Sanctions Impact Aviation Safety in Russia as Airlines Operate with Expired Components
Explosive new leaks have revealed the detrimental effects of Western sanctions on crucial industries in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. As a result of trade sanctions, Russian companies have faced difficulties in acquiring spare parts for aircraft maintenance, affecting the nation’s prominent airlines for over a year. Despite these challenges, Russian airlines have continued operations and transported over 95 million passengers last year.
Inspections conducted by Rostransnadzor, the Transportation Ministry’s agency, found that over 2,000 flights took off with components that had exceeded their operational lifespan. The limited availability of spare parts has forced Russian airlines to resort to temporary fixes, including using stockpiled components and smuggling in parts from other countries. However, these solutions are short-term and pose risks as the planes still require regular maintenance.
The impact on flight safety prompted concerns as Viktor Basarguin, head of Rostransnadzor, acknowledged that the sanctions directly affected the safety of passengers. He revealed that numerous aircraft operations had been conducted with expired components, with over 2,000 such flights recorded.
The situation has raised concerns about flight safety, especially as Russia’s ability to monitor and certify its aircraft has come into question. Russia was expelled from the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) governing council in 2022 due to safety concerns. Although Russia remains a member of ICAO, it issues its own airworthiness certificates, which is prohibited by the organization. As a result, Russian airlines continue to operate in countries where civil aviation authorities overlook the situation.
The Russian government has plans to replace Boeing and Airbus aircraft with domestically built models, but implementation is expected to take at least a decade. President Vladimir Putin criticized the industry for lagging production times and expressed concerns about companies lacking orders for 2023.
The lack of maintenance capabilities in Russia has led to unconventional practices, including maintenance being carried out in Iran. Additionally, more than 10% of the fleets of Russia’s largest airlines have been grounded for extended periods, potentially indicating cannibalization of parts from these aircraft for others.
The clock is ticking for Russian airlines as they face the challenge of complying with sanctions and redesigning aircraft. The industry is working on developing new aircraft, such as the Yakovlev MC-21 and Sukhoi Superjet 100, but uncertainties remain. Engine development is another significant hurdle as Russian engines currently fall short of international standards.
Russian airlines may face further complications, with reports suggesting that Superjets could soon be grounded due to a shortage of engine spark plugs caused by the sanctions.