Russian pilots have sent a petition to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) alleging that Rosaviatsiya, the government agency responsible for crew certification, is canceling the credentials of hundreds of pilots who trained at private schools rather than those run by the government department. The pilots claim the move is aimed at eliminating competition and could end up invalidating the licenses of 25 percent of the nation’s pilots. They’re asking ICAO to intervene and “stop arbitrariness on the part of Rosaviatsiya regarding aviation experts and training centers.” Rosaviatsiya spokesman Sergey Izvolsky is quoted in Russian media as essentially confirming the pilots’ complaints but said it’s anything but arbitrary and all in the name of safety. He said the 400 pilots suspended in the last five years were flying on forged credentials from the private schools.
“The pilot profession can only be given by those educational institutions that have a commercial pilot program approved by Rosaviatsiya. Such programs exist only in flight schools and higher educational institutions of civil aviation, subordinated to Rosaviatsiya,” he said. Vladimir Tyurin, head of the board of AOPA-Russia, is quoted as saying Rosaviatsiya has a clear conflict of interest. “Ulyanovsk and St. Petersburg universities of civil aviation are subordinate enterprises of the Federal Air Transport Agency. And Rosaviatsiya finances them. At the same time, it certifies [commercial] aviation training centers. A clear conflict of interest appears. Obviously, they will force these centers out of the market,” he told RBC. He said that when the government schools couldn’t meet the demand for pilots, private schools were encouraged but now that demand has subsided the government is getting rid of the competition.
