Antonov aircraft banned from Muscat

The newspaper also reported that the Sultanate's civil aviation authority had also expressed concern about some safety aspects of the type's operations.

Residents had apparently complained to the airport and the government about exceptionally loud operations by the Russian aircraft which uses Muscat as a refuelling point. An inspection by the civil aviation authority also resulted in some concerns about safety operations. The government met with embassies of countries which use Antonov aircraft on state business before implementing the ban.

Russian Antonov planes have been barred from utilising the runway of the Muscat International Airport, a reliable source has confirmed to Al Shabiba.  The UAE banned the AN-12 last year and Europe has banned many of the airlines operating the aircraft from European airspace becasue of environmental and safety grounds.