Several problems confronting the aviation sector of late is most likely to affect the passenger safety regime. This is a serious issue as precious human lives are involved. It seems that the ever-increasing tension between the pilots and the management of the ailing private airlines is the main reason behind this volatile state of affair. Besides having to deal with the problem of shortage of pilots at home, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has now been compelled to order grounding of some pilots.

Reportedly, the CAAN has recently directed Cosmic Air to temporarily ground nine of its pilots found to be in a “disturbed” state of mind owing to the failure of the company to pay their salaries on time. The pilots have complained that Cosmic Air has not paid them for four months and that they fear the company might go bankrupt leaving the employees high and dry.

It would be ideal if the disputants settled all their internal conflicts through negotiation and resumed the stalled operations. But to satisfy the pilots and cabin crewmembers, the management has to pay them their dues so that the frustrated lot does not put the passengers’ lives in jeopardy. Both the management and the pilots have to understand their responsibility. At a time when the country is in need of their services, the airlines cannot turn away from recognising their duties. Instead of quarrelling eternally, the pilots and the airline operators should know that they have a moral responsibility to help in the humanitarian efforts like airlifting of foodgrains to food-deficit remote parts of the country where air link is practically the only means of transportation.