Govt revising aviation licensing provision
KATHMANDU:
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is amending the working procedure for issuing licences to civil aviation related firms, targeting companies showing interest to operate paragliding pilot training schools in the country.
The existing provision allows Nepali companies, upon receiving licence, to run aircraft pilot training institute. Any firm obtaining this permit is also eligible to run paragliding training schools.
According to sources, the change in the directive is basically focused on reducing the required size of paid-up capital for the companies wishing to operate paragliding pilot training school.
The existing ‘Licence Issuance Directive for Companies related to Civil Aviation’ that had been implemented five years ago requires flying schools or air service training institutes to possess paid-up capital of Rs 100 million.
Similarly, the directive has no separate provision for issuance of permission to companies to run paragliding pilot training schools. Civil Aviation Ministry is reducing the paid-up capital for paragliding pilot training school as such institution requires less investment, human resources and infrastructure compared to flying schools.
“We have proposed fixing a paid-up capital of at least Rs 10 million for paragliding training institute that will produce tandem pilots within the country,” a source at the Civil Aviation Ministry said, requesting anonymity because the issue is still being discussed.
The source added that the training of paragliding pilots will help increase number of Nepali pilots and consequently reduce the country’s dependence on foreign pilots when paragliding is gaining popularity in the country.
“Five companies have applied for licence of paragliding pilot training school,” as per the source.
After the directive gets endorsed by the Civil Aviation Minister level meeting, the ministry will be able to issue a separate licence to eligible companies to run paragliding schools.
As per Civil Aviation Ministry officials, 49 companies have received licences for operating paragliding business till date. Of them, 25 operate from Toripani and 23 from Sarangkot of Pokhara, while one is in operation in Lalitpur from Bisankhu Narayan VDC.As per an official at the Civil Aviation Ministry, a new company has also applied for the permit of paragliding and hand-gliding from Bisankhu Narayan. The official said the company’s request is under consideration, as they have to check multiple aspects of the application, including financial and technical capabilities, among others.
Even as some companies have shown interest in Pokhara, the Civil Aviation Ministry has stopped issuing new permits there since September last year citing large number of paragliding flights there.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Ministry is reviewing ‘Procedure for Establishment of Airlines or Extension of Domestic Airlines for International Sector for International Air Service Operation by Private Airlines in Nepal’. This procedure, which requires amendment every three years, should have been revised two years ago. It determines criteria for domestic companies wishing to operate international air service.
Source: THT
