Within the framework of cooperation and exchange of experience with the US civil aviation authorities (Federal Aviation Administration - FAA), Director of the Department of Aerodromes and Ground Handlingof the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSCSvetlana Yeroshina and Senior Aviation Inspector Yerlan Aldazharov took part in the inspection of the airports of Colorado Springs (City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport) and Pueblo (Pueblo Memorial Airport). Municipal Airport) and Pueblo (Pueblo Memorial Airport), Denver (Denver International Airport). The airports are located in the state of Colorado, which has similar climatic conditions to Kazakhstan.

This cooperation program was organized by the International Relations Department of the FAA Department of Airports represented by specialist Lillian Miller. The head of the group of inspectors was the leading inspector of airport certification and Flight Safety of the FAA Department of Airports, Linda Bruce.

Airports are state-owned. Denver Airport is the last airport built in the USA, has the largest area among US airports, the number of take-off and landing operations exceeds 600 thousand per year, has 6 runways, passenger traffic is more than 50 million passengers per year. Colarado Springs Airport is the second largest airport in terms of traffic after Denver Airport, is a joint-based aerodrome, the number of take-off and landing operations is more than 140 thousand per year, passenger traffic is more than 2 million passengers per year, has three runways. Pueblo Airport is mainly used by general aviation, the number of take-off and landing operations is more than 150 thousand per year, passenger traffic is small, has three runways.

Out of more than 3,000 US airports, 517 airports are subject to certification in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 14 of Part 139 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

According to these requirements, the FAA certifies airports that accept regular air carrier on passenger aircraft with more than 9 seats, as well as regular or unscheduled air carrier operations on passenger aircraft with more than 30 seats.

The FAA has regional airport department offices that carry out airport inspections in their regions.

To make sure that airports that have certificates comply with the requirements of Part 139, FAA Department of Airports aviation inspectors conduct annual airport inspections.

Inspections include the following steps:

• pre-inspection review of documents and airport certification manual;

• in-briefing with the airport management and heads of units on the inspection schedule;

• checking records, including self-assessment forms, published NOTAMs, performing audits of the aerodrome certification manual;

• checking the maneuvering area, including the condition of pavements of the runway, TWY, slopes, safety zones, markings, signs, lighting equipment, ground vehicle operations, wind cone, observation of wildlife at the aerodrome;

• aircraft rescue and firefighting inspection, including a timed-response drill, review training records of employees, equipment and protective clothing for operation check;

• fueling facilities inspection;

• aerodrome night inspection, including assessment of the operation of lighting equipment, aerodromesignage, visibility of markings, obstruction lights;

• briefing after the inspection with the airport management to discuss the findings, identified violations and/or discrepancies, coordination of the timing of their elimination.

If the FAA inspection finds that the airport is not fulfilling its obligations, administrative measures are applied, including a penalty for each day when the airport continues to violate the requirements of Part 139. In extreme cases, the FAA may revoke the airport's certificate or impose restrictions.

The requirements of Part 139 differ in many respects from the requirements of the ICAO standards and recommended practices for aaerodromes set out in Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, as well as the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The FAA implements state programs to finance the repair, reconstruction, construction of aerodromefacilities, the purchase of expensive special equipment for the winter maintenance of the aerodrome and emergency flight support. As a result, the infrastructure of even small regional airports in the United States is in good condition and meets international standards.

Wildlife hazard management at US airports is carried out by biologists who are employees of the Department of Agriculture.

In the aerodrome territories, local authorities have provided zoning, which prohibits the construction of facilities that are unacceptable from the point of view of flight safety.

JSC "Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan" expresses gratitude to the head of the FAA Airports Department, as well as Lillian Miller and Linda Bruce for the opportunity to get acquainted with US airports, as well as their inspection procedures.

The experience gained by aviation inspectors of JSC "Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan" will be used in conducting inspections at airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in further improving legislation and improving flight safety at aerodromesof the Republic of Kazakhstan.