Russian TV Hails Resumption of Long-Range Aviation Flights

Excerpt from “Novosti” news report by state-controlled Russian Channel One TV on 22 February

[Presenter] On the eve of the Defenders of the Fatherland Day the Russian Air Force’s long-range aviation pilots conducted large- scale training flights to practise cruise missile launches and bombing. One of the elements of the drill that required all of the pilots’ skills was refuelling in the air. Our correspondent Sergey Samokha has more on how the military coped with the tasks set and prepared for the coming holiday.

[Correspondent, over video of officers on stage] The people on stage in the garrison officers’ club are a Tu-95 strategic bomber crew. Gennadiy Stekachev admits that for the past six months he has had little time for the guitar. Since in August 2007 the president signed a decree on resuming [long-range] air patrols, pilots have increasingly been listening to the music of the sound of strategic bomber engines.

[Gennadiy Stekachev, captioned as captain of a Tu-95MS strategic missile carrier] There was a time when pilots looked into the sky with longing. Now we are working, working fruitfully, doing our regular jobs.

[Correspondent] Pilots do not think their work is hard. Test cruise missile launches and bombings and the most complex element, refuelling in the air – pilots are successfully coping with it all. The most difficult thing is to remain sitting for 10-15 hours on end – this is how long an average flight lasts.

Having resumed air patrols, aircraft at Engelsk air base have already been above the waters of four oceans and, as the pilots themselves say, their current flight zone is the whole world.

Among pilots, the Tu-160 strategic missile carrier is popularly known as the white swan for the elegance of its lines. Lt-Col Igor Skitskiy has spent over 20 years flying this aircraft, although over the past 10 years he did not have many opportunities to fly. He says he was even thinking of leaving the profession but changed his mind when flights were resumed.

[Igor Skitskiy, commander of a Tu-160 strategic missile carrier squadron] Of course, we felt joy and pride for our country that the country is truly reviving and we are performing these flights, we are defending the interests of our Motherland in various regions.

[Correspondent] Long-range aviation pilots are the elite of the country’s air force. Currently strategic aviation is the only branch of the armed forces that is permanently present in regions of Russia’s national interest. Crews are carrying our patrol missions above the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans, while a seemingly local phrase – to fly round the corner – in reality means a flight to the shores of Iceland. [Passage omitted]

Having survived in the difficult 1990s, Russian long-range aviation has managed not only to preserve its combat potential and expensive aircraft but also to retain most of its professionals.

[Video, captioned as filmed in Saratov Region, shows aircraft on airfield, interior of a strategic missile carrier]

Originally published by Channel One TV, Moscow, in Russian 0900 22 Feb 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.