Russia plans to ban civil aviation flights over central regions

Russian authorities plan to close the airspace in the Moscow air zone and effectively over central regions of Russia to private aviation at altitudes of up to 5,100 metres starting from early June.

Source: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian media outlet

Details: AOPA said the no-fly zone would stretch from the border with Belarus to the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Samara in the east, while in the south it would connect with temporary restrictions already in force.

The ban will apply to private aviation flights, including business jets and helicopters operating non-scheduled flights.

Charter passenger services will continue to operate as normal.

Exceptions are provided for air ambulances, medical evacuations, technical operations and flights under state contracts.

Reports in Russia said an official notice to pilots setting out the new restrictions is expected to be published shortly.

AOPA did not give a reason for introducing the ban.

Members of the community suggested in comments that the restrictions could be linked to the crash of a light aircraft near the Russian city of Kolomna in late March. Two people were killed then. Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency launched an investigation, but has not named any possible causes of the crash since then. It is known that large-scale UAV activity was reported in the region at the time of the crash.

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