According to paragraph 2 of Article 66 of the Law on the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities dated July 15, 2010 No. 339-IV, as well as paragraph 2 of the Rules for Certification and Issuance of an Aerodromes (Heliport) Certificate, approved by Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 24, 2015, No. 187: 

Aerodromes (heliports) used by civil aviation, as well as joint use and basing airfields where operations are performed, are subject to certification.: 

1) International flights; 

2) regular passenger flights on all types of aircraft; 

3) flights, other than those specified in subparagraph 2), of passenger aircraft with more than twenty passenger seats; 

4) commercial flights of aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than five thousand seven hundred kilograms; 

 5) flights of passenger aircraft at night; 

6) flights of aircraft for the transportation of passengers to fixed or floating objects (naval vessels, installations) in the open sea. 

Airfields (heliports) where the above-listed flights are not performed do not require certification. However, it is allowed to certify such airfields (heliports) at the request of the operator of the airfield (heliport). 

For certification purposes, the flights specified in the sub-paragraphs 2), 3), 4), 5) they relate to commercial air transportation.

Aerodromes (heliports) are certified in accordance with the Rules for Certification and Issuance of an Aerodrome (Heliport) Certificate, approved by Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 24, 2015, No. 187 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules).

According to paragraph 3 of Article 16 of the Law on the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities dated July 15, 2010 No. 339-IV (hereinafter referred to as the Law), the certification of aerodromes (heliports) is carried out by an authorized organization in the field of civil aviation.
“Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan” JSC has been designated an authorized organization in the field of civil aviation by Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 25, 2019 No. 530.

According to paragraph 3 of Article 66 of the Law, a certified aerodrome (heliport) is allowed to operate after the operator of the aerodrome (heliport) receives a certificate of its worthiness.

The certificate is issued for a period of up to five years, and upon expiration, the certificate is considered invalid.

The scope of certification covers the assessment of the fulfillment of all relevant technical requirements stipulated by the regulatory framework applicable to a particular aerodrome (heliport).
The relevant technical requirements are set out in the following regulatory acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which form the certification requirements:
1. Rules of aerodrome (heliport) operator certification, approved by the Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 24, 2015 No. 187;
2. Aerodrome (heliport) standards approved by the Order of the Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 31, 2015 No. 381;
3. Rules of aerodrome services, approved by the Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated October 7, 2015 No. 978;
4. Rules of runway light support for civil aviation flights, approved by the Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 26, 2015 No. 350;
5. 3) Rules of Managing Hazards Posed by Birds and Other Animals to Civil Flight Operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved by Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 26, 2015 No. 323;
6. Rules of emergency rescue services of flights in the airports, approved by the Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 26, 2015 No. 325;
7. Rules for special transport operations at airports, approved by Order No. 327 of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 26, 2015;
8. Rules for providing aviation fuels and lubricants to civil aircraft, approved by Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 24, 2015 No. 190;
9. Rules for providing Aeronautical information in Civil Aviation, approved by the Order of the Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated June 30, 2017 No. 420;
10. The Civil Aviation Flight Safety Program, approved by Resolution No. 136 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 11, 2016;
11. Standard instructions on flight safety management for civil aircraft operators, airports, air traffic services, aircraft maintenance, civil aviation aviation training centers, whose activities are related to aircraft operations during the provision of services, approved by the Order of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 28, 2011 No. 173 .
12. Aerodrome standards compliance assessment methodology, approved by Order No. 376 of the Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 31, 2015.

The scope of certification includes the following aspects:
1. The organization and management system of the aerodrome (heliport) operator:
1) the accountable (first) manager, who has the authority to allocate the financial resources necessary to ensure operations at the aerodrome (heliport) in accordance with the requirements established by law. The accountable manager ensures the organization and maintenance of an effective management system for activities at the aerodrome (heliport);
2) the manager(s) responsible for the management and control of operational activities at the aerodrome (heliport) and maintenance and repair of aerodrome (heliport) facilities, special equipment, facilities and equipment (hereinafter referred to as technical directors);
3) the inspector (manager) of flight safety, responsible for the development, maintenance and daily administration of the flight safety management system. Inspector (Manager) in flight safety matters, he is independent of any heads of the organization and has direct access to the responsible head and other heads of the organization on flight safety issues, and reports directly to the accountable manager.;
4) heads of departments, divisions, shifts, the number of which is commensurate with the scope of activities, tasks and responsibilities, taking into account the organizational structure and the number of staff;
5) operational personnel performing the operation and maintenance of the aerodrome (heliport) in sufficient numbers;
6) organizational structure, staffing table, confirming the sufficiency of specialists to carry out activities in accordance with the requirements established by law;
7) a system of training and competence assessment for personnel engaged in operational activities, maintenance of airfield facilities, facilities and equipment, management of activities at the aerodrome, the training of which corresponds to the standard training programs for aviation personnel involved in flight safety, approved by the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated September 28, 2013 No. 764;
8) providing the production base with the necessary number of technical means, equipment, special equipment, buildings and premises, personal protective equipment for the operation and maintenance of aerodromes facilities (heliports), the condition of which meets safety requirements, allows you to effectively perform the necessary tasks and functions;
9) documentation management system;
10) safety management system;
11) quality management system for aeronautical data and aeronautical information related to aerodrome activities;
12) the system of internal control of compliance with certification requirements, requirements, rules and procedures established at the aerodrome (heliport) both by the aerodrome operator itself and by third-party and contractor organizations operating at the aerodrome (heliport);
13) agreements with contractors if part of the aerodrome operator's activities, which are within the scope of the aerodrome certificate of worthiness, is carried out by contractors (maintenance and repair of facilities, equipment and special equipment of the aerodrome (heliport), collection of aeronautical data, training of personnel, emergency rescue support of flights, design of aerodrome facilities; coordination by the aerodrome (heliport) operator of actions affecting the safety of the aerodrome, in which the aerodrome (heliport) operator must ensure that all users of the aerodrome (heliport), including organizations that independently carry out their flight or aircraft maintenance activities at the aerodrome (heliport), comply with the requirements of the aerodrome (heliport) operator, concerning flight safety. The operator of the aerodrome (heliport) monitors such compliance.
2. Physical and technical characteristics of civil aviation airfields.
3. Operational procedures:
1) aerodrome data and their presentation;
2) an emergency plan at the aerodrome (heliport);
3) the activities of the Search and Rescue and Fire Service (RFF);
4) inspection of the working area;
5) maintenance of the work area;
6) protection from snow and icing and other dangerous meteorological conditions;
7) visual aids and electrical systems of the aerodrome (heliport);
8) ensuring flight safety during operations at the aerodrome (heliport);
9) organization of activities on the platform;
10) Platform safety management;
11) use of vehicles in the work area;
12) management of hazards caused by birds and other animals;
13) obstacle control;
14) removal of an aircraft that has lost the ability to move;
15) flights in conditions of limited visibility;
16) an approved master development plan (for an international airport) for at least 5 years, containing detailed stages of airport infrastructure and land use development and a list of priority tasks, including a plan for its implementation. The master plan is developed by the aerodrome operator based on information on economic feasibility, transportation forecasts, current and future requirements imposed, in particular, by aircraft operators, and is periodically reviewed taking into account the volume of air traffic at the aerodrome (for aerodromes serving international air traffic).
All information related to the above-mentioned certification area and determining the location of the aerodrome (heliport), its facilities, services, equipment, operational procedures, organizational and managerial structure, including SMS, should be contained in the aerodrome manual for each certified aerodrome (heliport).
If the aerodrome (heliport) operator is not responsible for some of the issues covered by the above-mentioned certification area, the aerodrome manual should clearly specify the rules and procedures for coordinating the actions of the responsible parties in relation to each such issue.

Application for aerodrome (heliport) certification
At the opening of the aerodrome (heliport) and before the initial certification, no later than two months before the application for certification is submitted, the operator of the aerodrome (heliport) as regulated by the 1) Rules of aerodrome (heliport) operator certification and in accordance with Article 67 of the Law, the operator sends to “Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan” JSC on the official letterhead of the company an application in any form, signed by the authorized manager of the operator, with the attachment:
1) copies of the title document on the right (permanent or temporary paid land use) to the land plot or other object on which the aerodrome (heliport) is located;
2) copies of documents confirming ownership or ownership of the aerodrome (heliport) (purchase and sale agreement, acceptance and transfer certificate, transfer order to the balance sheet, ownership, property lease, trust management, etc.);
3) information on technical characteristics, geographical coordinates and location (populated area point) of the aerodrome (heliport).
To complete certification, the aerodrome (heliport) operator develops and submits to the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC for approval an aerodrome manual containing all necessary information about the location of the aerodrome, facilities, services, equipment, operational procedures, organizational structure and management, including the safety management system. The requirements for the content of the aerodrome (heliport) manual are given in the Rules for aerodrome (heliport) certification, approved by the order of the acting Minister of Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 24, 2015 No. 187.
In the case of initial certification of an aerodrome (heliport), the Aerodrome (Heliport) Manual is submitted to the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC for analysis and verification at least two months before applying for certification in order to analyze the data provided in the manuals and request additional information from the aerodrome operator, if necessary.
Thus, by the time of the certification inspection, the Aerodrome (Heliport) Manual must be reviewed and agreed upon by an authorized organization and attached by the operator to the certification application.
Aerodrome (heliport) certification is a public service and shall consider the following procedures:
1) through the portal, the applicant submits an application to an authorized organization with documents confirming compliance with certification requirements;
2) preliminary assessment and decision-making on the application for certification of the aerodrome (heliport) by an authorized organization;
3) preparation for the certification survey;
4) conducting a certification survey by the commission of an authorized organization with departure to the aerodrome;
5) preparation of a certificate based on the results of certification, issuance or refusal to issue a certificate of worthiness of an aerodrome (heliport) through the “E-license” electronic portal.
An application for certification can only be submitted by the operator of the aerodrome (heliport).
The application is submitted through the electronic system “E-license”. The application form is provided in Appendix 4 to the Rules for aerodrome (heliport) certification, approved by the Order of the Acting Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 24, 2015 No. 187.

Requirements for the safety management system for aerodrome (heliport) operators
According to paragraph 3 of Article 64 of the Law, the operator of a certified aerodrome (heliport) or civil aviation airport is required to implement a safety management system (hereinafter referred to as SMS), which must correspond to the volume and complexity of airport activities.
The SMS of the airfield operator (heliport) should include four components:
- Safety policy;
- Safety management;
- Ensuring aviation safety;
- popularization of aviation safety.
The listed components should include 12 elements in accordance with the requirements of the Standard Instructions for Flight Safety Management for Civil Aircraft Operators, airports, Air Traffic Services, aircraft Maintenance, aviation training centers for civil aviation, whose activities are related to aircraft operations during the provision of services, approved by the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 28, 2011 No. 173.
The SMS of the aerodrome should correspond to the scale of the aerodrome, as well as the level and complexity of the service provided.
The aerodrome (heliport) operator provides a description of the SMS in the relevant section of the aerodrome (heliport) manual or in a separate SMS manual, which are approved by the accountable (first) manager.
The authorized organization performs SMS acceptance by reviewing the relevant section of the aerodrome (heliport) or SMM, verifying and accepting it, for which the aerodrome operator, prior to the certification examination, sends the aerodrome manual or SMM to the authorized civil aviation organization for approval.
When certifying an aerodrome (heliport) operator, the authorized organization verifies that the SMS of the aerodrome (heliport) operator is documented in accordance with the established requirements, covers all aviation activities, and verifies the implementation of SMS during the certification survey.
During the initial certification of the operator of a new aerodrome (heliport), the SMS may not be fully implemented, taking into account the required time frame for its implementation, however, the operator of the aerodrome (heliport) provides at least the following issues:
1) there is a policy in the field of aviation safety, which was approved by the first accountable manager of the aerodrome (heliport) operator and reflects the organization's obligations related to aviation safety;
2) the responsibility of the first accountable manager for ensuring safety is fixed;
3) an official person has been appointed at least at the level of the head of the service responsible for the development, implementation and administration of SMS, who is independent of the production services (Deputy First Manager of Flight Safety, flight Safety inspector and heads of services);
4) the duties and responsibilities for ensuring flight safety are fixed in the job descriptions of each employee, including the first accountable manager;
5) the aerodrome (heliport) operator has developed rules that provide for:
personnel and subcontractors to provide information about incidents and there is a description of procedures that allow them to provide such information;
Incidents are analyzed and the actions taken afterwards are monitored;
incident analysis reports and results are stored;
Information about incidents is reported to the authorized organization and the authorized body in the field of civil aviation;
coordination of actions with other partners is ensured;
6) the aerodrome (heliport) operator has developed rules for the identification, analysis and assessment of factors that pose a danger to the safe operation of aircraft, as well as the implementation of appropriate measures to reduce such a danger.;
7) the aerodrome (heliport) operator has developed rules according to which, in the event of any change at the aerodrome (heliport), its consequences for flight safety are analyzed and the resulting hazards that may occur are listed. The rules define the responsible persons for conducting the analysis, the control procedures and the measures taken to eliminate dangerous factors, including the criteria for conducting the analysis. The results of these assessments are recorded and stored;
8) the aerodrome (heliport) operator establishes and monitors its own flight safety indicators reflecting its flight safety criteria in order to be able to analyze potential deficiencies.
9) the aerodrome (heliport) operator has developed a flight safety inspection program, which includes a training program for inspectors;
10) The aerodrome (heliport) operator has developed a process for the promotion of safety information.
Since the SMS of the aerodrome (heliport) operator may be at the stage of development and implementation during the initial certification and may not be fully operational, the SMS effectiveness will be assessed through continuous monitoring.
SMS-related requirements also apply to subcontractors of the aerodrome (heliport) operator in relation to issues within the scope of certification.
In cases where certification surveys and inspections have already been conducted, verification takes into account the results of previous inspections and appropriate corrective actions, where appropriate.
The aerodrome (heliport) operator must ensure that all users of the aerodrome, including ground handling agencies and other organizations that independently carry out their flight or aircraft maintenance activities at the aerodrome, comply with the safety requirements of the aerodrome operator's SMS. The aerodrome operator monitors such compliance.