The interagency coordination exercises on flight search and rescue support in the Abay Region, organized by the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, were aimed at improving coordination between aviation and ground forces in responding to aviation incidents.

According to the exercise scenario, the simulated site of the aviation incident was located 125 km from Semey Airport, in the border area between the Abay Region and the East Kazakhstan Region. This allowed participating agencies to practice coordinating the actions of forces and resources from multiple regions.

The exercises involved the Search and Rescue Coordination Center of Kazaeronavigatsiya in Astana, air traffic service dispatchers from the Abay branch of Kazaeronavigatsiya, a civilian search-and-rescue aircraft operated by the Aviation Unit of the East Kazakhstan Region based at Semey Airport, with rescuers from the Emergency Situations Department and medical personnel from the Disaster Medicine Center of the Abay Region onboard the helicopter.

A state search-and-rescue aircraft of the Aviation Service of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, based at Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport, also participated, carrying rescuers from the Emergency Situations Department and medical personnel from the Disaster Medicine Center of the East Kazakhstan Region. Ground-based search-and-rescue units of the Emergency Situations Department of the Abay Region were also involved.

During the exercises, participants practiced key elements of the aviation search-and-rescue system, including receiving and processing distress signals; alerting and mobilizing search-and-rescue forces and resources; coordinating aerial and ground search-and-rescue operations; locating the simulated crash site; triaging and evacuating simulated casualties; and providing first aid.

Particular attention was paid to issues of interagency cooperation, prompt information exchange, and compliance with international standards in the field of aeronautical search and rescue.

Following the exercises, the participating forces and resources confirmed their readiness to respond promptly to aviation incidents, as well as the high level of coordination among participants in Kazakhstan’s flight search-and-rescue support system.

Such exercises are considered an important element in maintaining the readiness of the national aviation search-and-rescue system and contribute to the further improvement of response mechanisms in accordance with international International Civil Aviation Organization standards.