Kazakhstan ready to adopt British aviation regulation model

Serious changes will have to be made to the country's air transport oversight system in the process (Astana Airport)

Kazakhstan’s Ministry for Investment and Development reports having devised approaches to replicating the UK aviation regulation model, which would entail amending national laws. The reform is part of a 100 Concrete Steps national development initiative announced by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Step 68 of the program stipulates improving the effectiveness of the government air transport management system “in order to increase the attractiveness of air transit through Kazakhstan.”

Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee will be restructured to mirror the UK Civil Aviation Authority. CAA meets 93% of the ICAO safety requirements; Kazakhstan aims to bring its level above 87% in order to make it into the world’s top 30 aviation authorities.

The introduction of the UK model in Kazakhstan would involve the establishment of a national civil aviation oversight and control company that would oversee aviation safety. The provisional title is Kazakh Civil Aviation Authority.

The agency would report to the Ministry for Investment and Development, which would remain in charge of the country’s aviation policy and industry-specific international relations. Funding would come from air traffic management charges, as is the practice in France and Germany, as well as from levies charged from market players. The arrangement will help avoid an additional burden on public funds.

Earlier, Kazakhstan managed to have a ban on the country’s airlines operating to the EU lifted through talks with CAAi, a consultancy subordinate to Britain’s CAA. Nevertheless, each Kazakh air carrier is obligated to undergo an EASA safety authorization to be able to operate to Europe.