We are pleased to highlight Module 03 of the Regional Aviation Safety Programme, taking place right now from June 23–25, 2026, in Kathmandu.

This vital technical training initiative is proudly hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) under the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Project. Funded by the European Union, the program is being actively implemented by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in close collaboration with ATR.

📌 Workshop Overview

While modern engineering has drastically minimized traditional technical failures, operational safety heavily dictates how flight crews adapt, communicate, and make critical decisions in dynamic environments.

This three-day intensive program focuses entirely on the human and procedural aspects of flight operations. It brings together civil aviation regulators, industry experts, and regional airline operators to exchange data-driven safety strategies and practical case studies.

The 4 Key Pillars of Flight Operations Under Focus:

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Establishing predictability, absolute compliance, and mitigating procedural drift.

• Crew Resource Management (CRM): Optimizing communication, authority gradients, and synergy between flight decks and cabin crews.

• Threat and Error Management (TEM): Identifying operational hazards early and preventing escalation into undesired aircraft states.

• Fatigue Risk Management (FRM): Using structured data frameworks to understand and mitigate fatigue-related performance drop-offs.

📅 Full Event Agenda & Program Highlights

📋 Day 1: Operational Standards & Error Management

Focus: Navigating SOP compliance, mitigating human error, and exploring real-world flight deck complexities.

• Opening Session: Welcome remarks from host authority CAA Nepal, alongside EASA and ATR representatives.

• Case Study (SriLankan Airlines): A deep-dive review of a serious pitot heat failure incident, analyzing the intersections of technical faults, SOP adherence, and task management.

• Technical Breakdown (ATR):

  • SOP drift, cross-wind landing techniques, and Runway Excursion Prevention (RWE).

  • Managing modern operational stressors: NOTAMs overload, GNSS spoofing/jamming, and hot brakes prevention.

  • Human error identification, cockpit smoke management, and adapting crew briefings to dynamic threats.

📋 Day 2: Fatigue Risk Management & Human Performance

Focus: Proactive safety management systems and mitigating physiological risk factors.

• Operator Perspective (IndiGo): Data-driven safety sharing from one of the world's largest ATR operators. Insights on integrating TEM principles directly with Flight Data Monitoring (FDM).

• Human Performance Fundamentals (ATR): Understanding circadian rhythms, sleep deprivation, and how fatigue erodes situational awareness.

• Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS): Practical mitigation strategies, crew reporting policies, and structural implementation oversight frameworks for operators and regulators.

📋 Day 3: Human Factors, CRM & Crew Performance

Focus: Interpersonal dynamics, communication frameworks, and resilience.

• Regional Experience Sharing: Real-world operations, unique regional safety challenges, and lessons learned presented by local carriers Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines.

• Human Factors Deep Dive (ATR): Examining cognitive bias, mental health, communication barriers, and authority gradients in decision-making.

• Team Synergy & Advanced CRM (ATR): Flight crew/cabin crew cohesion, automation management, dealing with the surprise/startle effect, stress management, and tactical flight debriefings.

🤝 Project Partners & Stakeholders

• Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN): Host authority, recognized for its commitment to regional safety cooperation and infrastructure development across South Asia.

• EASA: The technical implementation agency driving high levels of civil aviation safety oversight and regulatory alignment with international standards.

• ATR: The world's leading regional turboprop manufacturer (with over 1,800 ATR 72-600 and allied aircraft delivered globally), playing a cornerstone operational role across South Asia's unique and challenging geographic terrains.

• The European Union: Funder of the broader EU-Asia Aviation Partnership Project via the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA).