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Why does Nepal suffer numerous air crashes?

Eighteen people were killed in Nepal when a small passenger plane crashed while taking off from the main airport in the capital Kathmandu, drawing attention when again to the Himalayan nation's poor record on air security.

Here is a look at why Nepal, where more than 360 have died in airplane or helicopter crashes since 2000, is particularly prone.

SURFACE

Wedged in between India and China, landlocked Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 14 greatest peaks, and its airplanes often have to service small airports nestled in remote hills or near peaks blanketed in clouds.

Apart from the physical blockages, the terrain can also experience unexpected weather condition changes that impact wind speeds and intensity, making navigation difficult.

In a 2023 security report, the Civil Air Travel Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said accident with surface or another barrier was the main threat, accounting for 93% of deaths in air accidents in the previous years.

TABLETOP RUNWAYS

Since of Nepal's deficiency of flat terrain, numerous locations have tabletop runways, constructed by excavating peaks to create a. flat surface.

These have large drops at one or both ends, calling for. higher ability in landing airplane but also resulting in huge. injuries or deaths if pilots overshoot on the technique.

AGEING FLEET

Amongst the world's poorer countries, Nepal has actually not invested. adequately in updating or preserving its aircrafts.

Numerous are ageing, so that they do not have some functions and. facilities common elsewhere, and tend to be badly preserved,. making incidents more likely.

This is partly why the European Union, mentioning safety. concerns, prohibited air providers certified in Nepal in 2013.

In its latest safety evaluation in 2023, however, the EU. identified the air travel regulator's proactive engagement and. efforts to boost oversight.

CREW MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING

Professionals have required much better training for pilots in Nepal,. with some crashes attributed to bad choice making.

Nepal's worst crash in 3 years killed 72 people in. January 2023 and was blamed, for example, on the pilot's absence of. awareness of standard operating procedures leading him to. erroneously cut the power to the airplane, triggering its crash.

This was the only deadly mishap internationally in 2015,. snapping a years-long trend of favorable safety in the. Asia-Pacific area, the International Air Transportation Association. stated in a report.

REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT

Aviation services and guideline are dealt with by different. agencies in a lot of countries, however in Nepal, regulator CAAN both. manages airline companies and handles airports.

Professionals say this is a conflict of interest as the regulator. cops its own operations, including that it has caused corruption. and mismanagement.

CAAN denies this contention, stating there is no direct link. in between the systems working under one organisation.

(source: Reuters)