Nepal ranks last at ICAO audit  

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Nepal is at the botton of International Civil Aviation Organisation’s audit report of the Asia Pacific region featuring at the 25th position.

The Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme of ICAO that has featured 26 nations within Asia Pacific region is based on the survey by ICAO team in Kathmandu on May 8 - 14, 2009.

According to the audit report Nauru stood at the 26th position. To improve the ranking, domestic aviation sector apart from a unified approach and improvement in aviation law has to implement legislation effectively, according to deputy director general of Air Transport and Regulation Directorate of CAAN Tri Ratna Manandhar.

Aviation law needs imporvement and the players should move in a unified approach,” he said, addressing ‘Aviation Law Seminar’ organised here in the valley.

“We needs to focus on the requirement of common approach of all the stakeholders for the sustainable development of aviation industry,” he said, adding that the sector should move ahead strengthening itself.

“There are three main legislation in the process of amendment,” informed assistant manager, ICAO/ASA/ International Relations Department of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane.

Civil Aviation Regulation 2058, Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Regulation 2024, and Aviation Security Regulation 2046 are the legislation in the process of amendment.

“There are a number of issues that needs to be addressed in Nepali aviation legal field,” Lamichhane said, adding that implementation of provisions of Chicago convention 1944 in its spirit, International Air service policy and regulation of Foreign Airlines, Implementation of One Window policy, Liberal Sky policy, Air Transport Development and National Interest are some of the issues that needs to be addressed. 

Tara Air crash report




KATHMANDU: A five-member Accident Investigation Commission recommended 14 safety rules including three interim safety recommendations to the concerned agencies for the enhancement of safety and to prevent accidents in the future. According to the commission, the main reason for Tara Air crash was an inappropriate traffic signal of Kathmandu Area Control Centre and lack of proper communication between the pilots. Tara Air 9N-AFX Twin Otter aircraft crashed in Okhaldhunga in route from Lamidanda Airfield to Kathmandu on December 15, 2010. The commission — formed on December 17, 2010 — handed over the report to Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation during a programme organised at the Ministry on Sunday.