Russia’s Transport Ministry plans to expand civil-aviation risk indicators so Rostransnadzor can order unannounced inspections after repeated aircraft damage linked to birds, animals or ground handling at airports. The proposal would make three or more bird- or animal-related damage cases within 60 days a trigger, alongside two or more ground-damage cases within 180 days, covering airports, technical handlers and airlines.
The changes would extend an existing oversight framework that already uses multiple risk indicators to target operators with recurring safety problems. Officials are framing the move as a response to patterns rather than isolated incidents, with bird strikes and ground damage treated as signs of broader operational weaknesses. Reports also point to a sharp rise in bird-strike events in Russia, which appears to have helped drive the tightening.
If adopted, the amendments would give the transport watchdog a quicker route to inspections at airports where bird-control measures or ground-handling procedures appear to be under strain. The draft also broadens scrutiny beyond carriers to include airport operators and service providers responsible for aircraft movement and maintenance on the ground.