Hi,
Is there anyone here with experience in flying a small plane over to Siberia, China, Mongolia, etc, via Alaska?
How does one negotiate the bureaucracy & authorities?
Is the a/c safe from confiscation, theft, etc? How to protect it?
What else would one need to know specific to flying there in small a/c?
I'm intriged by the thought of exploring the area in my C 172.
Am I nuts, or is this something remotely doable?
Tell all, Berk

Flight in Russian airspace, with a VERY few exceptions, requires the services, on board, of a Russian assigned "navigator". You have to pay him or her, as well as provide food, lodging, etc.

Also, you don't "fly around" in Russian airspace. They have very specifically designated airways that you may use to go from point to point, but you are not permitted to "fly around" there.

There is very little, if any aviation fuel available in Russia, or for that matter, anywhere else in the world except the USA.

It is possible to fly THROUGH Russia, but it takes a LOT of pre-planning, lots of permits, and the aforementioned "navigator".

Note a few years ago, a fellow flew his Kitfox from South Africa to Oshkosh, via Russia. In a Kitfox, with extra tankage, he still had to carry a "navigator". The guy was mostly useful for pouring gas from the one gallon jugs into the ferry tank, which was "installed" on his lap, according to the pilot.

Don't know anything about China, but I'm betting they make Russia look wide open as far as aviation goes.

And, there won't be any avgas there either.

Do you trust Chinese autogas?

MTV

mtv wrote:Flight in Russian airspace, with a VERY few exceptions, requires the services, on board, of a Russian assigned "navigator". You have to pay him or her, as well as provide food, lodging, etc.

I wonder if he'd like to go "camping" in the Russian backcountry?

Also, you don't "fly around" in Russian airspace....It is possible to fly THROUGH Russia, but it takes a LOT of pre-planning, lots of permits, and the aforementioned "navigator"...

This is what I expected to hear. Rats.

...Don't know anything about China, but I'm betting they make Russia look wide open as far as aviation goes.
And, there won't be any avgas there either.
Do you trust Chinese autogas? MTV

If it'll keep their planes airborne, I guess it'd keep mine in the sky, too.

I'd love to hear that this's entirely possible. Any one else with experience over there? Thanks, Berk

Berk,

My point on fuel is that there is generally very little aviation GASOLINE in those countries. They don't generally operate many GASOLINE powered aircraft.

So, what you'll find at most airports isn't gasoline, but jet fuel.

If you want to geek around Russia, sign up for one of their guided hunting or exploratory trips (read very expensive). Those are typically transported via military helicopters, which you pay for.

As I noted, there are some very rare exceptions to these rules, but whereas in our country, there is some restrictions on small blocks of airspace, whereas most of the country is open to flying, in Russia there are very restricted corridors where flight is permitted, and the rest of the country is off limits to all but military aircraft.

I have a Swiss friend who has LOTS of connections. He wanted to fly his airplane (with his family aboard) THROUGH Russian airspace (straight line-point to point) to do a round the world trip. He THOUGHT he'd gotten an exemption from the authorities to do so without a navigator. His application for flight permit was subsequently denied, he was told he had to have a navigator, and his proposed route (dictated by availability of gasoline) was denied, requiring a much longer routing, with no gasoline available.

He flew from Japan to Adak, then to Cold Bay, Anchorage instead of going through Russian airspace.

For those of us who don't frequently count our blessings for how many freedoms we have in this country, one only need to look at what it takes to fly in MOST foreign countries to realize just how good we have it.

MTV

MTV

http://www.exploratorium.edu/kamchatka/index.html

berk, Melissa did this site....and I can say I know why you would want to after seeing a bit of this area.

I want to go there too.

Note: "Route Width: 10 kilometers".

Also, note that my Swiss friend went through all these hoops, then was denied entry at the last minute, from Japan. No reason given, no appeals heard.

MTV

Zona wrote:http://www.exploratorium.edu/kamchatka/index.html

berk, Melissa did this site....I want to go there too.

Hi, Chris;
Do you mean that Melissa made the website? It's awesome! What a tour through some amazing country.
From the other links, in the other posts though, it looks neigh impossible to do the journey in a 172 - too much bueracracy, and restrictions.
Grrr. I don't mind waiting for bueracracy in foreign traveling, but it is necessary that they allow transit, eventually, otherwise, well, it won't work!
Rats. Berk