AOAN welcomes CAAN’s decision to allow flights under favourable weather

KATHMANDU, August 20: The Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has welcomed the new circular issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to allow flights to remote destinations after operational hours with added checklists.

The AOAN, which has been expressing dissatisfaction with the standards issued by the authority for about a month, said that the new circular issued recently is a welcome decision.

“We are fully aware that there should be no shortcoming in air flight safety. We will continue to move forward with necessary discussions and cooperation on the various difficulties that may arise in the future while operating air flights," said the statement issued by the association. The Authority had issued a new safety guideline in view of the difficulties faced by the people and tourists who are taking air services in remote areas including Karnali.

In view of the current serious situation, the association said that any problems that may occur in the future during air flights will be properly identified and resolved through consensus and cooperation.

Under the new circular, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to approve flights after operational hours in hilly areas and STOL airports after the pilot in command and dispatcher have ensured the VMC minima of the destination airport, en route path, and alternate airports and given a written letter to conduct the CAAN. 

Similarly, decisions have been made to airline companies are mandated to arrange a flight operation officer for flights from Nepalgunj to short-distance airports.

The CAAN has also decided to form a high-level committee on the issue of increasing the flight time at the airport in the hilly areas under the coordination of the Deputy Director General of the CAAN which will review the flight time at the airport in the hilly areas.

At present, CAAN has halted flight operations in hilly areas and STOL airports citing fight safety reasons during the monsoons.