A group of Russian senators has introduced a bill that seeks to authorize Rosaviatsia, the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia, to certify components manufactured in the country for Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The initiative, identified as Bill No. 746052-8, aims to regulate the production of alternative parts for civil aviation, a need that has arisen due to the shortage of foreign spare parts caused by international sanctions.
According to senators Andrei Kutepov (St. Petersburg), Murat Khapsirokov (Adygea), Andrei Epishin (Tver), Arsen Kanokov (KBR), and Andrei Shokhin (Vladimir), the lack of clear regulation could lead to the production of these parts shifting to China, where the bureaucratic procedures for installing spare parts in aircraft are less strict.
The bill proposes to amend Article 37 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation to allow Rosaviatsia to regulate the certification of parts manufactured by Russian companies. According to the document’s explanatory note, this measure seeks to promote local production of alternative components (PMA – Part Manufacturer Approval) that could replace the original parts used in the repair of foreign aircraft.
Since the imposition of sanctions against Russia, the supply of foreign spare parts has significantly decreased, creating a deficit that, according to legislators, will not be resolved in the short term. This situation is driving the development of a local market for alternative components. However, senators warn that if regulation does not adapt to the needs of the sector, there is a risk of the emergence of a gray market of non-authentic parts, which could compromise the safety and quality of the components used in Russian civil aviation.
The authors of the bill also point out that a government decree issued in March 2022 allows the use of imported components in Airbus and Boeing aircraft, which creates unfair competition for Russian manufacturers. The lack of a clear regulatory framework could push domestic manufacturers toward unregulated practices, negatively impacting both the industry and aviation safety in the country.
