EU reviews Nepal’s air safety progress as regional aviation talks open in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: The European Union (EU) has launched two regional aviation safety initiatives in Kathmandu under the EU–South Asia Aviation Partnership Project (EU–South Asia APP), convening regional regulators, technical experts, and airline operators for a two-week safety drive.

From June 23 to 25, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and aircraft manufacturer ATR are co-hosting the third module of the Regional Aviation Safety Programme (RASP). The session targets flight crew training, pilot decision-making, and fatigue management systems, utilizing operational case studies from South Asian airlines.

At Tuesday’s opening event, Thomas Millar, Chargé d’affaires at the EU Delegation to Nepal, acknowledged the country’s recent regulatory push to lift the EU airspace ban. Millar confirmed Nepal has submitted its complete Corrective Action Plan package following recent commitments made by the Finance Minister in the budget speech. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) will review the documentation in the coming months.

Following the RASP module, Kathmandu will host a South Asia Regional Initiative (SARI) workshop from June 29 to July 2. The session will focus on technical compliance, breaking down the latest European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) updates on continuing airworthiness and introducing modern regulatory oversight concepts to regional authorities.

Funded by the EU and implemented by EASA, this combined safety initiative marks a shift toward a structured regional framework, anchoring Nepal’s role as a central hub for South Asian aviation dialogue under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.