Tajikistan Updates Air Code to Strengthen Aviation Safety

The Tajik government has approved a draft law introducing extensive amendments to the country’s Air Code and sent it to the lower house of parliament for review.

The decision was published on the Justice Ministry’s legal information portal, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

The sweeping reforms aim to expand the regulation of civil aviation and tighten safety oversight. The draft introduces dozens of new terms related to airline operations, aviation training and medical centers, air navigation, ground handling, and the use of airspace - including rules for operating unmanned aerial vehicles.

The updated legislation clarifies definitions such as “passenger,” “landing site,” the status of aircraft in distress, and safety requirements for airports and surrounding areas.

A major focus is strengthening state control and supervision of civil and experimental aviation. The draft outlines a detailed list of activities subject to oversight - from aircraft operations and air traffic services to technical maintenance, personnel medical checks, and aviation and information security.

One of the most notable updates is the formalization of aviation inspectors’ status. Inspectors will receive broad powers, including access to aircraft and infrastructure, the right to issue mandatory orders, suspend flights, and monitor compliance with certification standards. The law also sets requirements for their training, qualifications, and insurance.

The system for investigating aviation accidents and incidents is also significantly overhauled. The draft calls for creating a unified system for mandatory and voluntary reporting of aviation occurrences, protecting information sources, ensuring independent investigative commissions, and defining cooperation procedures with foreign states and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Additional changes refine medical examination rules for aviation personnel, certification procedures for aviation medical centers and experts, and the process for certifying aircraft types and recognizing foreign certificates. Requirements for registering - and deregistering - aircraft in the national registry are also updated.

The law will enter into force after parliamentary approval and official publication.