Nepal to strengthen inspections for pilots for safety

Kathmandu, Aug 13 (IANS) As human errors have been pointed out as a major reason for increasing air accidents in Nepal, the authorities said they would strengthen inspections for "health and behaviour" of crew members.

Nepal witnessed six air accidents in the last one year, killing 36 passengers and crew members.

Speaking at Committee for Good Governance and Monitoring of Nepali Parliament on Friday, Sanjeev Gautam, director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said the CAAN has decided to focus on addressing human behaviour issue of the crew members, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We don't understand why the pilots are repeatedly entering clouds as it is a violation of the standard operating procedure," Gautam said.

Gautam told the lawmakers that the CAAN has issued a circular to airline operators telling them that if any pilots were found entering into cloud during the monsoon season, their licenses would be withdrawn immediately.

Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Secretary Prem Kumar Rai said the government would implement the policy of regular health check for pilots before they start a flight.

Nepali lawmakers said if the current safety issues were not corrected immediately, anyone could be a victim.

They said that repeated air accidents have spread the bad image of Nepal as a risky country for travel.

The Himalayan nation is under the significant safety concern list of International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Commission has banned Nepali airlines to fly over the sky of European Union showing deficiency in the country's air safety.