Officials of the Vyborg customs, together with the specialists of Rospotrebnadzor and the specialist-expert of FBUZ “center of hygiene and epidemiology in Leningrad region” at the customs post MAPP Torfyanovka identified air vehicle with a source of ionizing radiation, whose power significantly exceeds the natural background radiation. She was on the surface of an object 56 µsv/h.
A small civilian aircraft “Starduster”, produced in the early 1960-ies in the United States, tried to bring into the country the citizen of the Russian Federation. The plane arrived from Florida in the exploded view in the Finnish port of Kotka. The driver of the semitrailer of the car, which moved the aircraft, and the owner of the aircraft followed the direction of entry of Finland to Russia.
The plane crossed the territory of two continents and the Atlantic ocean, aroused the suspicions of the Vyborg customs. In the course of the radiation control officers of the customs post found that in the upper part of the fuselage near the cockpit exceeded the level of ionizing radiation.
Together with the specialists of Rospotrebnadzor and the specialist-expert of FBUZ “center of hygiene and epidemiology in Leningrad region” in St. Petersburg were calculated adverse impact on the pilot. The man who’d been in the cockpit 10 – 12 hours could receive an annual dose of radiation.
– The object is located on the instrument panel, this sensor roll of the aircraft. Signs, different scales, illumination level – they suffered glows in the dark substance radium-226, belonging to the radioactive family of Uranium 238. It is known that before 1970, the salt of Radium 226 was part of the phosphor of the permanent actions applied in the glowing scales of various instruments, – said the head of Department of customs control of fissile and radioactive materials Vitaly Golnik.
From the explanations of the owner of the aircraft, that permits for the importation of a source of ionizing radiation, he has not.
By the decision of the territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor aircraft are prohibited to import to the territory of Russia and returned to the neighbouring territory. In relation to the citizen of the Russian Federation Vyborg customs office opened a case on an administrative offense under article 16.3 of the administrative code (violation of the prohibitions and (or) restrictions on import of goods into the customs territory of the EAEU).
Natalia Finogina,
press Secretary of the Vyborg customs