Siberia's Regional Flight Launch Collapses Amid Small Aircraft Shortage

The regional air routes in Siberia have collapsed due to a severe shortage of small aircraft capable of operating under local conditions. The failure affects scheduled routes connecting Novosibirsk to Strezhevoy, an oil industry hub in the Tomsk region that accommodates thousands of shift workers, as well as flights to Belokurikha, a major resort area located in the foothills of the Altai mountains.

The shortage stems from the failure of a project meant to fit old Soviet An-2 planes with Honeywell engines. Gennady Guselnikov, head of the 'Siberian Agreement' interregional association, stated: 'Nobody is flying anywhere, primarily because there is nothing to fly on, since there are no small aviation aircraft.' The initial efforts focused on modernizing the vintage aircraft with updated avionics and manufacturing Honeywell turboprop engines under license.

However, Guselnikov acknowledged that 'what happened happened, we have no American licenses or engines.' The project has now lost its purpose, and officials had originally announced route expansion goals for 2024. Efforts to develop updated modifications of the An-2 continue, though delivery deadlines face repeated delays.