The series of incidents and the investigation committees of Nepal Aviation
October 6, 2016 – Kathmandu
The recent repetitive incidents and crashes in Nepali aviation industry definitely demand a serious action to be taken regarding the safety procedures being followed. Whilst the Government of Nepal whose primary concern this time should be to uplift the safety of aviation has increased the number of investigation committee to four. The total number of airlines operating passenger service count is just eight.
The investigation committee number reached four after Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) constituted a new committee to investigate upon a Yeti Airline’s Jetstream 41 aircraft that overshoot the runway while landing at Bhairawa Airport last Wednesday. A committee was formed before this when a helicopter of fishtail Air crashed on Gorkha on July 29 leaded by ex-director of civil aviation Hari Bhakta Shrestha. The committee treasurer was Suresh Acharya, joint secretary who has been a member of more than a dozen of investigation committees already.
The other committee functioning now led by ex-treasurer Yagya Prashad Gautam was formed after the Makalu Air forced landing in river incident on July 4. Mr. Gautam was investigating the Air Kasthamandap PAC 750XSTOL crash at Kalilot while he joined the other investigation committee.
Another investigation committee was formed to investigate the Nepal Airlines Airbus 320 aircraft emergency landing made at Delhi Airport with 6 member’s group coordination with joint treasurer Suresh Acharya. This committee was supposed to prepare the report within 15 days of appointment but after months also it has not been able to prepare the report.
The members of the committee have to be paid Nepali Rupees 30 thousand at national expense. Their travel expenses and abroad visit for further investigations are spent in coordination with the airlines and their insurance companies.
The investigation committee of yeti Airlines has been provided time duration of 75 days for the investigation. The aircraft had overshoot the runway because of brake failure as per the preliminary investigation and was forced about 442 feet out North of the runway. The aircraft was carrying 29 passengers and 3 crew members who were all safe in the incident.
The committee has also informed that the aircraft will no longer be used by Yeti Airlines which will limit the fleet of the airline for trunk sector to six.
