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Fifth International Conference “Regional Aviation of Russia 2012”

The Fifth International Conference “Regional Aviation of Russia and CIS 2012” has been over. Being the key event of the year devoted to regional aviation, this event took place at the Swissotel Krasnye Holmy Hotel, Moscow, on November 29, 2012. The conference was supported by the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Russian Ministry of Transport, Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Russian Ministry of Regional Development.

Over 150 professionals in the field of aviation took part in the conference: heads of airlines and airports, manufacturers of regional aviation equipment, international and Russian associations, scientific and public organizations, top managers representing the market of regional air transportation, and Russian and international manufacturers of airplanes and helicopters.

Federal authorities were represented by officials from the Soviet of the Federation, State Duma, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Offices of Russian President’s Plenipotentiary Representatives in Federal Regions and other federal authorities as well as heads of regional ministries and departments.

The primary goal of the event was meeting with heads of civil aviation enterprises carrying out their activities in the segment of regional and local transportation and discussing efficient measures to develop favorable conditions for the development of local and regional air transportation. In the course of discussions, problems related to the current condition and development of regional aviation in Russia, issues related to state support in the field of implementation of the Civil Aviation Subprogram, Federal Target-Oriented Program “Transportation System Development in Russia (2010-2015)” as well as implementation of the Ensuring the Development of Regional Airport Chains Program were examined.

More than 30 reports delivered at the conference were devoted to the key issues related to the development of regional and local aviation: production and supplies of present-day aircrafts, state support measures and efficient operation of airports and airlines. Participants of the conference paid special attention to the improvement of the regulatory and legal base in order to create favorable conditions for developing civil aviation.

Report entitled “Industrial offers related to airplanes for local and regional transportation” delivered by the Program Manager A.I. Dunayevsky from FGUP TsAGI reflected the offers of the Russian and foreign aircraft industry in the segment of regional and local transportation. Against the background of this report, information about the latest achievements demonstrated by design bureaus forming a part of OAK Holding (OKB Sukhoi, OKB Tupolev and OKB Yakovlev), design bureaus forming a part of the Russian Helicopters Holding, OKB Antonov, Bombardier, Embraer Europe, Boeing, Pilatus and Czech-Russian joint venture manufacturing the L-410 aircraft was of particular interest.

Russian Helicopters’ representative Vladislav Golovin reported on the development and prospects of the Russian helicopter industry and product line of present-day Russian helicopters.

IATA’s Regional Director in Russia and CIS Dmitry Shamrayev reported on the advantages of air transport development in Russia. His report reflected economic advantages related to the development of both world and Russian air transport in Russia. The key benefits for Russia from air transport development include opening new markets and promoting export, improvement of competition and, as a result, price decline, improvement of the investment appeal and improvement of the mobility of the population and labor resources, which is very important for Russia.

The participants discussed issues related to the increased competition between the Moscow air hub and regional airlines, projects aimed at the modernization of regional itineraries, formation of the present-day model of hub airports, and modernization of personnel training centers taking into consideration changes in the fleets operated by airlines. Offers related to the air transport and passenger insurance conditions and rates were presented as well.

Such issues as preferential crediting of carriers and providing them with a subsidy in the amount of 30% for purchasing regional airplanes as well as related issues of supporting and maintaining airlines’ activities on the part of leasing companies and banks were also discussed during the conference.

Representatives of subjects of the Russian Federation discussed issues related to the reduction in local tax rates for airlines engaged in transportation along local and regional itineraries of social importance. Issues such as consolidated procurement of aviation fuel for local airports by subjects of the Russian Federation, VAT relief for airlines engaged in local and regional air transportation of social importance, development and implementation of a social package for aviation experts supporting local and regional air transportation were also discussed.

Deputy General Director of ZAO Aviasystems Victoria Dubinina delivered a report entitled “Spare parts pool for helicopters Mi-8MTV, Mi-8AMT and Mi-171/172. Stages of the project implementation.” The report included offers for regional carriers concerning optimization of costs related to the maintenance of Mi helicopters at the expense of implementation of present-day logistics mechanisms as a part of after-sales support for component parts. This issue is particularly important since airline operators always tend to optimize costs to reduce the cost of domestic air transportation.

Participants of the conference emphasized that the agenda was busy and informative and the problems discussed were of interest and urgent, and spoke about the need to submit the recommendations of the conference participants to legislative and executive authorities.

Deputy General Director

V.M. Dubinina