Air Astana to shift some jets to Irish register under new regulatory pact

Some of the aircraft operated by Kazakh carrier Air Astana are set to be transferred to the Irish registry under a new regulatory services agreement between the two countries. Under ICAO standards such a formal arrangement enables aircraft operated in one country to be registered in another. The agreement between Kazakhstan’s government and the Irish Aviation Authority is intended to support the Central Asian state’s efforts to improve air transport safety. Irish aviation regulator Diarmuid O’Conghaile says a “number” of Air Astana aircraft will be re-registered over the rest of this year. He adds that the authority will review the aircraft and provide certificates of airworthiness. “Other aspects of regulatory oversight will be delegated to the Kazakh civil aviation authority,” he says. Air Astana aircraft are currently registered in the Caribbean territory of Aruba.<br/>