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Russia Ready To Open Cross-Polar Routes For Airlines.

A team of Russian consultants/whose work is proving crucial to freeing up more air space for civil use, is visiting the U.S. for the first time with assurances from the Russian government that it is ready to cooperate in the effort. Double Eagle Consulting, of Moscow, also is working closely with Dennis Cooper, FAA's senior representative for Russia and the CIS.

L.R. Sherbakov, head of Air Traffic Management for Russia's Regulation Department, told Alexander Cherkassov, president of Double Eagle, "We are ready to cooperate with your company should you contribute to encouraging the airlines to fly via the air space of Russian Federation and enhance flight safety." Sherbakov said the "State ATM Regulation Department, together with the Russian Defense Ministry, is carrying out "substantial work" to improve the structure of its air space "for flights of civil aviation."

Routine use of Russia's cross-polar routes by airlines could become a reality within six months to a year. Cooper said yesterday at the Air Traffic Control Association's annual meeting in Atlantic City, NJ. Cooper told The DAILY that very little investment will be required to open the cross-polar routes. He estimated that $33 million will be sufficient to improve surveillance and communications in the region and train controllers in English. United already is using the routes daily for demonstration flights, and Northwest flies the routes several times a week. Cooper said. All of these flights are revenue operations, Cooper said.

Valery Zakharin, head of ATC Consulting for Double Eagle, agreed with Cooper that regular use of the cross-polar routes is not far away. Zakharin is a former major general who headed ATC use of Russian air space for, the military. He is working with Cooper on the effort to free up more air space for civil use.

Aviation Daily
October 24, 2000