Experts from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) noted the high level of aviation security in the country and gave a positive evaluation of ongoing measures to protect civil aviation from unlawful interference. At the invitation of the aviation authorities of Kazakhstan, work has begun on certification of Kazakhstan's airports to serve flights and on the assignment of CAT1 for flights to the United States. TSA experts visited the Civil Aviation Committee, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, and the Nur-Sultan and Almaty airports to evaluate aviation security.

The TSA team noted that the existing aviation security regulations and quality control measures comply with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ongoing efforts and procedures carried out at Nur-Sultan and Almaty airports meet international requirements, and in some cases, the measures are even higher than the established standards. For example, high measures for airport perimeter security and protection, access control in secured restricted areas, recruitment and qualification of security personnel, in-flight meals, cargo and mail screening.

Experts have indicated opportunities to improve measures in some; this is in the field of cybersecurity, protection of civil aviation against unlawful acts of interference from unmanned aerial vehicles; modernisation of Airport inspection equipment for passenger screening;       Step-by-step transition to 3D passenger scanning equipment (body scanners) and the use of modern explosives detectors at inspection points.

TSA made recommendations to improve screening procedures for aviation personnel and their belongings, measures for staffing of aviation security services, depending on the number of screening points and security posts and increase in flights.

Special attention was given to the tremendous ongoing work of dog breeding at Almaty airport, which is the best of Kazakhstan's airports.

Experts appreciated the collaborative work of the Civil Aviation Committee, the Aviation Regulator and the airports and noted the transparency to the auditors. TSA team conducted consultations on exchanging best practices to ensure aviation security with our experts and explained all existing issues.

As a result, it was decided to continue and expand cooperation between the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and the US Transportation Security Administration as part of the opening of direct flights to the US.