RuAviation

The Government of the Russian Federation has approved a new State Safety Program (SSP) for civil aviation, along with updated Acceptable Level of Safety Performance (ALoSP) indicators. The relevant government order was signed on December 23, according to the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia).

The document formalizes the industry’s transition to measurable and proactive risk management and establishes an updated architecture for the national aviation safety oversight system, Rosaviatsia said in a statement.

According to the government, the new program replaces the previous framework adopted in 2008 and sets the foundation for a systematic reduction of safety risks through the 2030–2035 planning horizon. For the first time, quantitative ALoSP indicators have been approved simultaneously with the program at the government order level, enabling objective assessment of the effectiveness of implemented safety measures.

The program is based on an approach focused on early identification of hazards and prevention of threats before safety events occur. Safety priority is explicitly defined as a mandatory condition in aviation decision-making, including regulatory, operational, and organizational processes.

The new framework applies to all participants across the aviation safety chain. It covers aircraft operators; designers and manufacturers of aircraft and engines; maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organizations; air navigation service providers; aerodrome operators; aviation training organizations; and service providers involved in the management and supervision of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This broad scope reflects a shift from fragmented oversight to integrated, system-wide risk management at the industry level.

A dedicated section of the program outlines priority areas, including verification of component and parts authenticity across supply chains, increased automation of aerodrome infrastructure, and enhancements in the training of flight crews, maintenance personnel, and air traffic management specialists. These measures are directly linked to reducing the likelihood of systemic failures and errors arising at the interface between technology and human factors.

The program places strong emphasis on the development of a voluntary occurrence and hazard reporting culture. It formally introduces a just culture principle, ensuring the absence of unjustified punitive action for good-faith safety reporting, while clearly distinguishing between human error, non-compliance with mandatory requirements, and negligence. This approach aligns Russia’s national safety model more closely with internationally recognized Safety Management System (SMS) practices.

An institutional feature of the program is its annual review and update cycle. By March 1 each year, the Ministry of Transport will assess aviation safety performance based on the approved indicators. By June 1, the Government of the Russian Federation is required to approve an updated version of the program. In addition, the framework предусматривает publication of an annual public safety report, increasing regulatory transparency and enabling the industry to monitor risk trends over time.

Overall, the adopted document marks a shift from declarative policy principles to a managed safety system built on formalized metrics, continuous feedback, and clearly defined accountability across aviation stakeholders.