Executive Travel: Aviation
Private Aviation
Michelle Seaton
12/01/2005

“I forgot my passport” is not a phrase any chief pilot wants to hear after a 10-hour flight. Unfortunately, that is exactly what pilot Mike Santiago heard recently from the owner of the Gulfstream V he had just landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. The choice was clear: fuel up and head back to New York, or allow the jet’s owner to try his luck with customs. But for foreigners entering Russia, a passport is not an optional piece of documentation; visitors are advised to keep theirs on hand or risk jail time. Yet, because this jet owner landed frequently at Vnukovo, and enjoyed a long-standing relationship with his ground handlers, they gave him 24 hours to produce his passport. He called home and had an assistant pick it up and grab the next flight to Moscow. “Don’t try that at Sheremetyevo,” Santiago points out, referring to Moscow’s largest commercial hub.

The first step to navigating Moscow’s world of private aviation is to learn the options offered at the four airports serving the city.

Vnukovo
+7.095.436.8257
www.vnukovo-airport.ru/eng
Located seven miles southwest of the city, Vnukovo is one of the largest airports in the country, and the best choice for corporate and private aircraft. Pilots liken it to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York, because it caters to business aircraft. It has its own general aviation building with a coffee shop, food service and a VIP lounge where officials handle customs documentation. For a fee, you can arrange for full VIP treatment, including porters to carry luggage, minibuses to transport you from the door of the aircraft to the terminal, and expedited customs service. For information on VIP services and fees, call +7.095.436.2582.

Streamline Ops, a ground handler, offers at least one hangar for rent for visiting aircraft (+7.095.363.6565, www.streamline-ops.com). There are also several hotels near the airport perfect for crew accommodations. Fuel service is available through Refueling Complex (+7.095.436.7275).

Travelers should note that Vnukovo is used by Russian politicians and visiting dignitaries. When President Vladimir Putin departs or enters the country, the airport may be shut down by security forces. In that case, travelers will likely be diverted to Sheremetyevo.

Sheremetyevo
+7.095.578.9101
www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru
Moscow’s largest and busiest airport is located 17 miles northwest of the city. Once known as Europe’s worst airport, Sheremetyevo has undertaken a massive reconstruction effort to improve services it provides to the 12 million commercial passengers who pass through each year. Because this airport caters to commercial airlines, airport officials and staff tend to be less welcoming to business jets and less flexible in terms of the VIP services offered. Only one hangar, for example, is available for private jets; it is privately owned and seldom available for rent. Fuel service is available through Air BP (+7.095.787.6026).

Sheremetyevo does have advantages: Foreign travelers can secure a transit visa at this airport. A transit visa, good for three calendar days, is designed primarily for those making a stopover in Moscow. Plan to wait four hours in the VIP lounge for a transit visa.

Domodedovo
+7.095.323.8655
www.domodedovo.ru
This is Moscow’s up-and-coming airport, boasting its most modern buildings. Unfortunately, it is located 28 miles southeast of the city. Given Moscow’s legendary traffic congestion, expect a commute into the city of anywhere from 40 minutes to two hours. Domodedovo has its own general aviation building with VIP services such as expedited customs, a private waiting area, bar and private parking lot. Contact the airport for services and fees.

Although hangars are available for housing aircraft, they are only large enough to accommodate midsize business jets, such as Hawkers, Citations or perhaps a Challenger. The airport may break ground soon on hangars large enough to house Gulfstreams and Global Express jets. Fuel service is available through Shell Aviation (+7.095.792.5625).

Bykovo
+7.095.554.8075
This is Moscow’s smallest airport, with the shortest runway, and it generally handles only domestic travel. There are some VIP services (+7.095.558.4040). Other aircraft services are provided by RusAero (+7.095.755.5600).

After you have chosen your port of entry, you will have to contact a ground handler. Currently, no Moscow airport has a Western-style FBO, but this situation will likely change soon. Jet Aviation, an international aviation services company based in Switzerland, recently announced that it will open an FBO at one of Moscow’s airports in the next two years. Both foreign travelers and the growing population of Russian private jet owners are looking forward to the day when they will be able to receive jet management services, maintenance and even complete outfitting in Moscow instead of housing their aircraft in Switzerland, as many of them do now.

Ground Handlers
The best way to smooth your trip is to
contact one of the city’s best ground
handlers, which are adept at providing every kind of service for business travelers.
In the meantime, the best way to smooth your trip is to contact one of the city’s best ground handlers, which are adept at providing every kind of service for business travelers. They can handle everything from securing overflight permissions, arranging a flight plan, providing weather updates and securing visas, to finding upscale ground transportation, making hotel reservations and ordering food for your galley. Every service has a fee, but the costs tend to be reasonable. Be aware, however, that no two handling companies are alike. Some have more experience with affluent business travelers and their needs, while others are less motivated to provide the high level of service business travelers may expect.

The two handling companies with the best reputations in Russia are Streamline Ops and Far East Russian Air Services, or FERAS. Most Fortune 500 companies use the latter, which has experience serving the jets that carry the White House press corps during presidential visits to Russia. FERAS (+7.095.436.6677, www.feras-cis.com) has operations in more than a dozen Russian airports and is a good contact for anyone planning to travel to smaller airports around the country.

Streamline Ops (+7.095.363.6565, www.streamline-ops.com) also has expertise facilitating business travelers. The company is well connected at regional airports throughout Europe and advises small commercial carriers on conducting charters outside the country. Streamline Ops is also a charter business itself, operating Challengers, Citations and Hawkers, and it has a maintenance facility for those aircraft. It can find reliable mechanics for most other types of aircraft, including Gulfstream Vs.

Of course, you can always contact international handlers, such as Baseops International (800.333.3563), Universal (800.231.5600) or Air Routing International (713.430.7200). However, they will probably outsource your business to either FERAS or Streamline Ops, and then charge a premium for it.

While ground handlers can find and contract security professionals to guard an airplane or passenger, or to sweep an aircraft for explosives or electronic devices before passengers board, most companies prefer to hire a company inside the United States (such as Air Security International, 713.430.7300) to assess security hazards. A domestic security firm can either send security personnel ahead of the aircraft or contract local security professionals.