Kathmandu, June 2
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has stated that it will not be able to provide en-route weather forecasts for domestic flights.
The department has issued a notice to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) that it will not be able to conduct the forecasts as demanded.
The department has explained it cannot do this as it does not have the technology or the human resource to provide CAAN with information about weather conditions on a regular basis.
The Meteorological Division of the department, however, has been providing weather information and forecasts for international flights under the Air Weather Service. Yet, the department has mentioned it has been providing general weather information and briefing to domestic flights and can only give CAAN this information as it does not have enough people in the organisation.
CAAN has tightened flight permit rules following the Tara Air plane crash that killed 22 people. According to the new rules, clear weather throughout the route has been made mandatory to carry out a flight. But, it is unclear who will provide such information.
