KATHMANDU, Aug 8: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to ground two helicopter companies for their air safety negligence.

Following the Air Dynasty chopper crash, CAAN has decided to ground domestic airline companies with safety systems less than 60 percent. According to a high source of CAAN, two helicopter companies are going to be grounded on Thursday after they received a score of less than 25 percent in the Safety Management System (SMS) study carried out a few days ago.

Although CAAN decided to implement the grounding on Wednesday, the decision was not possible due to the crash of an Air Dynasty helicopter. Similarly, when a technician studied the SMS of the two helicopter companies, one helicopter received about 18 percent, while another helicopter received 24 percent.

AS per the SMS study conducted in 2023, the helicopters of Mustang, Annapurna, Prabhu and other companies, obtained less than 60 percent. According to the technician, the air companies, which have observed less than 60 percent of safety systems, continue to operate flights negligently.

Likewise, CAAN has separated a maximum time of three days for aircraft companies and two days for helicopter companies for the SMS study.

CAAN takes serious action following two air crashes within 14 days

Following two air crashes within 14 days, CAAN has decided to be serious about air safety compliance.

In the last two years, CAAN has decided to take strict regulations for helicopters during monsoon, all flights after 12 PM in Karnali, two pilots mandatory for VVIP flight and to make the financial audit of air companies more effective.

Similarly, pilots staged a protest against the restrictions on helicopter flights during monsoon season while members of parliament (MPs) halted the implementation of a decision to prohibit flights after 12 PM in Karnali.  

 
• CAAN