In accordance with subparagraph 54-1) of Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, ground handling means a service required upon the aircraft arrival at an airport (aerodrome) or departure of an aircraft from an airport (aerodrome), not including air traffic services.

The list of works and services that are part of ground handling is defined in Chapter 2 of the Order of the Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 30 October 2018 No. 749 “On approval of the list of goods, works, and services of aerodrome and ground handling that are part of airport operations”.

With regard to ensuring flight safety and aviation security, ground handling activities are regulated by the following regulatory legal acts:

1) Passenger handling — Order of the Acting Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 24 February 2015 No. 189 “On approval of the Rules for organizing passenger handling at the airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.

2) Baggage, cargo and mail handling — Order of the Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 27 November 2015 No. 1117 “On approval of unified requirements and technological procedures at international airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the carriage and handling of baggage, postal items and cargo by air”.

3) Air transport of dangerous goods — Order of the Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 21 June 2017 No. 371 “On approval of the Instructions for the air transport of dangerous goods on civil aircraft”.

4) Rules for organizing the operation of special vehicles at airports — Order of the Acting Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 26 March 2015 No. 327 “On approval of the Rules for the organization of special transport operations at airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.

5) Rules for aircraft de-icing/anti-icing on the ground — Order of the Acting Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 7 March 2023 No. 141 “Rules of Aircraft Ground De-icing/Anti-icing Operations on the ground”.

6) Rules for storage, preparation for fueling and quality control of aviation fuels and lubricants and special fluids in civil aviation organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Order of the Acting Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 24 February 2015 No. 191 “On approval of the Rules for storage, preparation for fueling and quality control of aviation fuels and special liquids in civil aviation organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.

7) Rules for supplying civil aircraft with aviation fuels and lubricants — Order of the Acting Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 24 February 2015 No. 190 “On approval of the Rules for Providing Aviation Fuel to civil aircraft”.

8) Requirements for organizations supplying aviation fuels and lubricants to civil aircraft — Order of the Acting Minister for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 24 February 2015 No. 188 “On approval of the Requirements for organizations providing Aviation fuel for civil aircraft”.

9) Rules for access of a ground handling service provider to the airport territory — Order of the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 2 October 2019 No. 750 “On approval of the Rules for ground handling at airports”.

10) Rules for flight preparation for civil and experimental aviation — Order of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 25 June 2011 No. 390 “On approval of the Rules for flight preparation for civil and experimental aviation”.

Ground handling activities in Kazakhstan are not subject to certification. State oversight is being carried out to ensure that civil aviation organizations performing ground handling comply with flight safety requirements.

In accordance with subparagraph 14) of Article 10‑2 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, ground handling is subject to flight safety control.

In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 16‑4 of the said Law, flight safety control for individuals and/or legal entities whose activities are not subject to certification by the authorized organization in civil aviation but fall under the activities provided for in Article 10‑2 of the Law is carried out by the authorized organization in civil aviation (JSC “Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan”).

The types of ground handling activities that affect flight safety and are subject to oversight include:

• Aircraft load control (load planning, weight and balance calculations, and monitoring the loading process on the apron);

• Apron servicing of an aircraft, including: loading and unloading of baggage; transportation of cargo (mail); aircraft arrival and departure handling; towing; air conditioning; air start of engines; potable water servicing; power supply; aircraft taxiing guidance(“follow me”); lavatory servicing; provision of aviation fuel(fueling) and lubricants; de-fueling; de-icing/anti-icing protection of an aircraft on the ground;

• Handling of dangerous and other special cargo, including build‑up/breakdown, as well as cargo and mail handling.

Thus, since the above activities directly affect flight safety, their performance is subject to control by the authorized organization in civil aviation (JSC “Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan”).

In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 16‑4 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, flight safety control in relation to ground handling is carried out by means of:

1.a scheduled inspection conducted in accordance with the approved Schedule of inspections of ground handling activities (second paragraph of paragraph 2 of Article 16‑4 of the Law);

2. an unscheduled inspection conducted when there are grounds provided for in the third paragraph of paragraph 2 of Article 16‑4 of the Law:

1) control over the execution of inspection orders to eliminate identified non-compliance of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the use of the airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and aviation activities, based on the results of an inspection and other forms of oversight and control;

2) receipt of information and appeals from individuals and legal entities, state bodies, deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and local representative bodies regarding the causing, or the threat of causing, harm to human life, health, the environment and the lawful interests of individuals and legal entities, and the state;

3) an initiative request by the inspected individual or legal entity for an inspection of its activities;

4) change of surname, name, patronymic (if indicated in an identity document) of the inspected individual, or change of name and reorganization of the inspected legal entity, if a selective inspection had been planned in respect of them;

5) a repeat inspection related to an appeal of the inspected individual or legal entity disagreeing with the initial inspection.

3. observations and analysis of their activities for compliance with flight safety requirements in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 10 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, on the basis of information, documents and materials provided by individuals and legal entities to the authorized organization in civil aviation (JSC “Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan”).

In accordance with Article 65 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, ground handling is performed by the airport (aerodrome) operator and/or a ground handling service provider, as well as by an airline that self-handles its aircraft, passengers, baggage, cargo and mail.

In accordance with subparagraph 54‑2) of Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, a ground handling service provider is an individual or legal entity that provides ground handling services on the territory of an airport (aerodrome), excluding the airport (aerodrome) operator and an airline that self-handles its aircraft, passengers, baggage, cargo and mail.

In accordance with the third paragraph of paragraph 2 of Article 65 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 July 2010 No. 339‑IV “On the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activities”, the procedure and conditions for providing ground handling services on the airport territory, the requirements for ground handling service providers, and the template form of a standard contract for ground handling services are determined by the Order of the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 2 October 2019 No. 750 “On approval of the Rules for ground handling at airports”.

A ground handling service provider gains access to providing services at the airport through a selection tender (competition) conducted by the airport (aerodrome) operator in accordance with the Order of the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 2 October 2019 No. 750 “On approval of the Rules for ground handling at airports”.