Russian capital looks for investors to finance services to be run from airfields around the city's outer ring road
Moscow's city government is considering launching a $1.4 billion air-taxi scheme using eight-seat business aircraft and helicopters to provide transport services within a 500km (270nm) radius of the city.
The service will be run from locations around the capital's outer ring road, including Vnukovo airport and possibly other airfields, including Myachkovo (a general aviation centre) and Bykovo airports.
The plan is contingent on Moscow finding private investors willing to finance construction of the necessary infrastructure. The system is likely to be based around the dedicated business terminal at Vnukovo airport, which now handles 450 flights a month, up from 70 a month three years ago.
The city is to search for investors by year-end, when the plan is further developed, and an air-taxi operator will be set up next year. The Moscow government will have a blocking 25% stake in the new firm. The plan does not yet specify which aircraft might be considered, but the Eurocopter AS355N, Kamov Ka-226 and Mil Mi-34 helicopters, the single-turboprop Myasishchev M-101 and Cessna Caravan, and the Dassault Falcon 20 F-5 fixed-wing aircraft have all been examined.
The Moscow government says it first has to tackle air traffic control restrictions for general aviation flying in Russia, which are governed by the same rules as commercial aviation - mandatory flight plans 24h before take-off, and military supervision of air traffic control. The city's government is negotiating with the air force on the issue. Regulations on flights over Moscow, banned for security reasons, are also under review.
HOWARD GETHIN / MOSCOW
Source: Flight International