Dual Registration Crisis: Russia Fights ICAO's 'Red Flag'—Is' It Political?

The Russian government is actively seeking to overturn the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) "Significant Safety Concern" (SSC) status, commonly referred to as the "red flag," which was assigned in 2022. This status was a response to the dual registration of Russian aircraft, a consequence of Western sanctions that forced Russia to re-register foreign-leased planes domestically. Rosaviatsiya, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, claims the SSC designation was politically motivated and has submitted documents to ICAO to challenge the decision. Additionally, Russia is engaging with friendly nations and preparing diplomatic letters to rally support for its case. The dual registration issue arose after Bermuda revoked airworthiness certificates for Russian-leased aircraft due to sanctions, prompting Russia to re-register them domestically, violating ICAO conventions. Despite ICAO's demands to cease dual registration, Russia has continued the practice, leading to the SSC status. However, Rosaviatsiya reports no increase in safety incidents related to dual registration and highlights that Russia's aviation safety metrics are better than the global average. Russia's efforts to remove the "red flag" include diplomatic initiatives, such as a political declaration signed by allied nations during the 79th UN General Assembly, and ongoing negotiations with countries like North Korea. By the end of 2024, 216 aircraft had been removed from foreign registries, though approximately 300 remain dually registered. The removal of the SSC status could lower insurance and operational costs for airlines, potentially reducing ticket prices and improving profitability. It might also influence airlines and ICAO member states to reconsider restrictions on flights to Russia. However, significant progress is unlikely until geopolitical tensions ease, and Russia must fully resolve the dual registration issue to eliminate the formal basis for the "red flag." #ICAO #DualRegistration #Rosaviatsiya Be a Member for exclusive privileges - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCviEFTf1xIPKsjmyF_zvFug/join Twitter : https://x.com/AltitudeAddicts Website: https://www.altitudeaddicts.com