Kommersant: business asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to remove garbage dumps from airfields

The International Airports Association (IAA) asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to remove garbage dumps away from airfields. About it writes “Kommersant” with reference to the letter of the IAA dated February 3.

The organization called on the department to intervene and suspend the government’s decree, which amends the regulation on airfield territories (decree No. 1460). In the letter, the IAA notes that the document “essentially legitimizes the practice of placing garbage dumps near airports.”

The appeal of the association was supported in Sheremetyevo and other metropolitan airports. Domodedovo added that they had already asked the government, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Justice and the Federal Air Transport Agency to “block the adoption of the project” in 2022. It is clarified that the issue was discussed “at meetings, including at the level of the government apparatus, which did not give any result.”

Vnukovo stated that the amendments lead to a decrease in flight safety. They pointed to “critical risks for the airport” due to the reduction in the distance from the runway to a potentially dangerous object to 5 km.

IAA Executive Director Sergei Nikotin also noted the difficult situation of airports due to the new version of the resolution. He stated that the amendments do not provide for the certification of bird scaring systems and technologies by either the Federal Air Transport Agency or any other agency. In this regard, Nicotin pointed out the need for a federal agency that would be responsible for the characteristics and requirements for bird scaring systems.

January 24, 2023 government approved a decree that changes the boundaries of the so-called sixth subzone of aerodrome territories. Previously, the placement of facilities that could lead to mass birdlife, including landfills and landfills, was prohibited in this subzone. Now, the owners of such objects must, by September 1, 2024, undergo an “ornithological study” that will reveal whether the object attracts birds.

Before the amendments, the boundary of the sixth subzone was 15 km from the control point of the airfield. According to the new edition, this distance depends on the “degree of protection” of the object. If the object has an automated bird scaring system, then the border is set at 7.5 km from the airfield, if it is a “closed type” object or it is simply equipped with a scaring system, then the border is 10 km. However, device requirements are not specified.