Moscow Authorizes Domestic Production of Counterfeit Aircraft Parts

Russia’s aviation sector is struggling to remain operational and solvent in the wake of Western sanctions prohibiting the export—to Russia—of authorized spare parts for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. 

The sanctions were levied in response to Russia’s invasion of, and ongoing war with Ukraine.

As the conflict enters its sixth month, operators such as flag carrier Aeroflot and its subsidiary, Rossiya are struggling to service their fleet of Western aircraft.

Russia is reportedly attempting to circumvent these sanctions by authorizing Russian companies to produce spare parts for Western aircraft. Counterfeit parts will initially include cabin items such as galley equipment and seats, but could be expanded to mechanical parts in the future.

The Moscow newspaper Vedomosti reports Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation regulatory body, has authorized five domestic companies to produce the counterfeit parts. Among the companies are A-technics, which is owned by Aeroflot, and S7, a subsidiary of Russia’s second-largest airline group.

When the sanctions were initially imposed, aviation analysts estimated that Russian airlines would only be able to safely operate their Airbus and Boeing aircraft for a few months before a lack of spare parts made doing so genuinely dangerous.

Fearing Russian airlines were “actively promoting” unsafe practices, British authorities—who banned Russian air-carriers from U.K. airspace following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine—issued a second, more ecumenical ban.

The European Union has also added Russian carriers to its so-called Air Safety List. Notwithstanding the E.U. measure, Aeroflot continues to operate flights to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel.

Aeroflot has, however, suspended flights to Sri Lanka after local officials impounded an Airbus A330 following a request by the aircraft’s lessors last week.

The plane—which is owned by the Irish leasing company Celestial Aviation Trading Ltd—is one of several purloined by Russian airlines at the onset of the parts embargo. 

FMI: www.state.gov