MOSCOW. Feb 4 (Interfax-AVN) - The bill "On State Control and Supervision over Flight Safety in Airspace of the Russian Federation," drawn up by the Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee, will be discussed by the State Duma during the spring session, Lieutenant General Vasily Klyuchenok, deputy chairman of the committee, told Interfax-Military News Agency Friday.
"In light of the positive conclusions of the Russian Defense Ministry, other ministries, departments and commissions concerned, as well as of the legal department of the Russian Federation Council in relation to the bill, we hope that legislators will discuss it already in the spring session of the State Duma," said Klyuchenok, who heads the working group that drafted the bill.
He added that for the first time the bill stipulates the legal and organizational fundamentals of state control and supervision over flight safety of all aviation in Russia.
"It is natural that the law will erect barriers to those air carriers who trade safety for larger profit, primarily in commercial aviation. It is the reason why the Russian Transportation Ministry has not submitted its conclusions in relation to the bill yet, which may delay the hearing of the bill in the State Duma," Klyuchenok said.
According to him, the inadequacy of the air traffic regulations and the absence of a single state policy on flight safety make up a real threat to the national security of Russia. "For the past five years, Russia has suffered a damage estimated at 50 billion rubles ($1.8 billion), to say nothing of over 3,000 people dead and 220 aircraft lost," he said.
He added that with the law in effect, the financial losses of the state in case of aircraft accidents will reduce by 30-40 percent, and by 50 percent in case of incidents with no casualties.
"Our experts say that the economic effect of the law will result in 2 billion rubles ($71.5 million) saved for the country annually. However, the most important thing is that the law will be a barrier for violations of flight safety for all aviation in the country," Klyuchenok said.