By Kazakhstan has taken a significant stride toward commencing commercial flights to the United States by signing an agreement with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK). This agreement initiates a preliminary phase of the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA), facilitating collaboration between the two nations in assessing aviation safety standards.
The agreement delineates a cooperative framework for the IASA pre-assessment process, encompassing the exchange of information, the provision of technical assistance, and engagement in capacity-building activities.
Under the IASA program, the FAA evaluates a country’s ability to comply with international safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), focusing on eight critical elements of effective aviation safety oversight. These elements include primary aviation legislation, operating regulations, safety oversight functions, personnel qualification, technical guidance, licensing procedures, surveillance mechanisms, and safety concern resolution.
The preliminary IASA assessment aims to secure FAA Category 1 status in the future, thereby enabling Kazakh airlines to initiate direct flights between Kazakhstan and the United States.
In a related development, Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s leading carrier, recently inked a leasing deal with ALC for three Boeing 787-9 long haul aircraft. Scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2025, these Dreamliners will equip Air Astana to inaugurate direct flights to the U.S., bolstering bilateral air connectivity between the two nations.
