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Soviet Union [USSR] CIVIL AVIATION
The civilian Air Fleet (Aero flot--Aeroflot) played a major
role in transporting passengers but a minor role in transporting
cargo. Civil aviation was the third most important transporter of
passengers after the highway and railroad systems in terms of
passenger-kilometers. Although it transported only a small fraction
of the cargo shipped on the other modes of transportation, Aeroflot
was the preferred carrier where speed was essential. Aeroflot
provided many services not performed by Western airlines, such as
the spraying of fertilizers and pesticides over fields and forests,
forest fire detection and control, pipeline inspection, medical
evacuation, logistical support for oil and other exploration and
extraction ventures, construction projects, and scientific
expeditions to polar regions. Frequently, Aeroflot airplanes or
helicopters were the sole means of reaching remote Siberian or
northern settlements. Lastly, Aeroflot's crews and aircraft
constituted the strategic airtransport reserve of the Soviet armed
forces.
Data as of May 1989
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