The fate of heaven was decided in the Ministry of Transport
Yesterday it became known that Mikhail Kasyanov signed an order appointing Karl Ruppel as Deputy Minister of Transport. Until this moment, aviation circles believed that the head of Transaero airline Alexander Pleshakov would be appointed to this post. However, the war for the division of administrative spheres of influence in the aviation industry will last at least until the end of the week.

According to Kommersant's information, the issue of the appointment of Ruppel, State Secretary of the Federal Air Transport Service (FSVT), which was annexed to the Ministry of Transport in June, was resolved last week. However, the document was included in the official distribution only yesterday. According to rumors, the delay occurred due to the activity of the head of the International Aviation Committee (IAC), Tatyana Anodina, who until the last minute sought to take back the order that did not suit her. According to Kommersant's information, MAK lobbyists promoted Anodina's son, Alexander Pleshakov, who heads Transaero, to the position of third deputy minister.
Karl Ruppel, who previously managed the FSVT apparatus and worked in this and previous organizations for more than 7 years, is considered a neutral figure not associated with any player in the aviation market. Two other deputy ministers - Alexander Neradko, lobbied by the East Line group, and Pavel Rozhkov, supported by Aeroflot - were appointed in the first ten days of August. Neradko, who has the status of first deputy minister, will exercise general management of the activities of the former FSVT, renamed within the Ministry of Transport into the State Civil Aviation Service (SCSA). He, apparently, will lead the reform of the system of airlines’ access to routes on the domestic Russian market. Pavel Rozhkov will likely continue to oversee the international aspects of the aviators' activities. It is unknown what powers will be transferred to Karl Ruppel.
The lobbyists' struggle for the FSVT-GSGA is not over. The structure of the department within the Ministry of Transport and the powers of deputy ministers must be finally approved by Transport Minister Sergei Frank on August 17. Until this time, continuous coordination of “technical” issues that are actually of decisive importance will continue. First of all, the direct supervision of various departments of the State Civil Aviation Administration by one or another deputy minister.
It is also possible that the final version of the documents on the status of the GSCA will contain surprises that will be unpleasant for all three of Frank’s deputies. Thus, according to rumors, part of the functions of the former FSVT as compensation for the defeat of Alexander Pleshakov in the administrative field may be transferred to the MAK, which is not subordinate to the Ministry of Transport.
Kommersant will monitor developments.
DMITRY Kommersant-BUTRIN

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 149 dated 08/15/2000, p. 5

Authors:

Dmitry Butrin