Bill to ban use of aging aircraft moves forward in Russia’s Lower House of Parliament

Members of State Duma of Russia (Lower House of Parliament) have moved a bill to impose a ban on using civilian aircraft older than 20 years, reports Dispatch News desk (DND). This bill may bring hot debate over the ban issue as the Chairman of the State Duma Transport Committee, Evgeny Moskvichev, considers that the age of vehicles does not influence a technical condition, because technology has improved, and everything can be changed in an aircraft and cars if they are getting old. He suggested to consider the possibility of increasing the customs duties on old planes. All of this discussion is due to the recent 23-year-old Boeing 737 that crashed recently in Kazan.

Moskvichev (“United Russia”) expressed opinion as: The Chamber won’t support the bill which limits 20 for years age of passenger planes operated in the Russian Federation, but in exchange it is possible to enter economic barriers on import of old planes, by analogy to barriers to import of second-hand cars into the Russian Federation.

The bill prohibiting the use of civil aircraft older than 20 years was submitted to the State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament, on Wednesday. The bill was moved by members of the United Russia Party, including Igor Barinov and Igor Igoshin. The bill does not cover state, experimental, or general purpose aircraft.

According to State Duma Transport Committee Chairman, irrespective of the age of planes it is necessary to exercise technical supervision, “that after service of a technical tool there was a control from bodies which grant the right to flight that it really was technically served correctly.” Such practice is accepted in all countries, and it has to be in Russia, he noted.

“From that tomorrow we will forbid 18-year or 19-year planes, [but I] believe, it won’t be better, [as] it is necessary to understand that if the plane or the vehicle should be perfect to use instead of throwing it out.” Moskvichev suggests to consider in exchange an increase of the customs duties on old planes. It reminded that increased taxes are now established on the import of second-hand cars.

Tatarstan Airlines’ Boeing 737 crashed Sunday evening as it was trying to land in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, resulting in the death of all persons including 44 passengers and six crew members on board.

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