A while ago I touched a topic of Western built transport category aircraft deployed in Russia. Specifically, with regard to Boeing. Numbers of planes made by Airbus, I believe, is pretty close to those representing Boeing in the totals for the entire Russian operators’ fleet. I’ll try to find some statistics on both.
And a steady increase in those numbers keeps going up. Country’s air transport industry has brought over an incredible amount of Western built aircraft to Russia already, in an attempt to offset the shortage of domestically built equipment, the fleet of which is still chiefly composed with the ‘Soviet legacy’ airplanes, - which, in fact, yet aren’t too bad, but they are not great any more. On the other hand, a total commercial aircraft output by the aircraft manufacturing industry in modern Russia is hardly noticeable, in terms of their immediate capability to fulfill the industry’s demand. A rough total number of units built in the last year is less than two dozens, - a far cry from the hundreds needed.
More or less attentively I monitor a situation since the time we left Russia for Canada, and it sometimes amazes me how many Russian operators are switching now ‘under the Boeing or Airbus banners’. Just a few years ago, with respect to some of them you would hardly imagine that they were about to get and fly Boeings ever..
There’s a few recognized operators of Western built equipment in Russia too, and their experience of doing this goes as far back as to the early 90s. The Domodedovo-based Trasaero is one of them. Browsing aviation magazines just recently, I came across an article on the company in the ‘AIR INTERNATIONAL’. In 1998 the airline leased a few 737-700s, a move that had almost put them into a rank of the ‘Boeing-737 NG-launch customers’. Actually, I should verify this ‘launch customer’ thing about the airline, - maybe, they had been the one indeed! Hopefully, they won’t sue me for my ’slightly conservative interpretation of facts’ 
I have a few friends flying for this airline, and pictures in this post are provided by one of them.
Here’s another Boeing plane, the 737-300 of the Air Union. About a month ago Russian airline industry was quite stirred up by sensational news of the Air Union reported to be in ‘deep financial trouble’. Many flights by the airline were canceled all across the country, and it seems, this airline (created in 2004 through forming an alliance of five carriers: Kras air (Krasnoyarsk); Omskavia (Omsk); Samara airlines (Samara); Domodedovo airlines (Moscow); Sibaviatrans (Krasnoyarsk) will go for either a bankruptcy, or for a merger with someone (-ones) else. Oh, well, ‘that’s life’, we’ll see..
Anyway, I’m really interested more in exploring a ‘pilot side’ of this ‘Great Russian Airline Revolution‘ , because almost ALL Russian operators are currently experiencing serious difficulties as they search for suitable pilot candidates, qualified enough to fill in a rapidly growing number of vacancies for training on, and flying the Boeing and Airbus planes.
Situation at times comes close to dire. Pool is almost dry. There had been a huge gap created in the post-Soviet era that breaks apart what once seemed to be a seamless pilot ‘blood line’, and there’s little what you can find from ‘external sources’ too, if you consider a surplus of retired military pilots, or pilots from foreign countries.
So, by posting this, I set up a special series which, - in terms of this blog - would definitely qualify for ‘PERFECT CLASH‘
However, the point is to explore into how we could help them, as a pilot community, to smooth the way this clash goes on, and to sail - safely and confidently - over the storms of ‘another revolution’ in this country.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Hey Sergey,
Hope everything is going great with you.
If only the Russian airlines would lower their vision requirements, I’d be there in a flash.
Do you know if they still require pilots to have perfect vision?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Hi, Zhenya
Glad to hear from you,
Yes, I believe, they still want their pilots have “near perfect vision” (shall wear no glasses, nor contact lenses). However, we should ask Alexey (b737), he is a 737 F/O with Transaero. Many Russian airlines are experiencing some trouble in funding qualified pilots to fulfill opening vacancies. Can this fact be a ground for lowering this kind of physical fitness standard (even though, it is obvious that the visions requirement they have had to the date is way beyond the reasonable)?.. Doubt it.
What are you doing now?
Cheers,
S
November 9th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Hey,men!
Serg,I’ve written you by e-mail,so far:)
Yep,we’ve got serious requirements for physical ability but they’re tending to lower level(looking through fingers) because of reduction health of all adult people in the whole.But if you’re foreign with experience on Boeing or Airbus and you’re the captain,you’ve got a chance,a good chance to be here as a captain(captain-instructor),never mind.Russian aviation is rising like a bat out of hell but there’s a problem.We’got rule that haven’t been annualed so far.The pilot have to be russian citizen!This carries over all nearby countries.Nowadays,the Ministry of aviation’s considering the annihilation of this requirement but …
I’ll take interest…
Cheers,
A
November 9th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Alexey,
Yes, as I told Evgeni, the med requirements, at least - FORMALLY - still look tough.. Another way Russians are: ‘create toughest requirements, rules, and laws, - almost impossible to comply with - and then, create a system where in fact EXCLUSIONS (on certain conditions 
) ease and facilitate your working processes, but not the RULES.
thank you for a prompt reply.
I like this one: “Russian aviation is rising like a bat out of hell”
Been too long in those shoes!
Appreciate your input, folks,
Alexey, looking forward to having a Skype chat with you soon, - to talk about your ‘long journey’ that is coming soon
Cheers,
S
November 10th, 2008 at 10:12 am
You know Serg,our rules stay far from the reality.We’re staying in a ‘Stone century’,there aren’t RVSM,RNAV and so on,modern equipment therefore we aren’t able to use all features of Boeing and Airbus aircrafts and experience of the World.Sometimes it’s incredible to fly in Moscow area moreover for foreign’s…There’re a lot of problems in our aviation nevertheless I like it:)
And I’ve got a question ‘Why does canadian pilot try to get in this mess calling Russian aviation?’:)
Cheers,
A
November 12th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Hi Sergey,
Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to pause my flight training at the moment. The slowdown in our economy has made me very skeptical about finding that first job. Therefore, I will hold off for the time being and prepare for the next upswing in this cyclical industry. As my instructor always said ‘timing is everything’.
Right now, I’m trying to find a job with one of the local regional airlines, perhaps dispatch or office related where I can put my Finance degree to good use.
I also applied with Nav Canada for ATC. An exciting job with lots of stability but very difficult to get accepted into. I’m sure you were also impressed when you toured the YEG ACC. I’ll let you know what happens after I write their entrance exam.
Evgeni
November 13th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Evgeni,
at least, try to stay current. I mean, every now and then do a bit of ‘brush-up’ by getting in the air, so that your skills don’t get too ‘rusty’. It is good, you sound like you are going to stay ‘on the field of aviation’.
Where are you in the real world, geographically? How far away your commercial license? Or, you’ve got one already? I’m assuming you may have it.
If you want to communicate with guys working in ATC - let me know, they are very good people, sure they’ll be glad to give you a piece of advice.
Stay in touch, something is always coming up, networking is a key today,
C
November 15th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Privet Sergey,
I’m about 75% into my Commercial license and have successfully passed the written exam. All that’s left is the flight exam and some cross country hours. Well, then there is also the Multi IFR but that’s a whole different ball game.
My goal right now is to find a job with flexible hours where I can also continue my flight training at the same time. If everything goes to plan, I should have my CPL by April/09.
I know what you mean by staying current, it’s safer and cheaper. I’ll try my best.
Btw, I’m in YUL. I was looking to move to Alberta but that province has a housing bubble waiting to explode. ; )
Evgeni
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Evgeni,
Good, good, never give up
Finish your commercial for sure. And you’ll find your first job. Then the second. Everyone once was ‘at the beginning of things’.
I’ll try to make a friend from Victoria hop into this chat, he’s begun instructing at Victoria Air Club not too long ago. Hopefully, he’ll tell us ‘his story’.
Also, check out another thread on this blog.
Welcome to Alberta, maybe, for a visit, first. In my turn, I’ll let you know when I have a good overnight at YUL.
Take care,
Sergey