SEVEROMORSK, May 18 (AVN) -The Russian Navy command suspended sending an aviation regiment group under command of Hero of Russia Colonel Igor Kozhin to the Crimean town of Saki, where the only CIS ground trainer is situated, a source in the Northern Fleet Staff told the Military News Agency.
The suspension was caused by the crash of the Northern Fleet SU-33 Flanker ship-borne fighter that occurred on May 11. The aviation group will fly from Severomorsk-3 airfield to Saki only after the commission investigating into the accident will have accomplished its work, the source said.
Colonel-General Vladimir Deineka, commander of the Navy aviation, has flown to the Black Sea Fleet for conducting necessary consultations with the Ukrainian party concerning the planned training of the Severomorsk aviation group and for surveying whether the Black Sea Fleet aviation services are ready for providing training flights.
Seven Northern Fleet fighters will fly to Saki. Russia will carry out fuel supplies and Ukraine, according to the reached agreement, will not levy customs from it, the source said.
The unique Nitka ground trainer can allow for performing take-off and landing on deck of an aviation carrier.