Pranay
Shrestha Says:
December 20th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Dear Sir,
I would like to test the blog.
indra Says:
December 21st, 2007 at 4:54 am
Aajako Kantipur hernuhola
Rajesh Says:
December 21st, 2007 at 5:20 am
Decision making is quite slow on your
Ministry. So many files are pending in
your chamber.
aasi Says:
December 21st, 2007 at 5:40 am
give attention on result not in procedure.people
will highly appreciate you if you can
improve the condition of NAC.did you read
the suggestion given by a japanese girl,who
faced the problem of sexual harrasement
at the KTM airport.can you bring chang
at that real problem of airport?
leela Says:
January 1st, 2008 at 7:47 am
Thank you for comments. I have no files
pending in my chamber as such you have
mentioned. Can you tell me which file
you intend to indicate? Even then I will
try to speed up.
NAC improvement is on my priority list.
I noticed the news in kantipur by a japanese
tourist and immediately acted on it. First
I called explanation from all the concerned
officials. Second asked CAAN DG to prepare
improvement plan and moniter everyday.
Third requested the secretary of home
to take action to the police. Fourth I
tried to reach the lady by email and apologize
on behalf of the ministry. I got immediate
responce from the organizations under
this ministry with some improvements in
trolley, toilet and taxy services and
also got positive response from the secretary
of home for alerting police and also appreciation
from the Japanese lady with hope to improve
situation in Nepal.
Do post more suggestions
bodhraj Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 am
good initiative.this interactive move
may invite feedback and help in reform
process.
leela Says:
January 6th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I got a piece of paper (without giving
name) complaining absentism of our staff
at the receiption desk on particular date.
I checked it and found that the day you
have mentioned was officially closed.
If you have access on this page and give
particular date and time I can trace out
the staff on duty there. Any way whoever
is on duty and whenever the outsider visit
the spot our staff must be there.
leela mani paudyal
secretary
siva Says:
January 10th, 2008 at 7:32 am
i just want to check this blog
siva
Yuri Mrakadi Says:
January 11th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Yuri Mrakadi
Man i just love your blog, keep the cool
posts comin..
leela Says:
January 17th, 2008 at 11:19 am
nothing has come up since along
Ravi Shrestha Says:
January 20th, 2008 at 4:45 am
First of all I would like to say that
in this blog we don’t have much information
about anything but i think it’s a very
positive move. I too appreciate the guts
of Leela ji to face the public questions.
Right now, i don’t have any comments but
i post it later but just wanted to drop
few words of appreciation for this positive
move.
leela Says:
January 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Ravi jee
I will post some policy documents in
near future. You can post comments on
programs launched by the Ministry, Service
delivery mechanism or any suggestions
on the matters relating to us.
Hari Says:
January 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am
?? Blog ?? newer comments at top ??????
?? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? comment ?????
scroll ??? ?????? ????? ? ???? !
I wish this blog would be the collection
of constructive comments and suggestions
in coming days.
All the best.
Santa Subba Says:
January 21st, 2008 at 6:41 am
Dear Lela ji,
It is very good to have this. Despite
your busy schedule this is another window
through which you can see more and hear
more. This is the best way to make yourself
approachable. Instead of a wall now the
public and concern people could talk to
you and get the answer from you. Thank
you for opening this communication line.
Keep up with your enthusiasm. I am sure
the communication gives another light
to the problem you face.
TPSS Says:
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:54 am
Even after very longtime, the arrangement
of the meeting by the ministry is very
appriciable. We have some suggestion regarding
SM.
1. It would be better if the SM were more
interactive.
2. SM should be scheduled in regular basis
in fix date & time and duration shouled
be expanded.For the time management of
SM, the agenda should be collected from
all section at least two-three days before
of the scheduled meeting.
3. Response to the issues raised in the
SM should be given by the management in
the next meeting. It may help in inhanching
accountability of Mgt.
4. Absence of particular staff either
prominent or minor should not effect the
SM.
5. To bring uniformity, the format of
weekly workplan and reporting should be
circulated to all section.
leela Says:
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:08 am
Thanks to santa subba and TPSS for your
suggestions. Keep on posting!
leela Says:
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 am
TO TPSS
However exdending time frame for staff
meeting is not good from service recipants
point of view. since all the staff member
will be engaging in the meeting it should
not be longer than 1 hour
shrestha Says:
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
The blog is very good initiation. I used
to surf the the website of our ministry.which
is diplayed by welcome to Nepal. There
are some useful links …. It would be better
to link with Nepal Tourism Board too,
it may provide broader areas of the Ministry.
I feel absentism of the staffs being reducing
than before in the ministry and sprit
is going up,It should be keep up.
aasi Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Make a strong mechanism to select the
candidate for abroad travel.select them
on seniority basis.Donot pick them from
back door,who are just entered in the
organition and have less investment to
the organisation.Follw the system strictly,otherwise
frustration may come to the employee,who
have not given chance on a system basis.
Bhishma Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 4:21 am
According to H.E Japanese ambassador to
Nepal we need to manage following things
to increase japanese tourist in Nepal
:(we know previous 50000 number of japanese
tourist has been decreasing by 15000/year)
These points are based on unoffecial bilateral
talks programme:
1.stablish a flight information center
at TIA and other airports,Increase airport
facilities,flight should manage at given
time.
2.Unexpected bandh, traffic jam should
reduce or avoid
3.Improve the security system for tourist.They
have to believe they will secure in different
touristic places and travel route
4.Try to provide safe natural drinking
water.Improve quality of water,old pipe
lines should be changed.
5.organic vegetable,fruits and fresh milk
must be available at super marker.
6.There should be one joint declaration(statement)
by all party for international community,
where Illegal tax will not be taken by
the member of their party and institute.
7.Mailing system should improve.No one
is believing existing mailing system (post
office)
Thank you very much for your public hearing
blog.
Bhishma
leela Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 4:24 am
to aasi
We have a committee of all Joint secretaries
to recommend candidate for abroad travel.
I have not changed even a single recommendation
in last two months time. I have broadly
asked to follow four principles for recommendations
viz. 1) person with least chance to travel
abroad 2) relevance in terms of qualifications
and job assigned 3) candidates from women
and different ethnic communities who meet
minimum requirements and 4) candidates
from non-gazetted staff if qualification
and level of skills match some how.
Can you just point out the mistakes in
the past two months time so that I will
try to correct the mistakes in the future?
leela Says:
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 am
Thank you bhisma jee for fruitful suggestions.
We will try to manage the things you have
mentioned based on the information given
by Japanese ambassador to you. Regarding
security of the tourist I believe that
there is no security threat to any tourist
including Japanese as such but the perceptual
fear can be eliminated through one to
one talk and dissemination of information
through credible media. Every Nepali,
media and missions abroad has to play
active role to provide true information
about the security of tourist.
regarding bandhas it is unfortunate to
say that unexpected and often interruption
of traffic movements here and there now
and then is so serious that may severely
dampagn the Nepalese tourism industry.
aasi Says:
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 am
Being a junior in the orgn.,who is the
employee of your ministry,how a staff
has got chance to travel london? is this
false message ?
leela Says:
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
aasi
After my arrival no one has travelled
to london.
Hari Says:
February 4th, 2008 at 8:40 am
doesn’t this blog support Nepali Unicode?
Bishwo Bandu Sapkota Says:
February 5th, 2008 at 7:59 am
It is good to see that the MOCTCA website
has aircraft accident reports for Nepalese
air crashes in 2007, like that of USA,
Canada and UK. Hats off to the Ministry
for this opening up. Except the Ghunsa
Report, which is full of contradictions
(like the findings and recommendations
in utter disconnect) most of the other
reports are a refreshing change and point
out serious deficiencies as compared to
past reports that contained little matter.
Any way, since the reports are presumably
published to improve the status, are you
in any way aware that the list recommendations
in the reports have been complied with
by the concerned in the past on year.
Else, won’t the reports will just be wasting
the space on the website?
Mahendra Kumar KC Says:
February 5th, 2008 at 8:13 am
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
(CAAN)was a transformation of the erstwhile
Department of Civil Aviation in 1999 to
make is more “professional” and “service
oriented”. Yet the “tippani pratha” continues
unabated to this day.
The air operators who are “regulated”
by the CAAN have to wait for months (some
times years) to get their jobs done (eg
approval of various technical manuals,
training and maintenance schedules/programs
etc) and the usual reply given is “the
concerned inspectors are busy.” But if
we have to take these “inspectors” for
a week or month long sojourn abroad on
any excuse (all expenses paid by us, of
course) they are available at a moments
notice. What is this, Sir? If you don’t
believe me, please ask the concerned at
CAAN to send you a list of air operator
documents that need CAAN “approval” with
dates of initial submission to CAAN and
that of final approval in the last two
years. This reply, if it ever comes, shall
suffice, trust me.
Can’t the MOCTCA take action against
the concerned in CAAN for this dereliction
of duty and abuse of public office?
leela Says:
February 6th, 2008 at 9:47 am
to hari
Unicode is going to be installed soon.
to Sapkota
Definately CAAN has to improve its service
for safety and security. Thank god and
thanks to all involved in aviation indistry
of Nepal that no fatal accident occured
in 2007. It does not mean that there is
perfection we are cautious and will do
level the best to maintain standard safety
measures. If you were present in ICAO
day celebration program you would have
definately heard of the importance that
Ministry is giving for safety.
to mahendra
Let me check the matter and will respond
you later.
Sanjeev Kr. Gautam Says:
February 7th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Dear Sir,
Some time ago the Public Service Commission
had published an advertisement for an
Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Officer for
the Government of Nepal. I am amused to
note that the MOCTCA needs an ATC when
it doesn’t operate an airport control
tower, as the responsibility has been
passed to CAAN long ago. The ATC, as you
might know is a specific vocational training
for a very specific job namely air traffic
control.
I believe once the CAAN had been formed
in 1999, some opportunists chose to stay
with the MOTCA so that they could maintain
their “blue passports” while continuing
to unnecessarily interfere with and steal
the opportunities in the form of various
fellowships that were actually meant to
go the true aviation professionals and
attending the ICAO council meetings in
Montreal in the name of representing the
State, while passing on the responsibility
to CAAN. Of course, the MOCTCA has an
important task of monitoring CAAN and
air transport regulation (especially financial),
it needs
people with formal academic backgrounds
who are qualified for the job and not
just a vocational training holder who
will not be of much use except confusing
you and the past Secretaries with ICAO
jargon.
It is equally amazing that the Ministry
has continued to maintain a services group
(sewa samooh) for only five persons instead
of sending them to the Miscellaneous (vividh)
group long ago as is the practice. As
regarding the concerns for maintaining
a check on CAAN, why doesn’t the government
allow an open competition for the position
of the Director General like that of the
CEO of the Nepal Torism Board? I am sure
you would get a better pedigree professionals
with highly prized degrees from aviation
universities.
Please try to verify for yourself, as
to the training institution these ATCs
emerge from, and with whom is the Civil
Aviation Training Center (CATC) affiliated,
i.e., TU, KU, PU or CTEVT? Earlier, a
myth was propagated that the CATC was
approved by ICAO, but a visit to the link
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/trivia/peltrgFAQ.htm#50
on (Does ICAO approve training organizations
or training programmes?) will tell you
the bare facts will open your eyes about
this absolutely.
John Polay Says:
February 10th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Mr. Secretary,
Greetings,
Chanced upon you blog after trying to
find about the management of tourism in
Nepal. DId get a chance to fly to a few
beautiful places in your amazing country.
Being a pilot myself, I was surprised
to see aeroplane seats fitted to one of
the Mi helicopters (passenger version,
as I was told) that I flew in recently.
It is not permitted in my country, Canada,
where the airworthiness standards for
transport helicopters require seperate
helicopter seats, that are more crashworthy
and afford the occupants a chance to survive
helicopter accidents often involving vertical
drops, that are dangerous to the lower
human spine (backbone) and ultimately
human survivability.
I don’t know whether you are the right
person to report to, but since the title
of your ministry contains the words Civil
Aviation, I have been tempted to write
to you.
Your country is a nature’s marvel please
maintain it for future generations.
Cheers,
John Polay,
Ontario, CANADA
leela Says:
February 10th, 2008 at 9:02 am
to sanjeev
yes i agree that ATC officer may not
be required for the Ministry. However
fer technical experts in aviation sector
will be required to oversee the functions
of CAAN. No any government cannot deligate
accountabiliyty to any other organization
and to discharge such accountability too
we need aviation experts. In addition,
extertise also will be required to formulate
aviation policies, to conduct accident
investigations and to negotiate with foreign
governments on aviation. I am not in favour
of keeping big parafernalia in the ministry
but a lean nd thin aviation policy experts
are required. I will see the posibility
of reviewing organogram of the ministry
too.
Regarding training opportunities I have
sent many aviation related techinical
seats for training abroad to CAAN in my
two months time. Yes selection can be
done on free competition basis but need
political understanding
leela Says:
February 10th, 2008 at 9:06 am
to sanjeev
typological mistakes. read “Few” instead
of “Fer” and “No any government can” instead
of “no any government cannot”
leela Says:
February 10th, 2008 at 9:09 am
to Jonh
I will inquire upon it with CAAN and will
come back to you
Balakrishna Says:
February 10th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Respected Sir,
A few days back, in some leading Nepalese
dailies, a number of vacancies had been
posted by yetiairlines.com, including
that for an Operations Director. Operations
Director, as you might know, is a highly
responsible position in any airline and
consequently his appointment has to be
approved by the CAAN. Now, the question
arises whether any scheduled airline operation
can commence without an Operations Director,
as the vacancy notice shows? It appears
this is indeed the case.
As you noted in your reply regarding
your commitment to safety to Mr. Bishwo
Bandu Sapkota above, is this not a violation
of basic safety norms by the CAAN and
perhaps also your ministry? Before you
had arrived in this ministry, some time
ago, CAAN had threatened to suspend the
AOC of Cosmic Air on grounds of safety
including the non-compliance of requirements
on Flight Operations Quality Assurance
(FOQA) etc. I don’t think that the requirement
of this FOQA has been met by
yetiairline.com. In this case who is responsible
for this waiver, too, apart from that
of the Operations Director, as mentioned
earlier?
Can you really tell me by means of this
blog whether you and CAAN have double
standards for two airlines for some special
reasons?
Final question- Is CAAN for airline regulation
or promotion? As both tasks are directly
opposite in nature.
Waiting for your reply,
Sincerely,
Balakrishna
Khilnath Pokharel Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 5:31 am
After going through your interesting blog,
I wish to commend you for this attempt
to open up, despite the Nepalese bureaucracy
being secretive in nature. Some of the
postings indicate serious discrepancies
in the functioning of CAAN, but the silver
lining is that you appear to be interested
in improving the state.
Recently, one of the Mi-17 helicopters
operated by UNMIN was involved in an incident
near Okhuldunga, as reported by some dailies.
Strangely, despite the fact that the aircraft
is on the Russian civil registration,
Nepal (State of Occurance) has NOT instituted
an investigation in this incident, as
required by the Annex 13 (Aircraft Accident
and Incident Investigation). This, unfortunately,
doesn’t portend well if Nepal is really
interested in improving air safety, as
you have been mentioning in your postings.
Either, the experts who are advising you
(as you mentioned that you have ATC experts
to advise you in a posting above) are
not serious or they are unaware of the
Annex contents, as they ought to be.
Please make those responsible for this
lack of oversight accountable else such
tendencies will invariably lead to major
disasters in future as well.
One interesting, but scary, information
for you would be the lack of necessary
data and tools (including the relevant
drawing of various international aircraft
operating into Nepal, detailed schematics
of emergency access, the cutting tools
to make a break-in the cabin for rescue
of occupants, in case of emergencies)
to the Rescue and Fire fighting (RFF)
Unit at TIA, who are supposed to be capable
to handle any emergency at the airport).
Can you imagine the scenario when a large
aircraft like A-340 were to catch a fire
at TIA (god forbid) and the RFF personnel
will have no hands-on-knowledge of cutting
in the cabin without proper tools and
platforms? Just stating a Category for
FF is not sufficient, as time will tell.
Rameshwor Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Honourable Sir,
I have very recently come to know about
this blog site from my friends in aviation
and would like to convey a concern about
the continued use of Russian pilots in
the the helicopter industry by validation
of ther Russian licenses, especially Mi-8,
Mi-17 etc. As you might be aware, the
ICAO in its website
(link is - http://www.icao.int/icao/en/trivia/peltrgFAQ.htm#12
)
about “Use of flight crew licences on
foreign-registered aircraft” clearly states
— “In general, the validation process
is used for short-term authorization while
the conversion process is used for longer-term
authorization.” This you can verify for
yourself, by just clicking on the link
and reading the paragraph.
Since Nepal claims following ICAO Standards
and guidelines as a mamber country, how
are the Russians being allowed to fly
Nepal registered Mi helicopters for over
a decade in the name of validation (a
decade is certainly not short-term, I
hope)! Thus, as it appears, CAAN is not
an aviation regulatory organization but
actually the aviation promotion body,
as Mr. Balakrishna has noted in his comment
earlier.
Just because the Mi-17 operators are
able to save expenses in training Nepalese
manpower, doesn’t give them the right
to make a mockery of international norms,
isn’t it? When the families of the Ghunsa
Mi accident will file a case in the court
soon, the Government of Nepal and CAAN
will come to senses, but it may be too
late.
How, can such blatant violations of ICAO
norms and guidelines get carried out for
such long, while Nepal celebrates ICAO
day every year, where all high position
holders pledge continued support for ICAO??
Or is it just enjoying government sponsored
lunch/dinner at a four /five star hotel,
please ask your subordinates and the CAAN
higher-ups?
Interestingly, this blog is beginning
top turn into a dossier of the incompetence,
corruption, and discrimination prevalent
in CAAN (and partly the Ministry, perhaps)
and this should sufficiently edify you
about the problems that perhaps never
reached you and your predecessors.
Best of luck in your enterprise for improving
the situation, which is still not beyond
repair!!!
with sincere regards,
S Maharjan Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Dear Sir,
I am student of Mechanical Enginering,
at Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk
and with some of my colleagues, under
the guidance of Prof. Ram Chandra Sapkota
we had fabricated an ultralight aircraft,
named Danfe as a part of our final year
project. This Danfe, shall surely be the
pride of Nepal as Nepal formally enters
the stage where aircraft are constructed
in Nepal. Yet, the CAAN is not allowing
us to flight test Danfe stating that it
doesn’t comply with CAAN airworthiness
regulations (FAR Part 25, as the NCAR
states). Another reason forwarded by CAAN
is the lack of insurance coverage.
My request to you, then is, please let
me know to what standards has the Avia
Club, Pokhara ultralight aircraft been
certified and yet flying. Can CAAN provide
documentary proof of these ultralights
are in compliance with FAR Part, 25 on
airworthiness. I can challenge you, it
is not the case. Then, why are these CAAN
airworthiness people trying to sabotage
our final year project, that was carried
out under a respected professor and based
on sound engineering practices?
leela Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 11:19 am
to balkrishna and khilanath
information given in last two para are
important and serious. I have taken inquiring
on the issues including the UNMIN accident
and will post response after getting clear
recommendation from CAAN which I am waiting.
The papers forwarded to the Ministry about
that incident were just papers prepared
by UNMIN that too was received when I
personally asked CAAN to produce me. I
have asked several questions to CAAN DG
about our responsibilities to oversee
the air safety got not very precise information
therefore i asked in writing to produce
precise information. prelimenary information
indicates that exhaust tail pipe was missing.
Is that serious problem to be made accountable
to CAAN authorities in your view?
I don’t have any double standard. I am
checking the seriousnes of the position
advertised as you have mentioned.
According to my information TIA has 8th
category fire fighting equipments at present.
Ministry and myself is intended to upgrade
it to 9th grade to accomodate Boeing 777
category aircraft and searching funds
for that. As a non-aviation person I don’t
have exact knowledge about the technical
skills and competency of fire fighting
personnel that CAAN has. Interestingly
last week I got a chance to observe mock
firefighting demonstration in pokhara
airport and I also tried equipment to
subside fire. I also asked questions to
the trainers sent from CAAN kath and to
trainees about their competencies and
prepardness.
leela Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
to S maharjan
I am pleased to know thatNepalese enginners
also competent to manufacture such a sophesticated
machine. Howerer design approval of any
aircraft is required before geting licence
for manufacturing aircraft including ultralite.
After design approval the manufacturing
process should go through licencing authorities.
Once it is manufactured the test flight
has to conduct under different circumstances
before getting type approval. Only the
country of manufacturer gives initial
type approval. Although this seems very
tuff and lengthy but it is mandotary for
any aircraft to be used for civilian purpose.
According to my information the ultralight
flying in Pokhara have type approval from
the authority of manufacturing country.
I do not want to discourage such an innovative
student but we are bound to follow the
internationally accepted standard procedures
before manufacturing any aircraft type
machine for the safety of public in general.
S Maharjan Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Sir,
Thank you for your prompt reply, but
it seems that you have been fed wrong
(misleading) information by somebody at
CAAN I don’t want to challenge you, but
wish to bring to your notice that the
ultralights have been made in Russia,
but the Nepalese Civil Airworthiness Requirement
(NCAR) clearly states that the type approval
(or type certificate) must have been granted
by FAA, JAA or CAA-UK. For your kind information,
the mentioned regulation (NCAR) DOESN’T
accept Russian certification! Alternatively
, the NCAR requires complaince with FAR
Part 23 and 25 for airworthiness certification
of aeroplanes, if it is to be flown in
Nepal. There is no other possible means
of complaince with NCAR, the existing
regulation, believe me.
As regards worldwide practice, experimental
aircraft are flown in many countries,
including USA and there is no requirement
for any formal certification, though certain
guidelines are made available by the concerned
Civil Aviation Authorities.
As far as following internationally accepted
standards, may I say with with due respect,
how is a cargo version Mi-17 converted
to “passenger version” by mere addition
of seats, that too aeroplane, as the actual
passenger version, called the Mi-172,
certified as per FAR Part 27,29 standards
costs 4-5 times?
Sir, therefore for your sake, kindly
don’t trust the crafty CAAN safety personnel,
as they are veterans in corruption and
unfortunately have been making Nepalese
airspace UNSAFE. In order to make a meaningful
contribution to your ministry, Sir, please
keep your eyes open at all times, else
they may sell you off too!
Binod G. Says:
February 13th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Hey guys,
This blog is turning into an expose of
deeply entrenched malaise in Nepalese
aviation, and bravo to Secretary Mr. Paudyal
for facing up to such tough issues. This
really feels like bare challenge thrown
at MOCTCA for redresal and bring discipline
to CAAN.
Some of the postings have been partially
replied to by Mr. Secretary, and I am
waiting to see the full response to the
issues raised.
Mr. Paudyal, please go over the todays
issue of JanAastha (1st Falgun), last
page and enjoy yet another scandal about
proving flight!!!
My, god how can such shameless acts continue
in civil aviation, which is believed to
be a highly regulated means of transport????
Next time I will rather buy a bus ticket
on my way back to Biratnagar.
Guys, keep it up.
leela Says:
February 14th, 2008 at 4:22 am
to S maharjan
I commend you and other fellows for bringing
the matters regarding licensing of airlines
in my notice. I am trying to find out
the facts about licences of Ultra light
flying objects and Mi17, both. I guess
maharjan jee you are a deligent Nepali
who manufactured a ultralight type aircraft
engine with the help of a teacher. Could
you please tell us your difficulty of
going through formalities. I want to encourage
and facilitate you. I would like to assure
you all that I remained honest in my duty
through out my career and will try to
remain so in the days to come as well
S Maharjan Says:
February 14th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Respected Sir,
I now deeply appreciate your commitment
to aviation safety and our efforts to
bring our engineering project to its completion
by your prompt response to my queries
regarding flying our Danfe ultralight.
The fact about certification of our ultralight
is that the airworthiness department of
CAAN, though a technical department, doesn’t
possess any technical capabilities including
necessary laboratories for materials,
fatigue testing necessary for certification
of airplanes or helicopters, yet it has
included a provision in its NCAR about
issuance of Type Certificates. I have
come to know from some of my senior engineer
working in other department sof CAAN that
they (airworthiness people) unfortunately
are interested in going abroad on operators
expenses and putting blind signatures
in any document necessary for importing
aircraft to Nepal, whether or not it complies
with Nepalese or international requirements
as the case of Mi-17 and Ultralight and
infact Kawasaki helicopter as well as
Y-12 airplane has shown.
As regards remedying our problems, The
CAAN must provide the follwoing guidelines
at the earliest in the form of regulation
or guidance/advisory circular necessary
for our and other future innovative projects-
1)Guidelines for fabrication and assembly
of experimental (amateur built) aircraft,
necessary standards/procedures for certification
of engines, propellers and lifting surfaces
(Wings) etc in a clear manner and affordable
manner (i.e., without going abroad).
2)Guidelines for the equipment including
its necessary standards that should be
onboard such experimental aircraft necessary
for flying it.
3)Guidelines for ground/flight testing
for evaluation as well as operation of
experimental (amateur built aircraft),
including airports/airfields which can
be used for test flights without posing
any danger to general population.
4)Guidelines for certification/licensing
as well as insurance for pilots who will
take part in such flight tests
Once the above are in place, Nepal will
have moved beyond the airworthiness on
paper alone and done some basic airworthiness
work as it should have been doing long
ago.
Your attempt to sincerely answer all
queries (mine included) clearly demonstrates
your honest commitment to improving aviation
safety in Nepal. May god bless you and
bring all success to your attempts for
betterment.
Thankfully yours,
SM
MP Sharma Says:
February 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Poudyal sir,
Namaskar,
Congratulations on your blog that is
proving to be hit with people in the tourism
and civil aviation and is beginning to
make waves. Since you are relatively new
to this ministry, the inputs that your
are getting from the optimists, as the
blog postings show, should help you get
a clear picture of the ills that pervade
the Nepalese aviation industry. Sadly,
it appears that both the operators and
the regulator (CAAN) are hand-in-glove
in all these murky dealings. Perhaps,
this also involves political involvements,
otherwise how could such rogue actions
go unnoticed?
Another, interesting fact for your information
is that most of the CAAN aircraft and
flight crew related regulations that go
by the name of Nepal Civil Airworthiness
Requirements (NCAR) and Flight Operations
Requirements (FOR) respectively, contain
provisions that state – “… as required
by the Director General.” It is these
clauses that are being used by the concerned
personnel in the Air Safety Department,
perhaps at the directions of the higher
ups, to interpret according to their under-the-table
dealings with operators, who always want
the cheapest way out. Perhaps, the waiver
of proving flights on four sectors to
yetiairlines.com was also as per DG’s
requirements, to save a lot of money to
the operator and in the process obtain
some commission to save for his old age
How can you have a regulation that depends
on the desires/prerogatives of one person,
the Director General, who himself is in
chair at the mercy of the Minister?
Is the CAAN DG god so as not to succumb
to temptations/pressures, in a place like
Nepal? Thus, different but identical cases
get handled independently as each time
the “requirement” of the DG may be different,
depending on many factors, which you can
understand. Can you imagine the Customs
Department’s DG imposing custom duty according
to his will/requirement everytime? Is
it not the purpose of any regulation to
maintain uniformity? Please try to address
this issue and things will begin to look
better immediately.
Best of luck in your attempts,
Regards
MP Sharma
SP Adhikari Says:
February 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Dear Mr. Paudyal,
Greetings,
I notice that you are knee-deep in the
aviation safety related criticisms/suggestions
that appear on this blog and this is good,
as it is giving you a frank (in fact,
precious) feed back that you could use
judiciously for making a positive impact.
I wonder if you have ever visited CAAN
Aviation Safety Department, at Sinamangal.
Please pay a visit to this sacred office
and inquire for yourself, in presence
of the CAAN Director General, if possible,
about the authority vested with the “Safety
Inspectors”. Please ask them to produce
the authority, either delegated or inherent
in their positions, in black and white.
Only them can you get a true picture of
the pathetic state of enforcement in aviation
safety in Nepal. In fact, the inspectors
have to raise every file as per instructions
from the higher-ups. There are no readymade
forms for accomplishing routine tasks,
as is the norm in other country’s CAAs.
Thus, how can you expect something from
such paper tiger inspectors who have no
authority whatsoever (in black and white)
to ground an unsafe aircraft, undisciplined
crew etc? Also ask them about the number
of flight crew who have been punished
(disciplined) in the past two years for
regulation violation etc and what was
the punishment meted out.
In the visit also ask the inspectors
about the number of files pending at their
table and the reason for the same. Why
is there a preferential treatment to a
particular airline in quickly clearing
files? Perhaps, some of them work at the
airline on a routine basis? What about
the conflict of interest?????
I hope that your visit will open your
eyes to the actual causes of this continuing
nonsense in aviation safety.
SP Adhikari
leela Says:
February 15th, 2008 at 4:41 am
to Binod G
Actually the news in Jana Astha has followed
our inquiry we have made on the accident
of UNMIN helicoptor that news itself ststes.
we consider such activities as a part
of duty, no one foreigner has pointed
out this matter as stated in the news
report. I request you not to go upto that
extent of buying bus ticket because of
aviation safety per se. I really welcome
criticisms that helps correct mistakes
and also checks wrong dowers moving ahead
with ulteriar motives. I will try to respond
all the question raised here after inquaries
on some of the serious issues posted in
this blog
to S Maharjan
Thanks a lot for very constructive suggestions.
Do keep on posting
caan staff Says:
February 16th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Dear Sir,
I really would like to appriciate your
intention and motivation regarding on
reforms on aviation sector. But I have
couple of questions that I really dont
understand how did these decisions have
made ?
A. How did Orient Thai get morning time
slot insteed night shedule?
B. How did Air Arebia get additionaal
flight permition ?
C. How would Mr Y.P Gautam provide above
all permition on the basic of minister’s
verbal order where as these all permition
can issue from Ministry level ?
So Sir I would appriciate if you could
justify above issues. But I think you
don’t have any answer and comment also
? Because you all people’s drinking water
resourse is same. You just bite to jounior
staffs of CAAN, NAC, NTB, and Ministry
but you can’t even bark to top management
level of that institutions. Actually you
are fit to poitical sector not on buerocracy
? If you want to be a god manager, you
have to recocnize and participate to other
in every pocess.
your best wiesher from CAAN
P K Acharya Says:
February 18th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hello all,
Is this blog meant only for civil aviation?
why should not the rampant irregularities
and
corruption be highlighted in “national
flag carrier”
NAC which is on the continuous down slope??
Mr. Paudyal, if you are seriously committed
to improve the
tarnished image of NAC what efforts are
you taking in this front? or are you a
secretary for the names sake leaving everything
on hands of NAC chairman and MD?else,
you will follow suit your predecessors
who
blared the trumpet to bring about the
‘percievable’ change in the organization
which used to be the pride of the nation
in the past. Do you have any specific
agenda to check the anti-NAC elements??
rgds
P K Acharya
NAC well wisher
R C Rai Says:
February 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Dear Secretary,
The civil aviation act empowers the Civil
Aviation Authority of Nepal as only authority
to conduct the ground handling at TIA
although it has been doing by NAC from
‘grand father’s right’. The turn over
comes in a tune of Rs 1 billion which
is almost the size of CAAN’s annual budget.
Can you tell us what is causing CAAN higher
ups to tremble thier limbs in reclaiming
thier right and make CAAN a prosperous
agency like telecom, EPF which distribute
a handsome sum as bonus to thier emplyees
annually.
R C Rai
rp Shrestha Says:
February 18th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Dear Sir,
The blog seems interesting and wish it
to be effective
RP
Jeeva Lama Says:
February 18th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Dear Sir,
Please make teh blog proactive so that
your purpose will be served.
rgds
Jeeva Lama
Kesar Bahadur Says:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Dear Sir,
We hope you all the best to improve the
conidtion of CAAN
Kesar Bahdur
leela Says:
February 20th, 2008 at 5:44 am
to caan staff
both the cases you have mentioned are
under review of public account committee
of the parliament. Therefore I can’t comment.
You have yourself mentioned that I have
no involvement in both the cases. I can’t
accept the charge me by “drinking water
from same source”. Do you have any activity
that I have done and you derive in conclusion
to charge me in that way? I do not ask
any evidence since you can say that hankypankies
are done without keeping evidence. But
activities, or decisions taken by a person
could be scrutinized and leveled based
on his/her decisions.
I do not know whom you refer to ” bite
small staff”? If you are a good judge
and I have to be designated from you i
guess I will be assigned in a political
position. In that case I will have two
options viz. either I had to accept or
to resign
Moctca staffs Says:
February 20th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Dear sir
Please check how is going your minstry’s
foreign nomination. One who is in ministry
since 1.5 years hasn’t get any chance
to go abroad but some one are going repeatedly.
and some one refusing (violating your
decission)one nomination again nomited
likewise: R C Dhakal refused for copy
right training programme and sarita refused
tourism management course last month then
nominated for other attractive places.
And please read civil service regulation
article 49 ga, isn’t it abuse of authority
case?
Moctca staffs
John Says:
February 21st, 2008 at 2:12 am
Nice work, guys!!!
caan Says:
February 21st, 2008 at 4:18 am
hello
Raj Kumar Chettry Says:
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 am
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I am an aspiring pilot who wishes to
go abroad for the training. I have been
told by the CAAN Safety Department staff
that I need to get approval before proceeding
to the flying school after paying a fee
of $100. Therefore I studied the CAAN
Act, 2053 that states CAAN has the duty
to accept licenses from ICAO contracting
states and issue a validation based on
the presented license. It doesn’t authorize
CAAN to approve a foreign flying school
and therefore how can CAAN harass students
like us in the name of $100 application
fee for absolutely no legal reason whatsoever.
Isn’t charging $100 in the name of approval
of a foreign school an abuse of authority,
also when in the past many Nepalese students
have been there before for getting flight
training?
Can the CAAN and its staff exceed the
scope of authority granted by the B.S
2053 legislation by quoting that certain
rules require that. What prevails, Act
or Rules under that Act in case of contradiction???
Isn’t charging unnecessary fee a violation
of my basic human right? If I am able
to obtain the foreign license from that
country, why should CAAN worry about approval
of any flying school, as the license is
granted by the countries’ Civil Aviation
Authority/Administration after conducting
its examination. If CAAN is so worried
about the quality of training then why
does CAAN allow foreigners to fly Nepalese
registered aircraft like Mi-17, Cosmic
Air etc, without approving the flying
school they got training from may be years
ago?
Please give me a satisfactory reply on
behalf of the Government of Nepal (member
of ICAO) and take stern action against
concerned CAAN staff and recoup the illegal
fees charged to hundreds like me from
them and apologize on behalf of GoN to
all who have been cheated.
Waiting for your reply.
Raj Kumar Chettry,
Pyuthan
K. Raj Khanal Says:
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 am
Dear Sir,
I have been referred to this blog by
some of my friends in the MOCTCA who have
said that you have been frankly accepting
comments and criticisms regarding the
systemic problems in Nepalese Civil Aviation.
After going through the postings I was
really impressed by the wide range of
deficiencies that you have taken questions
on.
My question to you regarding Nepalese
aviation is about the renewal of Air Operators
certificates (AOCs) of airlines that have
not operated an aircraft for years till
now. The official Nepalese regulation
for issuance and renewal of AOC is the
AOCR still continuing from the days of
Department of Civil Aviation. The last
pages of the AOCR clearly stipulate the
conditions for AOC renewal that, interalia,
requires a satisfactory audit report of
airworthiness and flight operations inspectors.
Now without any aircraft and of course
its operations I am wondering how are
the inspectors able to give a satisfactory
report, recommending renewal of AOCs.
Recently the AOCs of Air Nepal International
and Shangrila International Airlines have
been renewed for yet another time without
anu operation!!!!
This either means that the word “satisfactory”
implies personal satisfaction of the renewing
authorities or the regulations themselves
are a joke as some of the recent postings
indicate. Please seek the AOC status of
all airlines (visible/invisible) and bring
people with ulterior motives to task,
even by the extent of suspending them
and initiating departmental action, if
you are indeed serious about booking the
culprits. Only then can you bring accountability
to CAAN that was established for the purpose
of REGULATING airlines and not PROMOTING
them!!!!!!
regards,
K. Raj Khanal
R Suman Says:
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 am
Dear Sir,
Greetings,
I wish to draw your kind attention to
the random and whimsical issuance of aircraft
type ratings (authorization to fly specific
transport aircraft like 757, 767, A320
etc) to pilots by CAAN. The related Nepalese
Regulation, the FOR, in its Section “Authority’
in the beginning clearly states that the
Director General issues and renews ratings
to enable holders of licenses to fly Nepalese
registered aircraft. This phrase is not
customary, but emerges from the Article
32 of the Chicago Convention of ICAO that
requires issuance of authority (competency)
certificates by a State for the very purpose
of flying aircraft registered in that
State. Thus, it is very clear from the
above that CAAN should only issue and
renew aircraft type ratings to enable
holders to fly aircraft registered in
Nepal.
Unfortunately, CAAN has been issuing
and also renewing ratings for aircraft
types like ATR-42 (no longer on Nepalese
Register), ATR-72 (never on Nepalese Register),
A-320 (not on Nepalese Register), ATP
(never on Nepalese resgister). Thus, CAAN
or its officials have been consistently
exceeding the mandate of the Chicago Convention
and its very own FOR also.
Since the Government of Nepal, asserts
itself to be the State and thereby leads
delegations to ICAO General Assembly every
two years, is it not required of you to
find out the dirty goings in this game.
The reason for this is obvious as the
pilots in high demand in India get about
Rs 4.5 lakhs per month and find it cheaper
to gift (bribe would be a better word)
the officials to renew the ratings despite
the fact that they are not flying Nepalese
registered aircraft, without caring whether
this is ruining Nepal’s reputation in
the international aviation world. The
main reasons for taking this shortcut
is that the pilots don’t want to try obtaining
Indian licenses and get the ratings endorsed,
is that the route is very difficult (tough
examinations-written and oral ) and money
and connections do not work that easily
in New Delhi as compared to Kathmandu.
This can also be verified from various
correspondences, the ICAO’s Head as well
as Regional Office has said that this
practice should be discouraged. You can
ask CAAN for the correspondences. Presently
the pilots have filed a case in the Supreme
Court to assert that renewal is their
right and of course by influence will
win the case (CAAN personnel, too, want
to lose this case) as the flow of easy
money will not stop then.
Since the GoN. MOCTCA is authorized to
regulate and oversee CAAN please initiate
an inquiry as to how the CAAN officials
exceeded the authority mandated by the
Chicago Convention and their own FOR.
Waiting to see your firm action,
R Suman,
Janakpur
leela Says:
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
so many questions in past two days. let
me try to response one by one
to r suman
Dear suman jee
You are right that CAAN should follow
ICAO convention to issue licenses to pilots.
The license ATR you have mentioned were
issued/renewed last year but I personally
think it is not a good practice and has
to stop. To correct previous decision
it has to be overturned. I will try to
intervene in this case. Regarding court,
I should not comment on the verdict of
court as an employee of executive but
should follow it.
to K raj khanal
Dear khanal jee
I am not in favor of continuing AOCs
without aircraft and flights for many
years. I had meeting with all the license
holders in my office some 15 days ago
and clearly and explicitly informed them
that they have to submit operational plan
with credible support documents otherwise
they have to face scrap of their license.
Only one has submitted operation plan.
I have asked my colleagues in the ministry
again to send a reminder letter yesterday.
May be we will wait another two weeks
time to get responses. Any airlines failing
to file operational plan which is not
in operation will face stern action including
scraping of license. However there is
one more complication that is court may
restate the scrapped airlines as happened
earlier. Another thing that we have to
bear in mind that scrapping license of
an air lines company which has previously
in operation but not now would be a problematic
one for recovering dues.
Raj kumar jee
i will check it and answer you later
moctca staff
dear colleague
Look the civil service regulation you
have quated applies for the nomination
in foreign training and study abroad and
is not for attaining conferences, bilateral
delegations. You may have grievances of
not getting chance to go abroad for a
long period. I appreciate your sentiment
but to be very frank nomination for attending
bilateral delegations and conferences
are not and should not be made on the
basis of seniority, no where, even in
other ministries too. How can we nominate
from say planning section in a conference
