Flying
in Russia
©1995 Scott Highton
For those wanting to fly their own aircraft into and within Russia, meticulous
planning and attention to detail can help reduce the difficulties that are
bound to arise.
- Vaccinations
- The current vaccination recommendations for travel in eastern Russia
include polio, diphtheria/tetanus and a gamma globulin injection. Ideally,
these should be administered 10-14 days before departure. Check with your
local traveler's health clinic for updates on the areas you plan to visit.
Additionally, you should bring all personal medications you might need,
since even the most basic over-the-counter drugs are unavailable.
Return to
Friendship Flight 1995
Return to Picture Story index
Flight
Authorization
- A request for flight authorization, or CDS, must be submitted by telex
to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Moscow. Reportedly, Moscow will not
accept this by fax, so the telex delivery is important. You must also be
able to receive a telex response from them. CDS forms should be telexed
to the International Department, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Moscow, CIS
TELEX: 412303 CDSSU.
- The CDS should include descriptions of the purpose of your trip, aircraft
and pilot information, a passenger list with birth dates and passport numbers,
a general declaration (regarding health, weapons, drugs, etc.) and a flight
plan, including dates and times of arrival/departure. Flight plans can
be delayed or extended almost indefinitely, but cannot be started earlier
than the original time specified. Be sure to list these dates and times
as the earliest you might possibly travel. Flight plans must be filed 24
hours in advance, and the CDS should be telexed as early as possible to
allow Moscow sufficient time for processing and approval.
- All forms, including customs declarations and passenger lists, should
be completed before arriving in Russia, and preferably type written. The
customs officers in Russia do not like standing around waiting for you
to fill out their forms. Generally, three copies of each are required,
and there are often no copy machines available. Carrying a small supply
of carbon paper can be helpful.
- The best advice for those planning flights into Russia, is to talk
with pilots who have done it before. Keep in mind that information supplied
by Russian officials may not even be complete, as important elements sometimes
get lost in translation. Also, Russian aviation officials are not used
to dealing with the concerns of non-IFR aircraft with limited flight ranges.
Pilots who have endured the process before can offer a wealth of knowledge
for the first time visitor.
Return to
Friendship Flight 1995
Return to Picture Story index
Flight
Operations
- In general, tower and weather reporting stations operate between the
hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, although the major airports operate
24 hours a day. Aircraft are not permitted to land at an airport when the
tower is closed. Russia is a large country that includes 11 time zones,
so it's important to know the time difference at your destination when
planning around tower closures. Navaids, such as ILS approaches and NDBs
are often turned off to save energy, as is radar at the smaller towers,
unless aircraft are expected. Navaids in Russia are exclusively NDBs. ILS
approaches are usually set up on two NDBs.
- Many towers do not have English-speaking personnel available, so it
is often required to hire a Russian navigator. They cost about $180 per
day, plus their expenses, and are hired from Moscow. Their fee is only
charged for the days they actually fly, and having one along makes it possible
to communicate with any tower. They can also be helpful in easing any political
problems you might encounter, and their familiarity with the terrain and
country can be invaluable. As the Friendship Flight discovered, it is important
to make sure that your Russian navigator is also fluent in English. This
may seem an obvious point, but based on experience, it should not be assumed.
- A turbocharged aircraft will allow you to fly high enough to always
be in contact with an English-speaking controller. If you have a high frequency
(HF) radio, you can communicate with them at altitudes below line-of-sight
levels.
- Pilots should have the ability to fly IFR, even if they are planning
a VFR trip. You will not be allowed to depart if the weather at your destination
is below, or forecast below, minimums for your arrival. Minimums are usually
1,000 foot ceilings and 3-5 miles visibility. Use the published airways,
whenever possible. Altitudes are given in meters, not feet, so multiply
the number of meters by three for a rough conversion.
-
- The Russians use altimeter settings differently than most of the rest
of the world. In the U.S., we use a QNH system, where altimeters are set
to 29.92 in the flight levels, but are based upon corrected MSL readouts
at lower altitudes. This means that our altimeters read and are set to
the actual field elevation when the plane is on the ground.
- Russia, however, uses a QFE system, where all enroute flight above
2,000 meters is done with the altimeter set to 29.92. When in an airport
traffic area, though, the tower gives altimeter settings which will read
zero when the plane is on the ground, no matter what the field elevation
is. Thus, their airport area altimeter settings provide AGL (from the reporting
airport) readouts. This can result in a lot of knob twisting during transitions,
and all but guarantees that you'll never know what your true altitude above
sea level is during flight.
- Minimum enroute altitudes are based upon flight over either mountainous
or non-mountainous terrain. For VFR flight, the MEA is 300 meters above
the highest obstacle in mountainous areas, or 100 meters over the highest
point in non-mountainous areas.
Aircraft
Fuel
- Jet fuel is readily available throughout Russia, but avgas is somewhat
rare and usually only available in 91 octane. Be sure to inspect all fuel
before putting it into your tanks. Magadan officials dispatched an AN-26
loaded with 91 octane avgas to Markovo for refueling of the Friendship
Flight. Unfortunately, the portable pump they included was used previously
for JP-4 jet fuel. Several quarts of JP-4 contaminated avgas were pumped
into the tanks of the Cessna 310 before the problem was discovered. Although
the error didn't cause any problems for the rest of the trip, it certainly
offers good reason to check fuel carefully.
- The current reality of flight in Eastern Russia is that lack of readily
available avgas virtually prohibits general aviation aircraft except those
capable of long-range IFR flight. The distance between Nome and Magadan,
the first airport with avgas normally available, is roughly 1,600 miles.
Without bringing fuel in from the U.S. ahead of time and pre-positioning
it along the route, most general aviation aircraft wouldn't have the range
to make such a flight. It was only with the cooperation of Bering Air and
the Russian hosts positioning fuel along the route, that the Friendship
Flight, including smaller aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and two Heliocouriers,
was even possible.
Return to
Friendship Flight 1995
Return to Picture Story index
Clearing
Customs
- Avoid bringing firearms into Russia, even though you may have one as
part of your aircraft wilderness survival kit. Gold jewelry should also
be left at home. You will likely be asked to count all your money in front
of the customs officers, both when entering and leaving the country. The
amount you leave with, plus purchases you have receipts for, should match
the amount you came in with. The current exchange rate is about 5,000 rubles
to the U.S. dollar.
- Handheld two-way radios are restricted. All such equipment (as well
as signal flare guns) should be left in the aircraft at all times and,
if questioned, should be claimed as aircraft equipment. Airport security
is generally quite good. Leave as much as you can in the airplane and only
go through customs with what you need for your overnight stay. Itemize
and declare valuables such as cameras, computers and personal electronic
devices.
- Most importantly, be aware of U.S. customs regulations prohibiting
the possession of ivory, seal furs or any products made from marine mammals
or endangered species when reentering the U.S. Don't buy these items,
even though they may be perfectly legal in Russia. The pilots in command
of private aircraft can be held responsible for violations by their passengers
or crew, which can result in seizure and loss of their aircraft, as well
as large fines and a possible jail sentences. All this can be imposed for
something as small as a pocket-sized ivory carving.
- Equipment and Survival Gear
- Crossing the Bering Strait, even at its narrowest point over the Diomede
Islands, means about 70 miles of over water exposure. The exposure is about
200 miles for the direct IFR route from Nome to Provideniya. Even if there
is a winter ice pack, the span of frigid water presents a significant risk
for single engine aircraft. Survival suits are a necessity in case of a
water landing. The human body can only survive unprotected in these waters
for a few minutes.
- Other basic survival and camping gear should also be carried for flights
to Eastern Russia. If your plane goes down, you might wait many days for
rescue, so it's best to be prepared. The lack of overnight facilities at
many small airports also means pilots and crews should be equipped to camp
at the airport or wait out the weather with their planes, if necessary.
General
Planning
- Prepare as thoroughly as possible for flights to Russia. Always have
several backup plans. To Americans, Russian society appears to consist
of countless individuals each controlling their own little fiefdoms. Patience
can be a tremendous virtue when dealing with problems. Give the local officials
time to resolve situations among themselves before reacting to sudden demands.
Go with the flow and go slowly whenever possible.
- Conditions in small towns are often primitive, at best, especially
when compared to what we're used to in the U.S. Water should be treated
in remote areas, including many cities, and it's a good idea to bring your
own supply of toilet paper. The Russian people are generally reserved,
yet warm and friendly once you initiate contact. They seem very happy to
meet and talk with Americans.
- Bring many small tokens or gifts when you visit, as it is tradition
to give a small offering to anyone who serves as your host, whether it
be for a meal or simply inviting you to visit them in their home. Uniquely
American items are appreciated, including pins, small flags, mugs, candy,
food, baseball caps and items containing the logos of well-known American
companies. Postcards, small picture books and personal photos of your home
town or family provide great conversation starters, and help the people
you meet get to know you better. Stay in touch with those you do meet,
especially after you return home. Letters from American guests are precious.
- Flying small aircraft to Russia is still somewhat of an adventure,
particularly in a world where true adventure has become more elusive. Allow
yourself far more time than you expect, and be willing to change your plans
along the way if necessary. The journey itself, will be the reward.
Return to
Friendship Flight 1995
Return to Picture Story index