Russian transport authority grounds Saratov Airlines airplanes, inspects all AN-148 aircraft following deadly crash, safety inspection

MOSCOW. Rostransnadzor, the Federal Authority for Transport Oversight of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, has grounded Saratov Airlines aircraft in response to safety violations discovered during inspections, and checking other area airlines to ensure Antonov AN-148 airplanes in operation comply with current airworthiness requirements.

Rostransnadzor officials issued an inspector’s order within the aviation safety management system to suspend flights of all types of aircraft operated by Saratov Airlines. Violations were found during off-site and on-site inspections of the airline, officials say. They assessed risk factors and are taking the “corrective actions necessary to maintain an acceptable level of safety, and to eliminate identified violations of air legislation,” according to transportation officials.

Based on the results of checking the airline Saratov Airlines, Rostransnadzor is conducting unscheduled inspections in other airlines operating the Antonov AN-148 aircraft to ensure compliance with established standards of aircraft airworthiness. Based on the results of the inspections, measures will be taken within the framework of the powers of Rostransnadzor.

Rostransnadzor is an executive federal authority of the Russian Federation, which oversees an controls observation of the Russian Federation legislation and international agreements of the Russia Federation in the transport sector.

Read about the crash, which killed 65, here:

http://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/articles/2018/02/regional-jet-crashes-burns-in-russia-soon-after-takeoff.html