KATHMANDU, March 12: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has come under scrutiny for neglecting its responsibilities by leaving three critical safety-related departments without heads. The departments in question – the Duty Maintenance Department, Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization, and Corporate Safety Department – are integral to aircraft maintenance, raising serious safety concerns due to the lack of leadership.
Sources reveal that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the regulatory body, has overlooked this oversight, despite the potential risks to safety. "The CAAN is overlooking the management's negligence. Without immediate intervention from the regulator, we could face significant problems," an NAC employee expressed concern. He further questioned the prudence of leaving such critical responsibilities in the hands of fate.
The employee shared that the then Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, had been briefed on the risks posed by the absence of department heads at the NAC. Despite the briefing, Kirati is accused of neglecting these security concerns, allegedly prioritizing personal gain over safety by advancing plans to purchase aircraft amidst the NAC's financial struggles.
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The lack of response from higher management to these concerns has been disappointing. "There was no response when we reported the situation created by the upper management. Now that a new minister is in place, we hope these security issues will be addressed," said the concerned employee.
Recently, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal relieved Kirati of his duties, appointing Hit Bahadur Tamang as the new Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
CAAN had grounded the manager of the Duty Maintenance Department and Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization six months ago. The company's aircraft, which flew from Nepal to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, was returned from the skies of Pakistan. There was a technical problem with TCAS, a system that warns about the presence/absence of another aircraft while flying. Then the aircraft returned to Nepal.
In that case, DK Sanjel of the Maintenance Department and Upendra Paudel of the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization were grounded by CAAN. After they have been grounded, the NAC is running these departments by itself without assigning responsibility to anyone.
The appointment of safety director of NAC has not been approved on the grounds that CAAN appointed Bikas Thapa, who does not possess adequate experience. The NAC's Executive Chairman, Ubaraj Adhikari, proposed to Thapa to remove Dhirendra Rauniyar after the European Union (EU)'s report highlighted serious negligence in flight safety.
Meanwhile, CAAN is cognizant of the NAC management's negligence regarding air safety. Following the release of a report by the EU, CAAN attempted to initiate disciplinary action against the former executive chairman. In December, Adhikari was given a seven-day deadline to provide an explanation as part of the preparatory steps for action.
However, political pressure resulted in Adhikari avoiding any action. "As soon as we initiate any action against a government-owned corporation, accusations start flying. That's why we are forced to only observe the negligence occurring there," explained a CAAN employee, "The top officials at the NAC seem to do as they please. This has raised significant concerns regarding the safety of aircraft.”
