KATHMANDU: The chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal did not follow due process while removing two civil aviation medical assessors responsible for checking whether pilots, air traffic controllers and flight engineers are medically fit to do their jobs.
On January 1, CAAN Director General Ratish Chandra Lal Suman removed Dr Manen Gorkhaly and Dr Ranjit Baral as civil aviation medical assessors and brought in Dr Khagendra Shrestha, an 80-year-old former royal physician, who retired as aviation medical assessor in 2008 due to heart-related problems.
While removing medical assessors, the concerned authority must provide an opportunity to those being dismissed to furnish explanation, says the recently amended Civil Aviation Regulation. But Dr Gorkhaly and Dr Baral told THT that they were not given any such opportunity.
CAAN chief neither sought explanation from them nor formally wrote to them to inform about the dismissal, the duo said. Suman, however, claims that he has not abused his authority while sacking the duo or appointing the new medical assessor.
Suman had previously told THT that he removed the two as they did not meet the criterion of the recently amended Civil Aviation Procedure which makes it mandatory for medical assessors to undergo 120 hours of training in aviation medicine. Dr Gorkhaly and Dr Baral have undergone training of only 60 hours.
Suman said changes on training hours for medical assessors were recently made to meet the requirement set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation — a UN body that sets international aviation standards.
But ICAO’s Manual on Civil Aviation Medicine does not specify number of hours of training required and instead stresses on competency based training approach for medical examiners. This was also corroborated by Chief of ICAO’s Aviation Medicine Section Dr Anthony DB Evans in an email written to Dr Baral.
“As far as I can recall, the ICAO has not required, in its own documentation, a particular number of hours of training,” Dr Evan said.
However, Suman claimed ICAO manuals do not usually specify experience required for professionals working in the aviation sector. “For instance, ICAO manuals do not mention how many hours of flying are required for an ordinary pilot to become a captain. They also do not specify experience of aircraft maintenance engineer,” he said. “So it’s all upon the state to specify qualifications and experience for professionals engaged in the aviation sector. And I have made some changes to improve the country’s score in ICAO’s air safety index so that Nepal’s aviation sector is removed from the European Commission’s blacklist.”
Despite giving all these arguments Suman did not clearly mention whether he sought an explanation from the two medical assessors before they were dismissed. He also did not make it clear whether a sub-committee led by a CAAN board member, and comprising a specialist, was formed prior to the duo’s dismissal as required by the Civil Aviation Regulation.
“I do not want to discuss these matters. I know I have not flouted the country’s laws and I will furnish explanation when needed,” he said.
Charges against DG
• Dr Manen Gorkhaly and Dr Ranjit Baral were removed as civil aviation medical assessors without being given an opportunity to furnish an explanation. This violates Civil Aviation Regulation
• Civil Aviation Procedure was amended, making it mandatory for medical assessors to undergo 120 hours of training in aviation medicine. CAAN chief claims that the amendment was made to meet the requirement set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation . However, Chief of ICAO’s Aviation Medicine Section Dr Anthony DB Evans has confirmed that the ICAO’s documentation does not require a particular number of hours of training
• CAAN chief refused to answer when asked whether a sub-committee led by a CAAN board member, and comprising a specialist, was formed prior to the duo’s dismissal as required by the Civil Aviation Regulation
