State Committee of Aviation
Encyclopedia
The State Committee of Aviation of the Republic of Belarus was established by the President of Belarus to coordinate aviation activity inside Belarus. It can be compared to the United States Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
in its activities and duties. The Committee (Госкомавиация) works with other state bodies and agencies (bodies), companies and organizations.
All civil aviation activities and civil airports fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee. Several repair facilities, air traffic control towers and aviation schools also fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee.
Since 1993, Belarus has been an accredited member of the International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
. Historically, during the period when Belarus was a republic
Republics of the Soviet Union
The Republics of the Soviet Union or the Union Republics of the Soviet Union were ethnically-based administrative units that were subordinated directly to the Government of the Soviet Union...
of the Soviet Union, the activities of the Committee were handled by the Russian civil aviation authority, Aeroflot
Aeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
.
Airlines
Though it is not known how many airlines operate and are registered in Belarus, one airline called Belavia has membership in the IATA. BelaviaBelavia
Republic Unitary Enterprise "National Aircompany "Belavia" , operating as Belavia Belarusian Airlines is the national airline company of Belarus, headquartered in Minsk. The state-owned company is the Belarusian flag carrier. Belavia serves a network of routes between European cities and the...
(Белавиа) is short for Belarusian Airlines, was established in 1996 by state law and is the only Belarusian member of the IATA. Belavia was formed from the Belarusian Association of Civil Aviation, which already had over 60 years of experience in the transportation of people and cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
.
Two other airlines are operating under the Committee, but they do not hold the title of National Air Carrier. The two airlines, which hold the title of Air Carrier are Gomelavia
Gomelavia
Gomelavia was an airline based in Gomel, Belarus. It was established in 1996 and operated domestic and regional, scheduled and chartered services, as well as aerial work using fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Its main base was Gomel Airport...
Airlines and TransAVIAexport Airlines. Gomelavia performs charter services for Belarusian oil workers who need to be sent to the western regions of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Transaviaexport is used by the Belarusian Government as their official planes when moving cargo.