BCAA bans MRO services for 635 Russian planes registered in the country

The Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) has suspended all aircraft maintenance certificates for all Russian-operated aircraft registered in the country due to safety concerns amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.  

According to an official letter issued by the BCAA on April 25, 2022, major Russian aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services provider S7 Engineering, also known as S7 Technics, was suspended from providing technical support for 635 Russian-owned planes recorded on the Bermuda register. 

“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11 to the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013 (as amended), the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) hereby provisionally suspends the OTAR Part 145 maintenance approval, referenced [to S7 Engineering, ed.-],” the document states.  

According to the BCAA document, the suspension was implemented owing to the international sanctions placed on Russia, which led to the “suspension of the Article 83bis arrangement between Bermuda and the government of the Russian Federation”. 

However, despite the BCAA ban, S7 Engineering, as well as other Russian entities, could attempt to continue providing maintenance services based on the approval of the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya). A source from S7 Engineering confirmed to local media that the Rosaviatsiya had given clearance for Russian entities to provide maintenance to Russian planes registered in foreign countries.