As a Russian citizen, am I allowed to fly an aircraft for private purposes in the airspace of the European Union (e.g. exercise the privileges of my private pilot licence (PPL), sailplane pilot licence (SPL), balloon pilot licence (BPL) or national pilot license issued to fly Annex I aircraft, such as microlights, etc.)? Can I fly my own aircraft or rent, borrow for free or use an aircraft of a flying club to exercise my private pilot privileges?
Answer
Russian citizens, regardless of them holding another citizenship, can exercise private pilot privileges in a manned aircraft that has a maximum seating capacity of 4 persons and a maximum take-off mass of no more than 2000 kg when used for private, non-commercial, non-corporate, flights carried out within Union territory and airspace for recreational purposes.
This means that Russian citizens are not prevented from flying their own aircraft or renting, borrowing for free or otherwise using aircraft of a flying club to exercise their private pilot privileges, provided that the aircraft have a maximum seating capacity of 4 persons and a maximum take-off mass of no more than 2000 kg.
Training (and associated testing and checking) for the purpose of private pilot licences and related ratings with Union training providers is also allowed in manned aircraft that have a maximum seating capacity of 4 persons and a maximum take-off mass of no more than 2000 kg.
Competent authorities will monitor such private flight activities to ensure that they are not performed in a way to circumvent the sanctions outlined in Article 3d of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014.