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Key official says imported airplanes can be partly cannibalized to continue flights

It is reported that such fleet can be operated during five years

ST. PETERSBURG, June 17. /TASS/. The fleet of imported aircraft might have to be partly cannibalized for continuation of flights, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.

"We have no technical or process documents and therefore, to all appearance, we may even resort to dismantling of spares [from foreign airplanes registered in Russia - TASS] as the fleet degrades and this should be provided for," Borisov said.

According to the Russian Ministry of Transport’s estimates, the operation of such a fleet is possible for a period of five years, the official said. Naturally, there is an issue of safe operation of these aircraft during this period, he added.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum organized by the Roscongress Foundation is running from June 15 to 18. This year’s forum is dubbed: ‘New Opportunities in a New World’. The SME Forum, the Creative Business Forum, the Drug Security Forum, the SPIEF Junior Dialogue and SPIEF Sport Week are also going to be part of the SPIEF event. TASS serves as the event’s official photo hosting agency and the information partner.

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