The European Union (EU) ambassador for Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, has indicated that if the law to divide the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal into a service provider and a regulatory body is passed, the ban imposed on European skies 11 years ago can be removed.

The current Civil Aviation Authority is active in both the role of service provider and regulatory body. The government has already prepared a draft of the proposed bill to divide the authority into two institutions.

In an event held in Kathmandu on Monday, European Union (EU) Ambassador Lorenzo said that if the bill is passed, the ban imposed by the European Union can be removed.

The European Union (EU) held an international workshop in Kathmandu on Monday for the aviation regulatory bodies of 8 countries including Nepal under the South Asia Aviation Partnership Program. Ambassador Lorenzo, who participated in the program, gave this message about the ban imposed by the EU on Nepal. The European Union has been raising this issue since 2013.  Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey, Director General of Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Pradeep Adhikari and other high officials also participated in the

event. 

She said, 'We have been cooperating since 2013 to enhance Nepal's air security. Since then, the decision to remove the arrangement of having a representative member of the air service in the authority's board is welcome.

In a workshop on helicopter operation and regulation in high mountain areas, she said, 'Until the bill made to divide the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority is passed, the work of the two organizations will be done through one organization. There is no end to the conflict of interests. For that too, I request the government of Nepal to pass the bill soon. Only then can the EU think about removing Nepal from the ban imposed on the European Union.'

While the discussion of division of authority is going on, the authority made a law of functional division after the authority, and the staff in the 'Aviation Safety and Security Regulation Directorate (Directorate)' To prevent conflict of interest in Aviation Services Directorate (Service Provider Directorate)  The transfer was banned.

Ambassador Lorenzo said that even though the rules related to employee services were amended and implemented, it was not enough.  In the

program, Minister Pandey expressed his happiness that the EU has planned an international level workshop in Nepal. He recalled that there have been many incidents and accidents related to helicopters in Nepal and said that he is confident that this workshop will provide in-depth knowledge and skills for the airline companies and pilots flying Nepalese helicopters. The director general of the

authority said that the workshop will enhance the rich knowledge about high-altitude helicopter flight, risk identification, analysis, weather forecasting, planning, safety equipment-requirements, emergency planning, etc. He said that the authority has developed a strong regulatory structure by implementing safety recommendations issued by various agencies and international practices to effectively implement helicopter safety in remote flights in Nepal.