KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Air accident ratio in the country has gone down despite rise in flight movement in recent years, according to a government report.
The report of high-level task force formed by the government says air accident ratio dropped to 2.7 accidents in 100,000 flying hours in 2010, from 11 accidents in the same flying hours in 1992. This is a drop of about 75 percent.
The taskforce had studied air accidents that occurred after 1992 - the year when Nepal opened aviation sector for private players.
The government had formed the taskforce about a year ago to review and evaluate the implementation status of safety recommendations given by various investigation commissions in the past and measures to be taken to enhance aviation safety.
Tri Ratna Manandhar, a member of the taskforce and the deputy director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), accident ratio has dropped over the past two decades as instruction of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and international safety audit were making airlines follow adequate safety measures. “Besides, insurance premium that increases with every accident is also forcing domestic airlines adhere to safety norms,” he added.
With every accident, airlines not only lose their credibility and goodwill, but also need to pay higher insurance premium.
“The number of accidents is the same in 1992 and 2010. But the ratio of accidents when compared to number of flying hours has gone down drastically,” Manandhar added.
Three air accidents were recorded in 1992. But the number becomes 11 when compared to flying hours, which was just 27,000 then. Similarly, number of flying hours in 2010 was 110,324 and number of accidents was three. This brings down accident ratio to 2.7 when compared to 100,000 flying hours.
Submitting the report to Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma on Monday, coordinator of the committee Medani Prasad Sharma, former director general of CAAN, said the report was based on accident investigation reports.
The report has suggested that the government identify the most appropriate aircraft for short take-off and landing (STOL) field through separate in-depth study, study rise in insurance premium and adopt necessary measures to ease air traffic congestion at Tribhuwan International Airport.
Taskforce members had held discussion with private airline operators and interacted with officials of Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), CAAN and independent aviation experts during the study period.
According to the report, CAAN and airline operators were found complying with more than 70 percent of safety recommendations made by different investigation commissions. Similarly, MoTCA was found complying with just 10 percent of the recommendations.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com
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