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It terms of Geographical location, nature has been very cruel with Nepal. According to the size of the country travelling from one end to another, east-west and north-south, should not be a problem. But in the case of Nepal it is not so simple. It is case where it is so difficult that climbing the highest peak of the world seems simple. More than 90 percent area of Nepal is covered by difficult rocky mountains. Moreover, Nepal is also land locked. Transport system is a main factor for the economic development of the country.
Air transport is one of the most expensive system in world. But in the case of Nepal, we are in compulsion to use it. Without the use of air transport, the remote places are cut off from every point of view - tourism, food supply and so on. There are places in Nepal where there is airports, even though that particular district does not have even a decent road to use bicycles on. One can imagine how expensive it is for travelling. But it is the only available means of transportation for daily use material like food etc. Therefore, air transport has a vital role in the development of Nepal.
The aviation history started in Nepal in early 1940’s. Initially, neighbouring Indian aircrafts landed on the mere cow grazing place called Gaucharan, later named as Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu, for their private use. Later on, Indian air companies started its operation for business purposes, and connected Nepal with Indian cities and also connected within Nepalese cities Kathmandu and Simara. After establishment of national flag carrier, the RNAC - the route expansion of civil aviations made extensively domestically and internationally. Initially, civil aviation was handled by a small office. Now it become a department and ministry.
Foreign donor countries also donated huge assistance for its development in Nepal. Specially - India and Australia who play vital roles in building airports and installing air navigational aids and training specialised and skilled people to handle safe aviations in Nepal. Airports are upgraded from handling local flights to international flights. Kathmandu and Biratnagar airports handle international flights. (Biratnagar airport used to handle Kathmandu/Biratnagar/Calcutta flights and also in the near future it will be used for international flights operated by Necon Air) Between 1940’s and 1998, billions of US Dollars from valuable foreign aids and Nepalese resources have been already injected in the name of Civil Aviations in Nepal.
But the navigational, runway and other civil aviation facilities in Nepalese airports are still below minimum world standard. The only international airport in Nepal - Kathmandu airport is not reliable and sound for flight operation in abnormal situations. The foreign operators say that Kathmandu civil aviation is unfriendly, navigational aids are unreliable, bird hazards etc. Thai and PIA accidents created unfavorable atmosphere against Nepal in ICAO (International Civil Aviations Organisation). Thanks God, that situation is being clarified otherwise ICAO could have declared Kathmandu airport unsafe.
Domestically, Nepal has still got to do lots by upgrading at least few of its airports such as Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj as alternate airports for Kathmandu. Recently, two private owned Nepalese carriers operating Kathmandu - Biratnagar flights had developed technical problems with nose wheel of their aircrafts mid-air. On both occasions the aircrafts were advised by Biratnagar tower to go back to Kathmandu on saying that they are not equipped to handle such flights. It is a shame that peoples lives are put in such risks. Luckily, both times the aircraft had sufficient fuel to travel upto Kathmandu. Otherwise, the story would have been different.
