EU positive regarding Nepal’s air safety

A technical team from the European Union (EU) has made positive observation regarding Nepal’s aviation safety following an audit of Nepal’s entire aviation safety field.

A technical operation team of European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that recently arrived in Nepal carried out the audit from October 7 to 9.

The three-member technical team of the EASA is scheduled to submit its report to Nepal government on October 28, according to sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The CAAN would respond to the issues raised in the report.

CAAN spokesperson of Jagannath Niraula said that EU would remove Nepal from its air safety list since the technical team was positive regarding Nepal’s aviation safety. He informed that the team had studied and interacted regarding the progress made by Nepal in the area of aviation safety.

“The CAAN would respond to the issues raised in the report and the final decision to remove Nepal from EU’s air safety list would be decided once the final report was submitted to the EU,” stated Spokesperson Niraula.

The EU has kept Nepal on its air safety list for the past one decade owing to which the airlines companies registered in Nepal are not allowed to conduct flights to the EU member states. As a result the aircrafts of the Nepal Airlines Corporation and Himalayan Airlines are not allowed to make their flights to the EU sky. However, the aircrafts from EU member states could use Nepal’s sky in an accessible manner.

Niraula also informed that the technical team is satisfied after concluding the technical studies and consultations with the CAAN officials.

The EU technical team carried out its audit by based on different aspects including International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit report that puts Nepal above the global average, Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accident) Regulation passed from the Council of Ministers and others.

The EU technical team conducted its assessment on eight areas including legislation, personal licensing, flight operation, accident investigation, air navigation services, aerodrome and ground aides and others, according to sources at CAAN.