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| Executive Travel: Aviation |
Private Aviation
Michelle Seaton
12/01/2005
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“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.
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