FAS will set up additional certification bodies by 1999, and second, part of the power to carry out certification will be transferred to local departments, he said.Despite the difficulties, he expressed confidence that the problem would be solved. However, neither the FAS or the government will grant any deferment, he said. Russia's experience in this field will be set as an example to follow for other CIS members. (AP698.1a) (VZ)

Article ID: 202