Rules Needed For International Airshow Participation: Russia

Following Britain’s denial of visas to the Russian Knights aerobatic display team to attend Farnborough 2012, Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation and the Defense Ministry have decided to put in place a framework agreement that will regulate Russia’s participation in international airshows. The Russian media which reported the news did not specify with whom the framework agreement will be concluded and whether the inviting country would be made a party to the agreement. Earlier in July, the Russian Knights missed out from participating in Farnborough Air Show following a scandal over required paperwork and visa travel issues. The Russian Knights pilots fly the highly maneuverable and multi-role Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B and Su-27-UB Flanker-C fighters either solo or in formation. “We have decided to draft a framework agreement with the Defense Ministry on airshow to avoid the repetition of similar situations in the future,” the service’s Deputy Director Vyacheslav Dzirkaln was quoted as saying. “The Defense Ministry had not requested in time a mandatory permit for the Russian Knights’ participation in the show, which resulted in visa and application paperwork delays and cancellations,” he added, while criticizing the "sluggish" work of British immigration officials. “Visas were not issued until the last moment, and if they were not issued, half of the Russian displays would have been left without our people,” he said.