Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to establish a permanent body to investigate aircraft accidents and incidents.
According to the draft of the Aviation Policy, 2025, prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, an independent, well-resourced and permanent accident investigation mechanism will be set up to ensure reliable and effective probes into aviation incidents and accidents.
In the lack of such a mechanism, the government has been forming a probe commission after every aircraft accident.
The draft policy also proposes granting fifth freedom rights to carriers operating from Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport, in a bid to attract more international airlines. Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to transport passengers and cargo between two foreign countries as part of a route that originates or ends in its own country. For example, Bhutanese airlines currently enjoy fifth freedom rights at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, enabling them to fly passengers between Kathmandu and New Delhi on flights that originate in Paro.
In a bid to enhance safety and modernize the fleet, the draft proposes to tighten regulations on aircraft imports. Nepali carriers will only be allowed to purchase pressurised aircraft that are less than 15 years old, or have flown less than 50% of their economic design life, or have completed fewer than 35,000 pressurisation cycles. For non-pressurised aircraft, the maximum age limit will be set at 20 years.
The draft policy also allows Nepali citizens and institutions to own private aircraft. Such aircraft, however, cannot be used for commercial purposes.
It also proposes increasing the foreign investment cap for international airlines operating in Nepal, from the current 80% to 90%. However, the 49% cap for domestic airlines will remain unchanged.
Furthermore, the policy allows non-operational airfields to be repurposed for aircraft maintenance, flight training and manufacturing activities.
Similarly, the draft states that the government will allow new airport construction only if its operational viability is clearly demonstrated.
