April 26: Nepal's air safety rating has increased significantly in the last five years, according to a safety audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 

The study conducted by ICAO states that Nepal’s air safety has increased by three percentage points in the last five years.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) informed that Nepal’s compliance rate is above average in the air safety audit list of ICAO.

As per the audit, Nepal’s air safety compliance rate has climbed to 70.1 percent at present from 66.76 percent in 2017.

A 10-member team of ICAO had arrived in Nepal on April 13 for the audit. The team prepared its report on April 22. CAAN made the report public amid a press conference on Monday (April 25).

ICAO has conducted such audits in the past in 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2017.

ICAO’s audit looks into eight different parameters including legislation and regulation, orgnaisation and safety oversight function, personal licensing, flight operation, airworthiness of aircraft, accident and investigation, air navigation service and aerodrome and ground aids.

CAAN Director-General Pradeep Adhikari said that the increase in air safety audit rating has given a message that Nepal’s sky is safe for aviation.

However, the restriction imposed by the European Union on Nepali airlines has not been lifted despite Nepal’s progress in safety rating of ICAO audit. CAAN believes that this progress would surely help Nepal in coming days.    

The EU has banned Nepali aircraft in European skies since 2014 citing air safety concerns.