Air carriers from the Russian Federation
(36) The Commission has contacted the Russian authorities with a view to reviewing the situation of the carrier "Rossyia", which is since 1 November 2006 the successor of Pulkovo Airlines. In the light of the status of implementation of the corrective actions plan by the carrier, the Commission considers necessary to continue close monitoring of Rossyia. To that effect, an audit will be conducted in the course of April 2007.
(37) The Commission has taken note of the status of implementation of corrective actions of the competent authorities of the Russian Federation enacted following the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 1543/2006 and of their decision dated 12 February to impose operating restrictions on nine carriers after having received information from the Commission indicating systemic deficiencies with regard to safety within these carriers. As a result, as from that date the Russian carriers Aero Rent, Tatarstan, Atlant Soyuz, Aviakon Zitotrans, Centre Avia, Gazpromavia, Lukoil, Russian Sky (Russkoe Nebo) and Utair cannot perform single flights and charter flights into the Community. Such flights can be performed only after verification and specific, exceptional authorisation from the competent authorities of the Russian Federation as well as formal acceptance by the Member State of the airport of destination. The Commission as well as the Member States will be informed in a timely manner prior to release of the authorisation. The Member State concerned should conduct appropriate ramp inspections at the airport of destination within the Community. The authorisation of flight should be carried on board to facilitate the conducting of ramp inspections.
(38) Furthermore, the Commission takes note that the abovementioned arrangement is of a temporary nature and that the competent authorities of the Russian Federation will present the situation of operations of every carrier concerned, including scheduled ones, as well as a corrective action plan in order to take a final decision on these carriers at the latest by the end of April 2007. Member States intend to ensure further verification of effective compliance with relevant safety standards through systematic ramp inspections on all operations of these carriers.
(39) In the light of the various measures taken by the competent authorities of the Russian Federation, the Commission intends to verify the situation of the safety of the above mentioned carriers. To that end, it intends to carry out a visit with the assistance of Member States and the competent authorities of the Russian Federation in the coming months.