Summary
- Russian aviation has a subpar safety record, with over 180 incidents in 2023 alone.
- The runway tour at Norilsk Alykel Airport involved a Boeing 737-800, highlighting the protection concerns.
- Russian airlines face challenges in accessing original manufacturers’ manuals and technological knowledge, posing risks to safety.
A Russian airline – NordStar Airlines – had a runway tour at Siberia’s Norilsk Alykel Airport (NSK) earlier this month. Although runway excursions occur occasionally, the incontrovertible fact that NordStar Airlines had this occur to a Boeing 737-800 is of interest.
Russian aviation’s subpar safety record
The January 9 runway tour of NordStar Airlines at Siberia’s Norilsk Alykel Airport (NSK) after flying 924 miles from Krasnoyarsk International Airport (KJA) may not have harmed the 177 occupants on board, 8 of which were aircrew. The landing was conducted, based on AeroTime Hub, with temperatures reaching as little as –19 degrees Celsius.
Graphic: Great Circle Map
However the incident is a component of a pattern of Russian aviation lacking safety. As per a Easy Flying December 9, 2023 report, over 180 incidents occurred in 2023 Russian aviation.
Moreover, based on a Russian-to-English translation of prmira.ru reporting, Russian aviation authorities are conducting an investigation. Prmira.ru believes there’s the likelihood that Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation regarding secure operation of aircraft could have been violated on this case.
American made Boeing 737-800 had the runway tour
The aircraft that had the runway tour was a Boeing 737-800, registration RA-73253, that was inbuilt 2009. Sanctions have been placed on Russian aviation after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, causing much malicious destruction, meriting worldwide condemnation.
Although Russia has implemented work-arounds, corresponding to S7 Group, owner of S7 Airlines, acquiring the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant (BEMZ) to provide, test, and certify aircraft parts for the non-Russian jetliners in Russian airliner fleets – the issue stays that the unique manufacturers’ manuals and technological knowledge is inaccessible to Russian airlines. That is just a part of the billions being spent to maintain Russian business aviation flying after crucial sanctions.
Russian Government Has Spent $12 Billion To Keep Aviation Industry Afloat
Maintaining its aircraft fleet amid global sanctions hasn’t been low-cost for Russia.
Without Russian government support and smuggling, the spare parts and maintenance crucial to maintain complex modern jetliners airborne would have been nonexistent. Flights have been conducted with components which have exceeded their lifespan – the protection risk is high.
About NordStar Airlines and its 737s
NordStar Airlines was founded on December 17, 2008, by a Russian nickel and mining company in PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel. NordStar Airlines had a primary flight on June 17, 2009, and has had 44 routes within the Russian Federation. Its current fleet is 9 737-800s and 1 737-300s to service places as far-flung as Moscow, St. Petersburg.