The Ministry of Transport of Russia has issued a new order, according to which all manned and unmanned vessels weighing more than 495 kilograms must be identified through the ERA-GLONASS system in real time. This decision has caused concern among the country's airlines. The new rules are scheduled to come into force on March 1, 2026.
Aeroflot has appealed to the regulatory authority with a request for official confirmation that the new requirements will not apply to aircraft used for domestic and international flights. According to the airline, the implementation of these requirements will cost major airlines $2 million per aircraft, and the modernization process will take several years.
Despite assurances from the ministry that this requirement applies primarily to unmanned vehicles and does not concern the aforementioned aircraft, there is no documentary evidence of this. Only the lower weight limit (495 kg) is set, and the upper limit is not defined. Despite the absence of current claims against airlines, there is no guarantee that they will not arise in the future.