Photo credit: inforeactor.ru
The participants of the “flight of friendship” landed in Chukotka on the night of July 8, TASS reports. American pilots flew out of the city of Nome in Alaska on private jets.
According to event organizer Tandy Wallach, the pilots wanted to show that the B369 air route between Providence's Chukotka Bay and Nome still operates. She expressed the hope that regular air service between the Far East and Alaska would be restored.
There is a danger that the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington could lead to the fact that the route will be officially closed. The air route has practically ceased to be used today.
The campaign was organized by the Near-Polar Expeditions company with the assistance of Alaska Pilots Association. Wallock noted that the organizers consider themselves to be "air ambassadors". Their main task is to maintain contacts between Chukotka and Alaska, which exist between the two regions for a very long time.
Both organizations maintain contacts with the authorities of Chukotka and the Beringia National Park for many years.
During the years of the Soviet Union, there were no direct flights between Chukotka and Alaska. Despite the fact that they are separated by only a few hundred kilometers of the Bering Strait, they had to make almost a trip around the world going on their way through Magadan and Moscow to France. From there the planes flew to the capital of the United States.
The situation changed in the late 80s. Two decades ago, the airway was actively used for freight and tourist trips. In recent years, this flow actually stopped.
Russkiy Mir
