[Archive] 'Air Chaos' Caused by Weak Regulation

जेष्ठ १, २०८२

कान्तिपुर संवाददाता

[Archive] 'Air Chaos' Caused by Weak Regulation

The government increased the policy of increasing the number of ships and helicopters in Nepalese skies by introducing private sector investment in air services, but could not implement it properly. In the 50s, the private sector started flying to tourist destinations by registering helicopter companies.

However, due to the disorderly flight of ships and helicopters, a kind of chaos appeared in the airspace. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, which has taken responsibility for its control, could not coordinate with the Department of Tourism and Aviation, which is under it, and the air sector has become a self-governing state.

Air service companies that were opened for tourism development were like a kind of burden for the air department . Even though complaints such as canceling flights of charter planes, delaying flight permits, flying helicopters of unregistered companies in Nepal, not coming under the scope of tax and going to other places with a flight permit for one purpose and location, tourists getting off everywhere, the mechanisms set up for regulation could not work . 

The tourism department introduced a policy to allow air service companies to charter only 10 percent of their business to make it regular. They used to say that the tourists would be packed and they would fly even if they were chartered. But there were complaints that the flight was hindered by the policy of the air service . Businessmen complained that if a chartered Twin Otter fails to fly, it will result in a loss of lakhs of rupees. In addition, the investors of Ekathari Air Services were greatly upset due to those who flew by violating the rules.

There was no radar in the airports and the lack of necessary staff even after a long time, there was a complaint that there was negligence in granting and canceling flights due to the lack of management. There was a complaint that Dynasty Helicopter flew illegally but no action was taken. 

Dynasty spent a night in Dhulikhel without taking a flight permit and after running out of fuel while flying over Dolalghat, passengers got off and sent to Kathmandu by vehicle, landed in Gorkha when coming from Pokhara to Kathmandu, flew in the same way from Jomsom and Leyte without permission . Similarly, information was also received that the dynasty itself returned by taking a 'mountain flight' with permission for Lukla. 

Air service providers in the private sector had complained about the flights of VVIP and army helicopters. If such helicopters compete with others, the private sector service providers have been holding the view that revenue should also be paid. Not only the domestic, but also the foreign air services in the Nepalese territory, the air department remained silent and innocent.

Canadian aircraft made a mountain flight in Nepal in the first week of December 2050. But the regulatory body was not aware of it. Even at Tribhuvan International Airport, there was a lack of air traffic control technicians. There were only 12 of the 16 controllers required at the airport. Among them, only 8 people worked regularly every day. 

Even though there is an encouraging situation where the private sector has started operating air services in the Nepali sky, focusing on the problems caused by the regulatory bodies not being able to coordinate the management, Kantipur daily published a news on 14th of November 2050 under the title "Private Aviation Services: The Ministry is Unable to Regulate". Mainly, the Ministry of Tourism was unable to monitor and evaluate the work of the two departments of Tourism and Aviation.

Presentation: Rishiram Paudyal

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