During an official visit to Singapore, Michael Daniel Eugene, Chief Executive Officer of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), met with Han Kok Juan, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), and Alan Foo, Deputy Director-General of CAAS.

The meeting focused on opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between AAK and CAAS in the areas of aviation safety oversight, professional training of aviation personnel, exchange of expertise, and the implementation of international best practices.

A key agenda item was the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on Training Cooperation between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, signed on 19 February 2024.

The parties also discussed expanding the scope of the Memorandum to include the implementation of the Inspector Secondment Programme. In particular, they considered the secondment of a CAAS inspector to the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan to facilitate the exchange of professional expertise, transfer of best practices, and further strengthen institutional capacity.

The parties placed particular emphasis on enhancing cooperation in the field of aviation safety oversight. The Kazakh side expressed its interest in learning from Singapore's experience in preparing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme and achieving FAA Category 1 status, which enables a country's air carriers to operate direct scheduled services to the United States.

Singapore has maintained FAA Category 1 status for many years, allowing its airlines to operate scheduled services to the United States. CAAS has developed extensive expertise in aviation safety oversight, capacity building, and cooperation with the FAA. This experience is of considerable value to Kazakhstan as it continues strengthening its aviation oversight system in line with international standards. Both sides expressed their readiness to deepen cooperation through the exchange of expert knowledge, best practices, and practical experience related to the FAA IASA assessment process.

The meeting also explored opportunities for cooperation in the application of artificial intelligence technologies within civil aviation authorities. Discussions focused on leveraging advanced digital solutions to enhance the effectiveness of aviation safety oversight and further improve certification processes.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and continuing practical collaboration aimed at enhancing aviation safety oversight, developing professional competencies, promoting the adoption of innovative technologies, and sharing international best practices.