The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the Civil Aviation Committee, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United States, over the past two years, has been working to create the necessary conditions for the launch of direct air services between Kazakhstan and the United States. As part of these efforts, from September 21 to 25, 2026, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will conduct an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) in Kazakhstan.

Ahead of the assessment, Talgat Lastayev, Vice Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a meeting with FAA experts who had arrived in Kazakhstan.The Vice Minister welcomed the U.S. representatives, thanked them for their visit and participation in the assessment, and wished the experts productive work and successful outcomes. During the meeting, the parties discussed matters related to the upcoming assessment, as well as further cooperation aimed at enhancing aviation safety and developing international air services between Kazakhstan and the United States.

The assessment will examine the State’s aviation safety oversight system and is aimed at determining the compliance of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities with the applicable ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices contained in Annex 1, Personnel Licensing; Annex 6, Part I, International Commercial Air Transport – Aeroplanes; and Annex 8, Airworthiness of Aircraft. During the IASA, FAA experts will review aviation legislation, subordinate regulatory legal acts, and the State’s capability to exercise effective safety oversight in accordance with the eight critical elements of an ICAO State safety oversight system. The FAA confirms that the IASA programme assesses a country’s oversight capability rather than the safety performance of an individual airline.

The 2026 assessment follows the preparatory work previously undertaken with the FAA. From August 26 to 30, 2024, Kazakhstan hosted a preliminary technical review under the IASA programme. Following that review, cooperation between the parties continued with the aim of preparing for the current assessment. The FAA expert team includes specialists in international aviation law, personnel licensing, airworthiness, and flight operations.

On September 24, the FAA team is scheduled to conduct a technical visit to Air Astana in Astana, which is the applicant for DOT Economic authroization. The purpose of the visit is to validate information provided to the AAK as part of the transparency process. The visit is not an inspection of the airline as an air operator certificate holder.

Upon completion of the IASA assessment, the FAA will conduct a final briefing with the AAK and subsequently provide a written report covering the areas reviewed. The IASA assessment represents an important milestone in further strengthening Kazakhstan’s State aviation safety oversight system and advancing efforts to establish direct air services between Kazakhstan and the United States. Kazakhstan has also undertaken legislative amendments aimed at strengthening its civil aviation regulatory framework and aligning it more closely with international aviation standards in preparation for the FAA assessment.

 Background Information

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is the U.S. federal authority responsible for civil aviation. Among other functions, under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the FAA assesses the ability of foreign civil aviation authorities to provide effective safety oversight of civil aviation in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Under the IASA (International Aviation Safety Assessment) program, the FAA assigns a State to one of two categories:

- Category 1 (CAT 1) means that the FAA has determined that the State’s civil aviation safety oversight system complies with the applicable ICAO standards. CAT 1 enables the airlines of that State to undergo the necessary procedures to commence operations to the United States and to participate in code-share arrangements with U.S. airlines. However, CAT 1 status in itself does not constitute a separate authorization to operate flights to the United States; an airline must also comply with other applicable U.S. regulatory requirements.

For Kazakhstan, achieving Category 1 status would mean recognition by the FAA that the national civil aviation safety oversight system complies with the applicable ICAO standards assessed under the IASA program.

At the same time, CAT 1 is not an assessment of the safety of a specific airline or an individual aircraft. Under the IASA program, the FAA assesses the ability of a State’s civil aviation authorities to effectively perform civil aviation safety oversight, including the legislative framework, regulations, organizational structure, qualifications of technical personnel, certification processes, continued surveillance, and the resolution of identified safety concerns.