Arif Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s Director of the State Civil Aviation Administration has announced this week that the country is to allow individuals and organizations to own their own aircraft.  Demand from the private sector has driven this decision, and will require various changes in regulations.  Due to hostilities in the recent past years, private ownership of aircraft has never been evisaged, and the historical “Cold War era” blocked it entirely from the way the USSR was run.

Mammadov added that “Rules for the utilization of Azerbaijan’s air space” would be approved soon. “First, we need to determine the capacity of airports and airfields to receive and refuel aircraft and the height at which an aeroplane or helicopter will fly. We have already decided the rules for light planes. For example, tough requirements will be set for planes over 600 kg.”

Arif Mammadov said that the Civil Aviation Administration had submitted a draft State Program for Aviation Security to the Cabinet of Ministers and said it should be approved in the near future.