WASHINGTON — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced that it had downgraded the air safety rating of Russia from Category 1 to Category 2.
The current safety level will restrict Russian airline operators from flying to U.S. destinations and carrying the U.S. carriers' code on any flights. Due to the ongoing sanctions against Russia, Russian airlines are not flying to the United States.
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has downgraded the air safety rating for Russia, restricting any expansion of service or partnerships since Russia's Federal Agency for Air Transport does not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards,"
the agency said in a statement.
Air safety rating assessments are conducted under the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, which reviews the civil aviation authorities of "all countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations to the United States or participate in code-sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines.
FAA's assessment criteria are split into two categories: Category 1 means countries comply with ICAO safety standards, and Category 2 means countries don't comply with ICAO standards.
To decide if a country falls into categories one or two, FAA reviews that country's primary aviation legislation; specific operating regulations; state civil aviation system and safety oversight functions; technical personnel qualification and training; technical guidance, tools, and the provision of safety-critical information; licensing, certification, authorization, and approval obligations; surveillance obligations; and resolution of safety concerns.
Air safety rating assessments are conducted under the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, which reviews the civil aviation authorities of "all countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations to the United States or participate in code-sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines.
FAA's assessment criteria are split into two categories: Category 1 means countries comply with ICAO safety standards, and Category 2 means countries don't comply with ICAO standards.
To decide if a country falls into categories one or two, FAA reviews that country's primary aviation legislation; specific operating regulations; state civil aviation system and safety oversight functions; technical personnel qualification and training; technical guidance, tools, and the provision of safety-critical information; licensing, certification, authorization, and approval obligations; surveillance obligations; and resolution of safety concerns.
