"The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan” JSC (AAK) has signed an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) to conduct a preliminary International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA), QazMonitor reports citing the press service of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
What happened: In compliance with the Head of State's directive to establish direct flights between Kazakhstan and the United States, the AAK, in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Aviation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CAC) and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United States, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, signed an agreement with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a preliminary International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA).
Why it matters: The preliminary IASA aims to secure Category 1 status from the FAA. This status would enable Kazakh airlines to initiate direct flights between Kazakhstan and the US provided they have the appropriate aircraft.
The agreement outlines a collaborative approach to the IASA pre-assessment process, including sharing information, technical assistance, and capacity-building activities. This agreement will enhance cooperation among AAK, CAC, and FAA to enhance flight safety in Kazakhstan.
As part of the IASA Preliminary Assessment, the FAA evaluates compliance with ICAO international flight safety standards by civil aviation authorities of countries whose airlines have applied for flights, operate flights to the United States, or participate in codeshare agreements with U.S. airlines.
Next steps: Following the in-country IASA assessment, the assessment team will return to the United States, compile findings, and produce a detailed written report. Subsequently, the FAA will provide the results of the assessment, through the report, to other U.S. Government officials and the CAA, detailing the updated status of the IASA process and requesting appropriate follow-on activities.
