The authority has set December 31, 2012 as the deadline for all the operators to completely switch to the new policy. [break]The civil aviation regulator issued such a directive after International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) instructed it strictly enforce the single fleet policy in Nepal.
According to CAAN, almost all of the private operators has already started implementing the policy. But the policy is certain to hit Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) hard which is already running out of senior pilots, said officials.
At present, six senior Captains at NAC which includes Bijaya Lama, Shrawan Rijal, Subash Rijal, Rabindra Kumar Sherchan, Ichhyaraj Gurung and Lal Bahadur Thakali are operating Boeing as well as twin-otter. But after beginning of 2013, they will be allowed to operate only one type of the aircraft.
Although NAC has around 28 pilots at present, the number is still not enough. Not just that, the number of experienced pilots resigning for better offers is common. In last few months seven pilots have submitted their resignation.
Captain Deepak Lama, Manager of Flight Operation Division at CAAN said that single fleet policy was important to ensure the safety. “When a pilot continues flying only one type, the expertise develops and there will be no confusion during the time of emergency,” said he.
The investigation commission formed to probe the recent Agni Air Crash had also recommended CAAN to implement single fleet policy at the earliest. Less flying hours of the captain of the ill-fated aircraft in Dornier was considered as one of the supporting factors of the crash.
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