Civil aviation's conference concludes, Dhaka next destination

Announcing to hold next conference in Dhaka of Bangladesh on November 2020, the 56th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation- Asia and Pacific Region (DGCA) concluded here today.
During the closing ceremony, president of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Rajan Pokhrel and chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Muhammad Mafidur Rahman addressed.
The closing ceremony of the conference – with theme ‘Harmonising Efforts to Meet Capacity Constraints’ – also witnessed handover of ICAO flag to the CAAB by CAAN, to host the 57th Conference next year. ICAO organises the conference every year
According to a press release issued by the ICAO, Aliu appreciated concerned bodies of member states for cooperating and collaborating in helping the states live up to their ICAO obligation. “These are important priorities to consider today given the critical relationship between the concerted actions taken by governments to invest in and improve their levels of ICAO compliance, and the resulting increase in international air connectivity which is so essential to the prosperity of all states, especially those with 'landlocked' or 'small island developing' status," Aliu was quoted – as saying – in the press note.
The conference also provided a forum for a sideline meeting between the director-general of CAAN and the deputy administrator of CAAC (China), where they discussed on flights of Nepali airlines to China, flights of Chinese carriers to Gautam Buddha International Airport of Nepal, and other matters of technical cooperation.
Nepali participants also discussed on safety and mutual cooperation with different countries including South Korea, on the sidelines during the conference.
Nepal has hosted the five-day DGCA conference for the third time. Earlier, Nepal had earlier hosted the conference in 1978 and 1998.
The director generals of Asia Pacific's aviation sector, chief of European Union regulatory body, high delegates, representatives from regulatory bodies of countries including the US, the UK, and France and representatives from aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus attended the conference.
They discussed a work plan on aviation safety, security, capacity, air navigation, economic development and air transport, aviation and environment, technical and regional cooperation and other contemporary issues related to aviation during the conference.
ICAO is also celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and had prepared a special flag – for the occasion – that was hoisted at the peak of Mt Everest this May 23 according to the decision of the council of ministers of the organisation.

PM urges ICAO to take Nepal off EU blacklist

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today urged the European Union (EU) to lift a ban on Nepali airlines from flying across the EU.
Inaugurating the 56th Director Generals of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Conference in Kathmandu today, the premier claimed that Nepal has made significant progress on aviation safety in recent years. “Nepal has addressed concerns relating to aviation security and has made good improvement gradually in recent years,” he said, adding that there is no need to keep the Nepali airlines in the blacklist in European skies. “Nepal has identified tourism as one of its key sectors that can contribute to economic development and air connectivity is an important aspect for the development of tourism sector.”
He also informed the conference about the upgradation going on in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and transformation it to the boutique airport. “Nepal is constructing two new international airports too," he added, urging the guests to support Nepal in attracting 2 million visitors in 2020 and make the Visit Nepal Year 2020 a grand success.
The prime minister, on the occasion, expressed his hope that it would help in determining the future strategy for strengthening safety, for infrastructure development and capacity enhancement in the aviation sector. He also highlighted the need for combined efforts to enhance quality in aviation service by adopting related advanced technology and global new innovations.
The 56th Conference of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Director Generals for Asia and the Pacific that has been kicked off in Kathmandu today is organised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
“Nepal is achieving progress in the aviation safety and sector lately,” minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, on the occasion, said, adding that Nepal has initiated many measures to make the aviation sector more effective according to the criterion set by ICAO.
Expressing gratitude for handing over the ICAO president Council Certificate in recognition of the progress Nepal made in the aviation sector, he said that Nepal is formulating the laws to policy reform and fragmenting the CAAN into two bodies including a regulatory authority and service-provider.
CAAN director general Rajan Pokharel, on the occasion, expressed his confidence that such a conference would further support to make Nepal's aviation sector more credible as Nepal was steadily witnessing reforms in is the aviation sector.
On the occasion, president of the Council of ICAO Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu underscored the collective effort of more quality aviation safety in Nepal by incorporating the latest aviation technology.
The five-day conference under the theme ‘Harmonising Efforts to Meet the Challenges of Capacity Constraints’ has witnessed the participation of 390 foreign senior officials from 46 countries in the Asia Pacific. ICAO has 193-member nations including Nepal. This is the third time Nepal is hosting such an event. Nepal is hosting the conference for the third time after 1976 and in 1998 in Kathmandu.
The ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Director Arun Mishra, on the occasion, hailed Nepal’s reforms in aviation to ensure safety and credibility.
The conclusions of this Conference will be presented in the 40th general assembly of the ICAO to be held from ICAO's headquarters in Montreal.

CAAN to host 56th DGCA Conference

Nepal is hosting Director Generals of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Conference in Kathmandu after 21 years.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is preparing to hold the 56th Director Generals of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Conference on August 19-23 in Kathmandu, the regulator confirmed, adding that Nepal is hosting the conference for the third time. “Nepal has already hosted the conference in 1976 and 1998 twice.”
A team of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is arriving tomorrow to inspect the preparation of the conference that will be held with the theme of ‘Harmonising Efforts to Meet the Challenges of Capacity Constraints’. The conference aims at maintaining cooperation and harmonisation among countries of the Asia Pacific region to ensure safe, secure, efficient and economically sustainable development of civil aviation.
Through the conference this time, Nepal wants to promote the country as a safe destination for flight operation, and also to disseminate the information that air safety is improving in the country, though the conference will not be able to lift Nepal from EU blacklist. The EU has banned Nepali aircraft from flying to the European skies.
“The CAAN had requested to organise 56th DGCA Conference in Nepal during the 55th conference held in Fiji last year,” the regulator informed, adding that the conference will also help promote Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign. “This conference is expected to play a significant role in conveying a message that Nepal is a safe destination.”
Around 350 guests from 46 different countries will take part in the conference. The representatives from 14 different international organisations associated with ICAO, including European Union, Boeing, Airbus and International Air Transport Association (IATA) will participate in the event.
The five-day-long event will witness discussions on air navigation, air security and facilitation, economic development of air transport, aviation and environment as well as technical and regional cooperation, among nations.