Two weeks later EU's initial report

KATHMANDU, Oct 16: The European Union's preliminary observation report for the country's aviation safety audit is due two weeks later.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), there will be a positive response through the three-day preliminary observation conducted from October 6 to 8.

In a three-day observational survey, a representative team from the EU conducted a study based on two airlines flying to difficult destinations. They have expressed their satisfaction during this study,' said Jagannath Niraula, spokesperson of the authority.

According to CAAN, the EU has planned to come to Nepal for an audit three months after the preparation of the report under the SSO 'State Safety Oversight'. The observation, which was attended by three representatives, took place from October 6 to 8.

This team came to Nepal after eight years for pre-observation for air safety audit. Earlier, the Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducted a safety audit last April. The authority said that Nepal will be released from the air safety list as soon as the EU's safety audit is completed. According to the authority, the aviation safety rate of Nepal has reached 70 percent in ICAO's audit.

Through this air safety audit, the EU has studied eight areas including legislation, institutions, airworthiness, personal licensing, flight operations, air navigation services, aerodromes and ground aids, and accident investigations.

The European Union team has been in constant communication and contact with the authorities on the basis that many of its citizens lost their lives in five air accidents in Nepal between 2010 and 2012.