UrBC, Moscow, March 11, 2011. Starting July 2011, Rosaviation intends to suggest that air carriers stop using Tu 154 airplanes unless these aircraft have all their design defects fixed, head of Rosaviation Alexander Neradko announced at the agency’s final meeting on Friday, RIA Novosti reports.

‘Rosaviation has by now imposed additional requirements on both the designers and manufactures of Tu 154 M to make sure the design is improved and a special compulsory application bulletin is issued,’ Neradko said.

According to the official, no design improvements or upgrades have been developed for the aircraft in question for a long time, which is why the number of accidents involving Tu 154 has increased greatly over the last two years.

‘In case companies fail to comply with the demands (the bulletin, that is), it will be suggested that air carriers stop using Tu 154 M starting this July,’ Neradko explained.