What happened
Under a service agreement dated July 5, 2022, between Gazpromneft-Snabzhenie LLC and Aeromax LLC, two crews operating BAS-450 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) were deployed to the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra. The mission was part of an experimental legal regime designed for cargo transportation using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To facilitate operations outside of their permanent base, the General Director of Aeromax LLC issued an order on June 11, 2024, appointing two specific crews to manage the flight operations in the region.
The investigation
The review focused on the regulatory compliance of crew structures and flight management protocols. According to the Air Code of the Russian Federation, the crew composition for specific aircraft types must align with established flight operation requirements. For the BAS-450, the operational manual dictates that a BAS commander oversees the mission, with UAV commanders operating under their authority. The investigation examined the flexibility allowed under Aeromax LLC's internal regulations, which permit the BAS commander to also function as the external pilot (UAV commander) if authorized by the aviation organization's management.
Per the established protocols, a cargo delivery crew must consist of a BAS commander, an external pilot, and engineering and technical specialists responsible for the maintenance of the UAVs. The investigation also looked at the specific crew assignments established by the company's June 2024 order, which designated crews comprising external pilots and technical personnel for the Yugra deployment.