Russia is to withdraw the operating certificate for all 737's, both NG and Classic, over safety fears. They are demanding a fail-safe is added to the elevator control system.

Strange move!

Sounds like protectionism to me. Is that to make way for customers for the MC-21? Probably. It's funny as heck to have Russia cite "safety concerns" and pull certification, given the state of what they allow in the air!

It's funny as heck to have Russia cite "safety concerns" and pull certification, given the state of what they allow in the air!

It certainly is ironic!

It seems they are only proposing to ban foreign registered 737's - they're requesting all airlines re-register them in Russia to continue operating them. Most of them are registered outside Russia to avoid having to pay import fees - which I believe can be upto 50% of the value of the aircraft.

Sounds like it's just a money making scheme to me.

True that most of the international airlines - SU, UN, S7 - register their aircraft VP or VQ. But why pick on only the 737, not A320 series, or widebodies?

True that most of the international airlines - SU, UN, S7 - register their aircraft VP or VQ. But why pick on only the 737, not A320 series, or widebodies?

Easy target I guess. There was a crash 2 years ago involving the 737, blamed on a faulty elevator. Easy target to say the fix proposed by Boeing isn't sufficient.