Sergey Skuratov Biography in Civil Aviation, Ural Airlines CEO

Sergey Skuratov is the founder and former head of Ural Airlines. He is the only airline chief in Russia who built a flying career starting from the entry-level position of co-pilot on the small An-2 plane, widely known to the public as the “corn crop duster.”

Table of Contents:

■ The Making of an Aviator

■ Skuratov Sergey: Gaining Altitude

■ Role in the Transformation of the Russian Aviation Industry

■ Sergey Skuratov: Technological Modernization

■ The Company’s Modern History

■ Sergey Skuratov: Public Recognition

■ Key Takeaways from the Sergey Skuratov Biography

FAQ

The Making of an Aviator

Sergey Skuratov was born in 1950 in an urban-type settlement, conveniently built near Sverdlovsk’s air harbor. Today, this settlement, Koltsovo, is part of the capital of the Ural Federal District.

The settlement was primarily inhabited by people connected to the aviation industry. Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov’s father was a member of the Il-18 crew. His mother worked in one of the airport’s ground services.

In 1967, Skuratov Sergey successfully passed a rigorous competitive selection process to enter the aviation school in the Orenburg Region, which trained specialists for civil aviation. During his studies, he demonstrated exceptional abilities in mastering flying skills, actively participated in the school’s life, and Skuratov Sergey also led the cadet’s Komsomol organization for some time.

By graduation in 1970, Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov had achieved excellent results in both theoretical and practical training. The teaching staff particularly noted his ability to make balanced decisions in the air and navigate the space. His excellent grades allowed Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov to continue his education at a higher-level institution without the usual one-year practical requirement.

Skuratov Sergey: Gaining Altitude

In the 1970s, Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov began his career in civil aviation. His first official position was as co-pilot of an An-2. It was a period of global changes in the Soviet aviation industry. More modern types of aircraft were being introduced; for example, the aging Tu-104 and Il-18 were replaced by the Tu-154. Flight geography expanded: the USSR joined the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and principles of regular air communication between the country’s regions were being established. Skuratov Sergey, as a young specialist, had to master:

■ technical aspects of aircraft control

■ principles of crew interaction

■ features of meteorological flight support

■ specifics of radio exchange with ground services

From 1971, Skuratov Sergey simultaneously studied at the Civil Aviation Academy in Leningrad (by correspondence). The aviator’s life schedule during these years was extremely busy: study sessions replaced vacations, and the rest of the time he was flying, including flights to the Far North.

1973 marked important professional achievements in Sergey Skuratov biography. After receiving his third-class pilot certification, he earned the right to independently operate airplanes. His first flight as crew commander was to Irbit — a city located two hundred kilometers from Yekaterinburg (then Sverdlovsk).

In 1975, through additional training, Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich learned to pilot more complex aviation equipment and transferred to work at the Sverdlovsk United Aviation Division. In subsequent years, he received clearance to operate all types of aircraft in service and obtained the highest pilot qualification. He had the opportunity to pilot the Il-86, which was the Soviet answer to the long-haul and spacious Boeing 747 and Airbus A300. His flight geography covered territory from Kaliningrad to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

In 1984, Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich completed an educational program aimed at training management personnel in civil aviation. This became a stepping stone to the position of head of flight safety inspection within the regional aviation administration. In this position, Skuratov Sergey monitored compliance with unified aircraft operation standards throughout the Urals. He was responsible for overseeing a large aviation region with developed infrastructure, where each facility required an individual approach to organizing safe air traffic. Systematic inspections, analyses of work processes, and the development of safety recommendations became the cornerstone of the managerial style of Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich.

From 1987, Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich held the position of commander of the Sverdlovsk United Aviation Division. By 37, he was heading one of the largest aviation units in the USSR – the youngest leader among colleagues of such rank. The high trust that his superiors had in Skuratov Sergey was justified by his continued effective management decisions. Notably, even after his appointment to this position, he continued to pilot aircraft.

Role in the Transformation of the Russian Aviation Industry

The early 1990s brought massive transformations in the Russian economy, which also affected passenger air transportation, recalls Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich. All major aviation enterprises were subject to reorganization. Thus, in December 1993, the First Sverdlovsk State Aviation Enterprise – one of the largest carriers in the Soviet Union – ceased to exist. Two independent joint stock companies were created from it – Koltsovo Airport and an aviation company named Ural Airlines. Sergey Skuratov became its CEO.

The period of the company’s formation coincided with deep structural changes in the industry, recalls Sergey Skuratov, biography of whom from then on was inextricably linked with preserving aviation in the Urals. A sharp decline in passenger traffic, lack of qualified personnel, problems with aircraft maintenance – all these nuances required unconventional management solutions. In search of aircraft components, the airline head regularly visited repair enterprises in Kazan, Moscow, and Irkutsk, where he negotiated the supply of spare parts under acceptable conditions.

In 1994, amid a shortage of state funding, Skuratov Sergey maintained the main routes, including flights to cities in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, compensating for their unprofitability through other destinations. Later, when these countries’ economies stabilized, the airline was one of the few that could meet the high passenger demand on these routes, which was a good opportunity to realize increased profits.

With the support of the regional government, Sergey Skuratov’s airline also solved the issue of flights to Europe. Due to new regulations at that time regarding acceptable engine noise levels, some types of aircraft (such as Tu-154B and Il-86) were restricted from flying on these routes. To maintain the route network, the top manager organized an operational replacement of aircraft, purchasing four Tu-154M as replacements.

By the late 1990s–early 2000s, under the CEO’s leadership, the airline achieved the following indicators:

■ an air fleet of 24 aircraft

■ a route network covering 46 destinations

■ flight crew certified under ICAO Category II

The airline, headed by Sergey Skuratov, secured its position among the country’s leading regional airlines with a trend toward federal status. Unlike several regional centers where local air carriers entered the private market but eventually ceased operations, in Yekaterinburg they managed to not only preserve but to develop the industry. Sergey Skuratov, biography of whom is marked by many victories in the industry, considers this achievement one of the key moments in the company’s history. “We persevered, didn’t sell out, didn’t squander the company, and preserved aviation in the Urals,” he has repeatedly stated in his interviews.

Sergey Skuratov: Technological Modernization

In 2006, Sergey Skuratov began modernizing Ural Airlines’ fleet by acquiring new Airbus family aircraft through a leasing system that required retraining the entire staff. This process included overseas training, bringing in foreign experts, and English language lessons. Sergey Skuratov, biography of whom is characterized by continuous commitment to maintaining proper safety standards at the enterprise, notes that it was expensive but necessary to prevent fatal errors in flights and not endanger the lives of passengers and crew.

In 2012, Skuratov Sergey invested around 7.5 million euros to acquire a simulator. It was necessary for A320 crew training. Installing their own training complex, considered one of the best in Russia, eliminated the need for expensive foreign training in Dubai, the Czech Republic, and Germany, ensuring continuous flight crew preparation. The simulator reproduces flights with 95% accuracy and allows modeling takeoffs and landings at any airport in the world. Pilots undergo mandatory training twice a year on this equipment. Additionally, they can practice manual piloting elements in optional sessions.

In 2015, Sergey Skuratov opened a modern aviation technical center at Koltsovo Airport. The complex, capable of simultaneously accommodating up to five A320 aircraft or a combination of two A321s and one A330, made it possible to perform a full range of aircraft repairs. Today, all types of technical service are conducted there, including complex engine replacement operations. Having their own base reduced both the timing and cost of fleet maintenance.

By 2019, thanks to the consistent fleet renewal policy under the management of Skuratov Sergey, Ural Airlines became the first in Russia to receive the Airbus 320 neo with LEAP-1A engines from CFM International – an airliner with minimal environmental impact. By this time, the company had fully formed a modern air fleet meeting international safety and comfort requirements. The technical modernization organized by Skuratov Sergey allowed the airline to diversify its flight route map and significantly improve service quality.

The Company’s Modern History

In 2020, Ural Airlines faced an unprecedented challenge: due to the pandemic, traffic volume decreased by 94%. Financial institutions suspended industry lending. Under these conditions, Sergey Skuratov approved the idea and issued an order to equip more than a third of passenger airliners to be used to transport cargo. The reorganized fleet began delivering medical equipment and protective supplies from China to Russia.

By early 2023, Skuratov Sergey’s air carrier had fully restored its position. Over the course of six months, 6.25 million passengers used the company’s services. This was 13% higher than the same period in 2022. In summer 2024, seat occupancy reached a historic maximum of 96%, notes Sergey Skuratov. Biography of the aviator demonstrates that many measures were taken to achieve such indicators.

In January 2024, a new leap in growth was recorded: 678,000 passengers in one month, which was a new record in the company’s history and another achievement in the Sergey Skuratov biography. Revenue for 2023 exceeded 111 billion rubles, with net profit comprising more than 15%. Cooperation with China became especially important for international route development. Regular flights between Yekaterinburg and Beijing started in April.

Late summer and early fall 2024 marked the veteran aviator’s final descent. After 31 years of leading Ural Airlines, Sergey Skuratov retired. By that time, the company was serving 169 destinations and operating three hubs. Experts calculated that every twelfth Russian air passenger was flying with the Ural carrier at that time. 

Sergey Skuratov: Public Recognition

The professional background of Sergey Skuratov proved valuable in national industry associations, which he was active in for many years.

The achievements in the Sergey Skuratov biography have been recognized at different stages of his professional journey. His first significant award was the Aeroflot Excellence badge (referring to the sole Soviet aviation giant), received in 1987. Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich received several other recognitions for his work over the course of his long career.

Ural residents highly appreciated the aviator’s role in regional development. He was named honorary citizen of the Sverdlovsk Region in 2017, and honorary citizen of Yekaterinburg the following year. Additionally, Sergey Skuratov ranked 22nd in the 2021 list of the hundred most influential people in the Ural capital.

Sergey Skuratov biography after retirement shows that he maintains an active lifestyle. Among his hobbies are golf, skiing, and tennis. Skuratov Sergey also collects postage stamps and goes hunting and fishing.

Key Takeaways from the Sergey Skuratov Biography

■ Despite becoming a high-ranking executive, he continued to personally pilot aircraft 

■ A key part of modernization under the CEO was language training – the company had to invest in English lessons for staff as part of the transition to Airbus aircraft

■ He made a strategic investment in a flight simulator that achieved 95% accuracy in reproducing flight conditions

■ Unlike many regional Russian airlines that were privatized and eventually failed, the CEO’s leadership kept Ural Airlines independent and growing 

■ His management style was shaped by his experience as head of flight safety inspection, where he learned to approach each facility with individualized safety protocols

FAQ

1. How many years did Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov spend studying at the Civil Aviation Academy? 

Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov spent seven years studying at the Civil Aviation Academy to become an engineer-pilot. 

2. What unique training facility did Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich establish in 2012? 

Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich invested 300 million rubles in a flight simulator that could reproduce flights with 95% accuracy for A320 crew training. 

3. Did Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov take any measures during his time as CEO of Ural Airlines to help the environment? 

During his time as CEO, Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov led Ural Airlines to become the first Russian carrier to acquire the environmentally friendly Airbus 320 neo with LEAP-1A engines. 

4. What technical advancement did Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov bring to Koltsovo Airport in 2015? 

Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov opened a modern aviation technical center capable of servicing multiple A320 aircraft simultaneously. 

5. What geographical range did Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich cover as a pilot? 

Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich flew routes spanning from Kamchatka to Kaliningrad, and from the Taymyr Peninsula to Kuban. 

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