According to him, the Air Code serves as the primary law in the field of civil aviation of the republic. "This can be compared to a constitution for civil aviation — a set of rules that defines the functioning of the industry," Bostонов explained.
He noted that many countries around the world lack a centralized Air Code. "In some states, rules related to civil aviation are scattered across various documents or codes. We can be proud that we have a single document regulating all aspects of civil aviation. The Code clearly defines the duties and powers of bodies such as the State Agency for Civil Aviation, which is responsible for oversight," he added.
Bostонов emphasized that according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the legal acts of Kyrgyzstan comply with international standards and are user-friendly. "Each regulatory act has its own number and pertains to a specific area. For example, the first aviation act concerns the licensing of pilots and air traffic controllers, the second — flight rules in airspace, and so on. These numbers correspond to the 'annexes' of ICAO, which confirms their connection to international standards," he explained.
The head of the agency also added that in recent years, changes have been made to the Air Code aimed at harmonization with European legislation. "We did not completely revise the code, as is sometimes claimed, but made amendments so that it and the subordinate acts comply with European norms. These changes concern aspects that were previously not specified. European countries also undergo ICAO audits and adhere to international practices, just like us. All changes were agreed upon over three years and made before the defense in Brussels," Bostонов reported.
He added that the process of adopting the Air Code in Kyrgyzstan was swift. "Europeans often cite us as an example to other countries: usually, this takes at least two years, but we managed to adopt the code in just six months. They were surprised, and the defense in Brussels was successful," he said.
Furthermore, Bostонов noted that the code is fully harmonized with the documents of other countries that are part of ICAO, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and EU states. "All 193 ICAO member countries have coordinated documents that cannot significantly differ from international standards," he concluded.
