The increasing number of false, incomplete and unreliable data has recently been published on social networks and some media channels. We urge the media to contact us should you have any question about civil aviation, we are ready to give a competent explanation.

In this regard, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan reports that the airport of Shymkent was instructed to apply operational restriction in terms of decreasing available take-off distance.

In the period from April 25-27, 2022, Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan conducted an unscheduled inspection at Shymkent aerodrome to verify the implementation of the inspection order as of October 2021 requiring to update the geodetic survey of obstacles in vicinity of aerodrome. According to the inspection results, a number of residential facilities newly built in 2021 were identified, despite repeated appeals and orders to the local executive bodies. The facilities affect the flights performance at Shymkent airport and in this regard to ensure safety and compliance with the requirements of legislation in the field of civil aviation, an inspection order was given to the aerodrome operator to reduce the available take-off distance with a magnetic course 1010 by excluding the clearway, to publish data on previously non-collected objects, and to provide obstacle lighting of objects.

In addition, the AAK and CAC has raised the issue on the requirement to extend the runway and displace the threshold to address the impact of residential development in the immediate vicinity of the airport. This measure is recommended by ICAO and is used by airports located within city boundaries around the world.

It should be noted that each aircraft has certain performance (AP), information on which is provided by the aircraft manufacturer. The safe operation of the aircraft is possible only within the limits of the performance characteristics. The take-off distance of an aircraft is one of the AP, which is the horizontal distance along the takeoff path from the start of the takeoff to the point at which the aircraft is 10 m above the takeoff point.

After climbing up to 10 m at the end of the takeoff distance, the aircraft continues its climb, which should occur so as to fly over the available objects at a sufficient vertical distance, including the failure of the aircraft's critical engine. Before the flight, the crew considers all factors affecting the takeoff distance-the weight of the aircraft, aerodrome elevation, runway slopes, temperature, wind, runway condition (presence of slush, water and (or) ice). The take-off distance which can be provided by the airport (in other words, the available take-off distance - TODA) is determined by the actual length of the runway and the length of clearway (if any).

The take-off climb surface at Shymkent aerodrome begins immediately after the clearway, located 150 m from the end of the runway, and has an upward slope. Since the clearway has been eliminated and hence the TODA has been reduced, the initial climb must be performed by aircraft 150 m nearer, which increases the altitude of the aircraft flying over the objects and makes the flight safe even in case of failure of the critical engine.

Reducing the available distance, in addition to improving flight safety, will actually only affect the operating procedures at Shymkent aerodrome, for example, more types of aircraft will perform take-off rolling from the end of the runway, rather than from the taxiway intersection with the runway, which will require a little extra time for taxiing the aircraft. For aircraft with longer takeoff distances required, such as the B747, a takeoff weight limitation will be required by payload reducing to ensure that the TODA is consistent with the AP.

This restriction is publicly available to all and has been distributed via NOTAM. The aerodrome operator has taken appropriate action to fulfil the requirements of inspection order.

Hundreds of NOTAMs are published daily in civil aviation, in fact, thousands of them are in effect. It should be noted that safety is not ensured through social media, it is a hard work of several (tens of) thousands of industry professionals. Inaccurate publications of "so-called experts" mislead the public and negatively impact their confidence in the domestic aviation. All Kazakhstani employees of airlines, airports and other aviation enterprises do their best to ensure safety.  The ongoing work is also being done by the CAC and AAK.

NOTAM is a notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.