Kathmandu, August 11, 2006

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) today made it mandatory for pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers to inform their current employers six months in advance before quitting their jobs.

The decision has been taken to discourage pilots from leaving the country for better job opportunities, the CAAN said.

However, pilots who have not been paid their monthly salaries for two consecutive months can leave the concerned airlines after giving them a month’s notice, said Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, chief of CAAN’s Aviation Safety Department. The CAAN will bring detailed regulations into effect in 15 days, he said.

The CAAN began issuing circulars to the airlines and all concerned about the decision today. “We had to take the decision keeping in mind the increasing trend of pilots moving to India for better job opportunities,” he said, adding:

“Such a trend, if not discouraged in time, is bound to have a negative effect on the country’s aviation sector.” Airlines incur a big loss when pilots they have invested resources on resign from their jobs all of a sudden, said Suman. Investing on pilots’ trainings courses by the airlines means coughing up a hefty amount.

The trend of pilots moving to India began in 2002 following the grounding of Necon Air. Nepali pilots working in private airlines in India reportedly draw a monthly salary of over Rs 500,000.

There are around 300 Nepali pilots in the country. They are flying on domestic and international sectors, added Suman.

Matya festival observed in Patan

Hundreds of people from the Valley today thronged to Patan to watch Matya — the festival of light. The festival which is celebrated a day after Gai Jatra is also known for taking out processions in many Buddhist temples and stupas in Patan.

The newar community of Patan believes that the festival is taken out to honour the victory of Buddha over vice. The major attraction of the festival are traditional musicians, people with lighted candles and people dressed in traditional attires.

During the festival, devotees offer coins and ignite lights at the temples and stupas. The family members of the dead take part in the march, ignite light and pray for the departed souls.

This year’s procession started from Chakrabahi at 4:15 am headed by five Buddhist priests and concluded at the same place after visiting more than 2,000 Buddhist temples and stupas across Patan.

According to Dilli Kumar Tamrakar, president organising team of Matya: “Jyababahi Chakrabahi — this year’s procession organiser has managed to collect Rs 95,000 from locals in Chakrabahi including contribution from the Lalitpur sub-Metropolitan City, Department of Archeology, Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Handicrafts Association Nepal and Dhapa Guthi.”