A Nepalese delegation led by Honourable Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jiwan Bahadur Shahi participated in 39th Session of ICAO Assembly held from 27th September to 7th October 2016 in ICAO Headquarter Montreal, Canada. Hon. Minister Shahi was invited as the guest speaker during an interaction session of World Aviation Forum organized on the eve of 39th Assembly on 26th September. In this session, Hon. Minister highlighted the importance of air transport in a landlocked mountainous country like Nepal for the external as well as internal connectivity. Hon. Minister Shahi also expressed his views during the question answer session regarding the future development of air transport in Nepal.
ICAO 39th Assembly formally commenced on 27th September 2016. Honourable Minister Shahi addressed the Assembly Session as the leader of Nepalese delegation on 28th September 2016. In his address, he highlighted the role of civil aviation for the overall development of the country, challenges of aircraft operations in Nepal, airport infrastructure development works, improvement work in air navigation facilities and post ICVM progress made on aviation safety. He mentioned the ICAO’s support to Nepal in the areas of the aviation infrastructure development, commissioning of necessary com and nav. aid facilities, air transport support, technical manpower development and aviation documentation under its technical co-operation programme during the period of late 70’s to 80’s. Appreciating the ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative, Hon. Minister Shahi expressed his sincere gratitude to ICAO for its Technical Assistance Project through ICAO SAFE Fund aiming to strengthen the safety oversight capability of Nepal.
Hon. Minister Shahi addressing 39th session of ICAO Assembly
Nepalese delegation led by Honourable Minister Shahi made a courtesy call with ICAO Council President Dr. Aliue on 4th October 2016. During the meeting Hon. Minister briefed the situation of aviation in Nepal and difficulties faced by Nepal due to the safety concern issued by ICAO and, based on this, enlisting of Nepalese airlines in EU’s air safety list. He expressed his sincere thanks to the Council President for providing Technical Assistance from its SAFE fund to support Nepal to strengthen safety oversight capabilities. On the occasion, Director General of Civil Aviation Mr. Sanjiv Gautam briefed him about the progress made by Nepal after ICVM and expressed his concern regarding the enlisting of Nepal in air safety list based on ICAO audit result which was not the purpose of ICAO audit as per USOAP audit principle. ICAO Council President Dr. Aliue expressed his satisfaction that on the progress made by Nepal as Nepal is very close to the global average in terms of overall EI and advised ICAO APAC Regional Director to expedite the process for the next cycle of ICVM in Nepal. Regional Director of ICAO APAC Office Mr. Arun Mishra stated that though the ICVM was planned for July 2017, he will expedite the process to prepare Nepal for ICVM in early date of 2017.
Nepalese delegates with ICAO Council President Dr. Aliue
Director General of Civil Aviation Mr. Gautam along with Joint Secretary of MOCTCA Mr. Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane and Deputy Director General Mr. Rajan Pokhrel participated in a meeting held by Air Navigation Bureau in the presence of APAC Regional Director. During the meeting Nepal’s position for next ICVM and the progress of ongoing technical assistance project was discussed. Nepal asked to provide for a short term assistance in Airworthiness area so as to harmonize the ongoing assistance in the area flight operations. ICAO agreed to provide a technical expert in the area of airworthiness for a period of another 4 months. At present, a flight operations expert is working in Nepal since July 2016 and it is expected that another expert in the area of Airworthiness will join the mission in January 2016.