Airports will be allowed to use special equipment on public roads

Bill No. 835253-8 was introduced to the State Duma, which provides for the possibility of state registration of airport special equipment for its legal movement on public roads.


If the document is adopted, from September 1, 2025, airports will be able to issue state registration plates and passports for cars that previously could not legally leave the airfield area.

This causes difficulties in cases where it is necessary to transport equipment between terminals, hangars or service bases.


According to the text of the bill, various types of airport special equipment will fall under the new regulations. First of all, these are:

✅ platform buses - low-floor transport for transporting passengers between the terminal and by air
✅ de-icing machines – special equipment for treating aircraft fuselages and wings
✅ self-propelled ramps – mobile stairs for boarding and disembarking passengers
✅ tugs - tractors for moving aircraft along the apron and taxiways
✅ fuel tankers – mobile complexes for refueling with aviation kerosene
✅ onboard lifts – equipment for delivering onboard catering, cargo and baggage on board
✅ snow removal machines and special equipment for clearing runways

The new bill proposes to divide airport equipment into two types. The first will include machines that remain within the airport's transport security zone under any circumstances. It will not be possible to register them.

The second type will include equipment that goes beyond the airfield. It will be equated to self-propelled vehicles or trailers - it will have to be registered in the established manner.

The airport operator will be required to register the special equipment, obtain license plates for it, and issue a self-propelled vehicle passport. This will allow it to move freely on public roads, observing traffic regulations.


According to representatives of the International Airports Association (IAA), the problem of the impossibility of registering airfield equipment threatened the smooth operation of airports.

In some cases, airports had to resort to complex bureaucratic procedures or engage third-party companies with a license to transport special equipment. This led to additional costs and delays in servicing aircraft.