Kazakhstan intends to toughen passengers' liability for smoking in-flight

Astana. 28 March. Kazakhstan Today - At an enlarged meeting of the Committee for Economic Policy, Innovation Development and Entrepreneurship of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, the bill "On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Issues of Airspace Use and Aviation Activities" was considered. According to the document, it is planned to strengthen liability for violation of aviation security, Vice-Minister for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar reported.

The bill provides the amendment of 8 legislative acts and 5 laws.

The Committee has made amendments aimed at attributing the consumption of tobacco products onboard the aircraft to the situations threatening flight safety.

"One of the amendments concerns tobacco smoking. It will be equated with violations that could pose a threat to flight safety. It is essentially important. For it criminal liability can threaten. We believe that this is a rather serious incident, which should be considered as a violation of the rules of flight safety. Now administrative responsibility is provided if it is flight threat to security, then there will be up to criminal", - the Vice-Minister informed.

As R. Sklyar noted, the bill is aimed at harmonization with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"To improve the quality of the investigation of avia accidents and incidents, the bill provides the introduction of investigative commissioners, that is, officials who have special rights and responsibilities to organize an investigation of avia accidents", - R. Sklyar declared.

The compliance of the Aviation Law with ICAO requirements allows Kazakhstan aircraft companies to withdraw from the black list of the European Union. Adoption of this block of amendments to the law will ensure and significantly improve the level of flight safety and quality of air transportation.

"It is important that our legislation is in harmony with the requirements of the ICAO. In this regard, we have reformatted the work of the Civil Aviation Committee. Now we need to move on, as the ICAO also doesnИt stand still - they have new requirements. And we must comply with them", - the Vice-Minister stressed.

It should be noted that the International Civil Aviation Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that establishes international civil aviation standards, and coordinates its development in order to increase safety and efficiency.

Source: strategy2050.kz website

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