Russian VFR Route B369

VERY IMPORTANT! 
It is the responsibility of the pilot/aircraft operator to obtain the latest official aeronautical information
regarding their flight from the Russian International Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
or other commercial publication containing the same information.

This site is for information only.  The Alaska Airmen's Association has provided the most current information available and cannot be responsible for any changes to Russian VFR information made after this posting.

This information is the property of the Alaska Airmen's Association and CANNOT be
duplicated or linked to another website without permission.

In accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, pilots must be aware of all current Russian rules,
regulations, and operating practices prior to commencing any flights to Russia.

In 1991, the Alaska Airmen's Association first flew to Provideniya Bay, Chukotka Region, Russian, with 72 people in General Aviation Aircraft. That was the beginning, and we've come a long way. We are currently working on extending Russian VFR Route B369 from Alaska to Japan. A special thanks to Mike Pannone who was there from the beginning and to Felix Maguire who took up the gauntlet and continued on with it.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION AND PROCEDURES _ GENERAL
Route Description: (Copy of Russian AIP enroute page) 

**Note MONUD intersection in table below is not on VFR Chart but Russian ATS may request you to report this point. It is in the Russian AIP and Jeppesen charts.

Route Width: 10 kilometers 
Authorized Minimum and Maximum Route Altitudes:  1500-3000 meters 
Route Availability: See note on AIP enroute page a current copy of the  Russian Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP),
ENR section for latest information.
B-369 begins at the U.S./Russian border and is ENTIRELY within Russian airspace. 
 

Flight Requirements:

1.                  Letter of Invitation – obtainable from travel agent or Chukotka Government

a.         Getting a visa invitation is the first essential step in obtaining a visa to Russia. Visa invitations can be obtained from a travel agent (we  used Circumpolar Expeditions, Anchorage, AK in 2004, but changed to Roman Bratslavsky, also in Anchorage, AK in 2005 & 2006. He may be contacted at 907-272-5264. Circumpolar can be contacted via their website: http://www.traveleastrussia.com/circumpolar.html We obtained them directly  from the Russian Governor in 2002 and earlier years. There are also websites that offer them: www.getrussian.com; http://www.russianvisas.org/tourist_info.htm. In addition, Red Star Travel in Seattle can provide them:  http://www.travel2russia.com. There may be other sources for them, as well.  

2.                  Passport and Visa

                    Submit completed Visa application with copy of Letter of Invititation to Russian Consulate or to travel agent.

            Russian consulate in Washington DC:

2641Tunlaw Road, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007
Telephone: (202) 939-8907, 939-8913,

939-8918 Fax: (202) 483-7579 Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Open to public: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Jurisdiction:

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia

Russian consulate in New York: 9, East 91 St., New York, NY 10128
Phone: +1 (212) 348-0926   Fax: +1 (212) 831-9162
Office hours: Monday – Friday 9.00am-1.00pm
Jurisdiction: Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New

Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island

Russian consulate in San Francisco:

2790 Green St., (in Pacific Heights near Presidio Park
between Baker St. and Broderick St. and Vallejo St. and Union St), San

Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: +1 (415) 928-6878 (24 hours), 202-9800 (reference

& answering machine) Fax: +1 (415) 929-0306
Open hours: 9am - 12 (noon) Mon-Fri, except Russian & US holidays.
Jurisdiction:

Arizona, Hawaii, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,

Utah

Russian consulate in Seattle: 2323 Westin Building, 2001 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121-2617   Phone: +1 (206) 728-1910
Fax: +1 (206) 728-1871 Fax-Back Service: +1 (800) 634-4296
Opening hours: 9.00-12.30pm
Jurisdiction:

Idaho, Iowa, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota

3.                  Border Travel Permit –obtainable from travel agent or Chukotka Government. Russia required tourists in ‘border countries’ to obtain special permissions for visiting such areas. The Chukotka region is one of these. Addresses are anticipated very soon, if you want to try to secure this yourselves. We will be testing the system as well.

4.                  Accommodations in Provideniya –can be secured through Roman Bratslavsky or Circumpolar Expeditions.

5.                  Flight Permission, per aircraft: request submitted to/granted by Central Department of Operational Services, Moscow

                         Form N Russian Flight Permission Request

            Request for single flight permissions of foreign civil aircraft on B-369 must be submitted in accordance with procedures contained in the Russian AIP a minimum of 5 full working days in advance of intended flight. It is recommended that flight permission be requested at least 14 full working days in advance.

Flight permissions for the group must be coordinated. Earliest take off time has you crossing BATNI checkpoint no sooner than one hour after Russian airport opens (operating hours 9am-5pm Chukotka local time). Subsequent departures must be at least 10 minutes apart.
The request may be submitted in English. Request must be sent to both the International Relations Department of Civil Aviation and to the Central Department of Civil Aviation (CDOS). The request must be submitted between 0900-1800 (Moscow Time) Monday-Friday, except Russian holidays. FAX: (7-495) 921-00-65 and copy to (7-495) 155-53-28. I have sent requests with a cover letter specifically addressing the requests to Genadi Velikotsky at CDOS.

We do suggest including alternate departure dates from both Nome and Provideniya, in the event of weather issues. Flight permission numbers are good for only 24 hours, so alternate dates for departing can save you having to refile the request to Moscow while you are on the ground in either Nome or Provideniya.

6.                  US Customs Private Aircraft Decal –obtainable at airports, US Customs offices or online: http://www.customs.gov/travel/travel.htm

7.                  Transponder – 4096 code transponder required for operation on B-369. Each person operating an aircraft into and out of the USA on B-369 SHALL operate the transponder, including altitude encoding equipment if installed, and SHALL reply on the appropriate code or as assigned by FSS Nome. In addition, the aircraft SHALL comply with the transponder on requirements and ADIZ penetration procedures.

8.                  Liability Insurance –required per Russian AIP – Mike Kardatzke at Aviation Insurance of Alaska, 907-260-4691 or Doug Bosworth at or your own insurance agent.

9.                  Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Waiver, application attached, In accordance with Special Notice ... Operations to/from Locations Outside the U.S. Issued as a domestic and international NOTAM.  A waiver must be obtained from the U.S. TSA prior to operations on B-369 to or from the U.S. Waiver application must submitted at least seven (7) days in advance.  Application form and further information is available on the internet at http://www.intl.faa.gov.  Then select: waiver process for flight operations.

10.              Customs at Nome – must be requested a minimum of 48 hours in advance  -we have always given at least2 weeks notice.  Nome is a seaport of entry, but not an airport of entry. Customs must be notified and service at Nome requested to clear customs there. Call Customs Anchorage: Sue Gadomski 907-271-1682 –She (or someone in the office) will need a listing of planes/tail numbers/operators/passengers/passport #s and dates and times of departure/arrival. Upon return from Russia, wait in aircraft for customs officer who will escort or direct you.

11.              Weather Briefing: Current weather and NOTAMs are available from Flight Service Stations at 1-800-WX-BRIEF and at: http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/metar.shtml, key in UHMD UHML (Provideniya and Lavrentiya airport identifiers.)

Russian cities weather site: http://meteo.infospace.ru/cities/html/index.ssi

Key in region: Chukotka, scroll to Provideniya Bay

12.              VFR and International Flight Plan – Most pilots are only familiar with the “domestic” flight plan format. Flight which transit an international border are required by regulation to file a flight plan, whether the flight is conducted under VFR or IFR flight rules. While the formats of an ‘international’ (ICAO) flight plan and a US Domestic flight plan exhibit similarities, there are clear and distinct differences. You will also need to file a regular VFR Flight plan. ICAO flight plan form and instructions are attached.

13.              General Declaration Form –Aircraft (Russian Customs at Provideniya), copy we used attached

14.              Russian Customs Declaration –Individual (Russian Customs at Provideniya) will be given to you by Russian Border Patrol/Customs officials.

15.              US Customs Form (upon return in Nome)

Additional Recommendations:

                        Flight and Radio Log - attached
                        Jeppsen Trip Kit or Russian AIP with current updates
                        Russian VFR Enroute Chart YKD-11 (Available through Airmen’s office)
                        Conversion Charts
                       Alaska Supplement – has Route B369 information

FAA Alaska Region Russian VFR Flight Information:  http://www.alaska.faa.gov/flt_std/FLY_VFR_RUSSIA/
Contact: Brian Staurseth: 907-271-6543

Provideniya Bay Airport Information:  http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=RS96584

Navigation Charges as of December, 2002 – subject to change
Up to 50 tons max take off weight: $49 US – Paid at Provideniya Tower
51 – 100 tons max take off weight: $66 US
+ air-traffic time – Billed after flight to address on flight permission

                 What We Cannot Do in Russia

·         Give or lend money, or guarantee or cash any kind of check;

·         Provide legal advice or represent either party in a civil or criminal case;

·         Act as an agent or intermediary in private financial transactions;

·         Provide information on U.S. citizens without their written consent or trace missing persons in the U.S.; and, provide formal American Citizen Services to individuals who are not U.S. citizens, such as U.S. Legal Permanent Residents.

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS (GPS)

The importation and use of Global Positioning Systems and other radio electronic devices are subject to special rules and regulations in Russia. In general, mapping and natural resource data collection activities associated with normal commercial and scientific collaboration may result in seizure of the associated equipment and/or arrest. The penalty for using a GPS device in a manner which is determined to compromise Russian National Security can be a prison term of ten to twenty years. In December, 1997, an American citizen was imprisoned in Rostov-na-Donu for ten days on charges of espionage for using a GPS device to check the efficacy of newly-installed telecommunications equipment. He and his company believed the GPS had been legally imported and were not aware that nearby government installations were considered secret.

No traveler should seek to import GPS equipment in any manner unless it has been properly and fully documented by the traveler in accordance to the instructions of the Glavgossvyaznadzor and is declared in full on a customs declaration at the point of entry to the Russian Federation.

All radio electronic devices brought into Russia must have a certificate from Glavgossvyaznadzor of the Russian Federation. This includes all emitting, transmitting, and receiving equipment, such as GPS devices, cellular phones, satellite phones, and other kinds of radio electronic equipment. Excluded from the list are consumer electronic receivers, such as AM/FM radios.

Russian Customs Regulations

Starting March 15, 2003 Russian residents and non-residents (foreigners) are allowed to export up to 3,000 U.S. dollars without providing a customs declaration or proof of how the money was obtained. Residents and non-residents may also export up to 10,000 U.S. dollars by simply filling out a customs declaration upon exit. More than 10,000 U.S. dollars can be exported upon proof that it was imported into Russia legally (a stamped customs declaration or proof of a legal bank or wire transfer).

Generally speaking, you should obtain a receipt for all items of value — including caviar — purchased in Russia. Furthermore, old artifacts such as icons, samovars, rugs, and antiques must have a certificate indicating that they have no historical value. You may be able to obtain this certificate from the store that sold the item or from the Ministry of Culture. For further information, please call Russian Customs at (095) 265-6628 or 208-2808 (Moscow is 8 hours ahead of Alaska).