Valentin Ivanov, the deputy head of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, outlined a plan to explore extending the service life of vehicles without requiring immediate modernization. The ministry aims to conduct certification and testing to determine whether older cars can remain in use for longer periods, subject to verification of their quality and safety. This information was reported by TASS, adding detail to the regulatory discussion around fleet longevity and maintenance standards.
Ivanov stressed that no strict cap has been placed on the currently allocated service life, nor is there a blanket permission to extend it without additional checks. Instead, he noted the possibility of an extension being conditional on proper measures to verify product quality. The approach centers on ensuring that any increase in usable life is backed by robust inspection and reliable performance data, rather than by a default assumption of continued suitability.
The plan envisions launching a systematic certification and testing regime to confirm that products can operate for a defined period without the need for modernization. This framework would feedback into decisions about maintenance schedules, part replacement cycles, and overall fleet readiness, providing a transparent basis for moving the service life threshold if testing confirms ongoing reliability.
In related aviation oversight, the press service of Rostransnadzor stated that flight safety remains at a high level across the country. The agency reported that the share of transportation carried on foreign aircraft equipped with expired parts accounted for less than 0.2 percent of total flights handled in 2022. Officials emphasized that this figure did not exceed the level of violations identified in previous years, underlining ongoing vigilance and strict compliance monitoring in the Russian aviation sector.
Earlier reports noted that birds contacting Russian aircraft occurred more frequently in some periods, drawing attention to bird-strike risks and the measures taken to mitigate such incidents. The broader context shows a landscape where aviation safety depends on continuous maintenance, accurate record-keeping, and proactive risk management, alongside regulatory updates that reflect evolving fleet needs and international standards. The current discussions about extending service life and reinforcing certification reflect a broader effort to balance fleet utilization with rigorous safety oversight and transparent accountability.