Sergey Skuratov: Making Ural Airlines One of the Country’s Best – Insights Success

Biography

Sergey Skuratov is an aviator with vast flight experience and a seasoned manager. His life is inextricably linked with the development of Russian aviation. During his half-century career, he progressed from the second pilot of a biplane to the head of an airline.

Table of Contents:

• Skuratov Sergey: Brief Biography
• Development of His Aviation Career
• Skuratov Sergey: At the Helm of Ural Airlines
• Development and Implementation of Unique Pilot Training Methodology
• Sergey Skuratov: His Role in the Airline’s Digital Transformation
• Ural Airlines Today
• Personal Life, Hobbies, Plans
• Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich: Life and Career Highlights
• Common Questions

Skuratov Sergey: Brief Biography

Sergey Skuratov was born in 1950. He grew up in an aviator’s family. His mother’s professional activities were also connected with aviation – she worked in the local airport complex as head of the transportation service.

In 1967, Skuratov Sergey graduated from a school that had an “aviation” reputation due to the large number of students from aviation industry workers’ families. During his studies, sports were an integral part of his life. He also attended a club where he learned about aircraft construction.

In 1970, Skuratov Sergey mastered theory and practice at the Buguruslan Civil Aviation Flight School, taking his first step toward becoming a pilot. He stood out among other cadets for his high academic performance. The year of his graduation marked the beginning of a professional career for Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov. He was accepted into the Second Sverdlovsk United Aviation Division. In just three years, he advanced from second pilot to commander of the An-2 light biplane.

In 1978, he completed the training program at the Leningrad Academy of Civil Aviation. Skuratov Sergey combined his studies with work in the air squadron, continuing to fly various families of aircraft.

Development of His Aviation Career

From 1975 to 1993, Skuratov Sergey worked in the Sverdlovsk Aviation Division – an organization with a rich history founded in 1943. During this time, he earned to pilot various types of aircraft, each requiring its own approach to flying. This experience allowed Sergey Skuratov to become a first-class pilot. He flew routes throughout the Soviet Union, including regions known for challenging terrain and severe climatic conditions. More than once, he landed aircraft in extremely low cloud cover and limited visibility. This experience was a real school, preparing him for future challenges in aviation.

While working in the air squadron, Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich graduated from the command faculty of an aviation academy, completing a course for air fleet management personnel. Later, he was appointed head of the control body for ensuring air transportation safety in the civil sector of the Ural region. This new position required not only deep technical knowledge from Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich but also managerial skills.

In 1987, he became head of the Sverdlovsk United Aviation Division. As the leader, Sergey Skuratov managed all aspects of the unit’s operations.

The 1990s brought a series of challenges: with the collapse of the USSR, the aviation sphere found itself in an extremely difficult position. Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich recalls the sharp decline in flight demand and the almost complete cessation of new equipment purchases. Additionally, budget funding for the segment decreased.

Instead of a state monopoly, a number of private companies emerged in the industry, says Skuratov Sergey. This decentralization process, although accompanied by many difficulties, ultimately led to the formation of a more dynamic and competitive aviation market.

Late December 1993 marked a turning point in the history of civil aviation in the Sverdlovsk Region, when the reorganization of the First Sverdlovsk State Aviation Enterprise was completed, notes Skuratov Sergey. This resulted in the formation of separate joint stock companies, one of which became Ural Airlines. Thus, a carrier well-acquainted with the region’s specifics was established.

The position of head of the company went to Sergey Skuratov. Biography of the aviator thus gained new pages. Over time, he consolidated Ural Airlines’ shares, demonstrating a long-term interest in the enterprise’s development. As a result, Skuratov Sergey became the main owner, which allowed him to have a decisive voice in determining the carrier’s roadmap. Multiple re-elections to the position of CEO demonstrate the trust and high appreciation of his management abilities by shareholders and the board of directors.

In 2024, Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov retired, concluding his thirty-year career at the helm of Ural Airlines. Under his management, the company grew from a local carrier into an aviation giant with a fleet of several dozen modern airliners and a route network covering over 160 destinations.

Skuratov Sergey: At the Helm of Ural Airlines

Despite the aviation industry facing numerous serious challenges in the difficult post-perestroika era, Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov and his team managed to maintain the viability of the Ural aviation sector. While airports in major cities, including Perm, Chelyabinsk, and Vladivostok, lost their local carriers, the Yekaterinburg company not only survived but laid the foundation for future growth.

Sergey Skuratov, biography of whom already included various episodes dealing with extraordinary challenges, focused his efforts on creating a first-class airline characterized by high levels of reliability and safety. His vision included:

• forming a highly qualified team of pilots, navigators, and engineers
• continuous training and raising flight personnel’s qualifications
• investments in maintenance and fleet renewal
• constant service improvement and route network expansion
• implementation of innovative technologies
• realization of a strategy aimed at sustainable company development

By 1999, according to Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich, Ural Airlines had trained pilots in accordance with the Category II meteorological minimum of the ICAO – a specialized UN agency that establishes international civil aviation standards and coordinates its development.

By the early 2000s, Ural Airlines had established itself as a steadily developing air carrier with an extensive flight geography. The company’s route network covered almost fifty cities, including not only Russian destinations but also international ones, emphasizes Sergey Skuratov.

In 2006, Sergey Skuratov began a large-scale fleet renewal program, which moved along quickly. Abandoning the use of outdated Soviet aircraft, which had formed the core of the air transport fleet in previous years, the company chose modern airliners from the Airbus family. This transition required a comprehensive approach to staff retraining. The CEO initiated a costly process of training employees to work with the new aircraft.

Furthermore, Ural Airlines, led by Sergey Skuratov, was the first among Russian carriers to acquire and operate Airbus neo series aircraft with LEAP-1A engines. Their innovative equipment significantly reduced fuel consumption, which not only lowered the company’s operating costs but also reduced harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

This transition, initiated by Sergey Skuratov, put the company on par with progressive and technologically advanced air carriers. Currently, Ural Airlines’ fleet includes 51 Airbus aircraft.

In 2023, Ural Airlines, managed by Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov, completed the insurance settlement process regarding 19 aircraft previously leased from the Irish company AerCap. This deal facilitated a significant increase in international flights. In particular, they managed to resume almost all flights to Asia. Thus, air connections with Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Armenia were restored.

Development and Implementation of Unique Pilot Training Methodology

As Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov noted in one interview, the airline adheres to a thorough approach in selecting and training its pilots. Each candidate undergoes mandatory internal testing. Special attention is given to individual programs that most effectively develop the skills and competencies of future pilots.

Sergey Skuratov long served as a pilot-instructor on most types of aircraft, personally participating in training many pilots. On his initiative, a dedicated training center was established. As a result, more than 400 pilots underwent retraining, 117 specialists qualified as aircraft commanders, and 60 pilots became instructors.

According to Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich, an important step was the acquisition of a full-flight simulator from the Dutch company Sim Industries in June 2012, costing 7.5 million euros. This high-tech complex helps crews learn to operate the Airbus A320 family of aircraft in various simulated situations. The simulator features virtual models of more than thirty airports for takeoff and landing practice. The presence of such advanced training complexes is a sign of industry leadership. Only the largest air carriers in Russia have similar equipment.

The company especially focuses on practicing emergency situations and maintaining manual control skills of properly functioning aircraft. According to Sergey Skuratov, Ural Airlines’ flight crew training school is one of the best in the country. For example, by Airbus standards, a second pilot can be appointed as aircraft captain with 1,500 flight hours. At the Yekaterinburg carrier, the chief pilot position is only granted with 3,500 flight hours.

Under the leadership of Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov, the company launched its own aviation technical center, which is one of the most advanced in Russia. Thanks to modern equipment, the division can independently and efficiently perform all types of aircraft repair and maintenance work.

Sergey Skuratov: His Role in the Airline’s Digital Transformation

Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov initiated a program to implement digital technologies in the airline’s operations. Thanks to his efforts, advanced IT solutions were adopted, which improved the quality of passenger service.

In mid-summer 2024, as part of the Innoprom industrial exhibition held in the Ural capital, the carrier established a partnership with SKB Kontur Group, a Russian software developer for enterprises, whose digital products cover a wide range of tasks. The partnership’s main goal is to jointly work on improving and optimizing business processes.

Ural Airlines Today

In 2024, Sergey Skuratov, biography of whom has been connected with Ural Airlines for several decades, concluded his management career, leaving behind a carrier that became a benchmark for reliability. He formed an airline that prioritized adherence to the highest flight safety standards. Under the CEO, the company repeatedly set records for passenger numbers. According to statistics from the first six months of 2024, every twelfth passenger traveling by air in Russia chose Ural Airlines.

Currently, the airline is firmly established among the top five domestic air carriers. This status emphasizes the significance of the company previously headed by Skuratov Sergey on a national scale.

The airline’s main operational base is Koltsovo Airport, located in Yekaterinburg. The company’s aviation technical center, employing over 600 people, is also located there. The center is a comprehensive structure providing full technical maintenance for Ural Airlines’ fleet. It includes several key departments:

• quality
• engineering support
• logistics
• aircraft, component, and ground equipment maintenance

All the achieved results emphasize the effectiveness of the management policy followed by Sergey Skuratov. Biography of the manager has been developing in the charitable sector following his departure from Ural Airlines in August 2024.

Even during his time as head of the airline, Sergey Skuratov actively supported social projects. Under his leadership, the carrier developed a comprehensive social responsibility program that covered various spheres of public life.

The organization regularly provided and continues to provide assistance to theaters in the Sverdlovsk Region, contributing to the preservation and development of the region’s cultural heritage. Ural Airlines took several children’s sports teams under its wing, providing them necessary support for participation in competitions. Additionally, the company helps people with disabilities. Young talents also receive company support.

In 2019, Skuratov Sergey won the prestigious “People of the Era 1994-2019” award in the “Social Business Projects” category. Receiving this award not only confirmed the effectiveness of Ural Airlines’ social projects but also recognized Skuratov Sergey’s contribution to the development of socially significant activities.

Personal Life, Hobbies, Plans

After concluding his aviation career, Skuratov Sergey continues to lead an active lifestyle. He maintains his physical fitness with daily morning outdoor workouts. Sergey Skuratov also finds time for golf, in addition to spending time with family and loved ones.

Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov plans to apply his rich experience in the aviation industry in a new capacity, as a consultant and participant in events concerning civil aviation development in Russia. Thus, it is quite likely that the aviation sphere will continue to play a significant role in the Sergey Skuratov biography.

Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich: Life and Career Highlights

• He trained as a pilot at the Leningrad Academy of Civil Aviation in the 1970s
• He worked at the Sverdlovsk Aviation Division for 18 years
• He then became the CEO of the newly established Ural Airlines
• As CEO, he began a large-scale fleet renewal in 2006
• He established the airline’s technical center, which today employs more than 600 people

Common Questions

1. What award did Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov win in 2019?

Sergey Nikolaevich Skuratov won the “People of the Era 1994-2019” award in the “Social Business Projects” category in 2019.

2. How did Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich get interested in aviation?

Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich grew up in a settlement that had its own airport, and his whole family worked in aviation.

3. Under Sergey Skuratov, biography of Ural Airlines came to include how many planes?

Under Sergey Skuratov, biography of Ural Airlines came to include 51 Airbus aircraft.

4. When did the CEO chapter of the Sergey Skuratov biography conclude?

The CEO chapter of the Sergey Skuratov biography concluded in 2024 when he voluntarily resigned from his post at Ural Airlines.

5. At the time of Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich’s retirement, how many destinations was Ural Airlines flying to?

Ural Airlines was flying to more than 160 destinations at the time of Skuratov Sergey Nikolaevich’s retirement.