The national airline, Drukair corporation has raised concerns with the communications ministry that the department of civil aviation (DCA) may be compromising safety and security at Paro international airport, Kuensel has learned.
The issue concerns the government’s approval of private company, Bhutan air services (BAS), as the ground handling agent for Buddha air, a private airline from Nepal. Kuensel has also learned that Drukair is also claiming that the process through which BAS was selected was flawed. Drukair’s CEO, Tandin Jamso, said the national airline was “surprised” at the government’s approval. He explained that the reason behind this is because the national airline is the only certified ground handling agent at Paro airport. The services provided by a ground handling agent include, among others, guiding and moving the aircraft, transporting luggage, refuelling and catering.
Buddha air recently selected BAS as its ground handling agent. Following DCA’s approval of the selection, Kuensel sources say that Drukair is now questioning the eligibility of BAS to have been involved in the selection process and on its capabilities to operate as a ground handling agent.
Although BAS has been assisting and coordinating private aircrafts and helicopters flying in and out of Bhutan for the past five years, it does not have a license as a ground handling agent, Kuensel has learned. For its ground handling responsibilities, the company contracts Drukair. DCA confirmed that BAS does not currently have a license to be a ground handling agent despite approving Buddha air’s selection. DCA said that BAS would have to fulfil DCA regulations before it receives a license to operate as a ground handling agent. DCA is currently reviewing the company’s application and capabilities.
But with Buddha air scheduled to commence operations on Monday, an interim period until BAS is licensed will occur. BAS will handle the airline’s ground handling services during the interim period despite not being licensed. This is the reason causing Drukair to raise safety and security concerns. Kuensel sources say that the national airline is concerned that having unqualified or inexperienced personnel on the airport tarmac could lead to aircraft being damaged. Drukair CEO Tandin Jamso, pointed out that ground handling requirements require the fulfillment of several international standard regulations. “Which even by our standards and experience hasn’t been easy,” he said.
Kuensel asked BAS managing director, Sanghey Tensin, whether such a concern is valid. He said that, despite the company still being in the process of training its ground handlers, there are no safety risks. He explained that the company has two professional trainers, who are currently providing both theoretical and practical training. He added that the two professional trainers will be on site supervising BAS ground handlers when Buddha air lands on Monday and onwards. He also said that the BAS ground handlers had already serviced Buddha air’s previous flight. “Safety is also our priority because, if we damage Drukair aircraft, we’re equally liable.”
DCA also downplayed the national airline’s safety concerns. An official said that, if anything happened to an aircraft, as the agency responsible for ensuring safety, “it comes down to us”. He added, “So before we issue the authority to be a ground handling agent, we’ll think twice.”
DCA added that international auditors were due on August 22, and that they would be evaluating BAS and whether the private company would be able to handle ground handling responsibilities.
The BAS MD also pointed out that Drukair is not a licensed ground handling agent either. DCA confirmed this claim, adding that Drukair is authorised to only service its own aircraft. But, despite the national airline not having a license, it has been servicing foreign aircraft that land in Paro, say observers.
The CEO said that Drukair has been handling not only its own flights, but private charters and VVIP aircrafts that operate to Paro. He added that this could not happen if the airline was not certified by DCA.
Another issue raised by Drukair is on whether Paro airport requires another ground handling agent, especially with its limited infrastructure. “We want to encourage competition,” said a DCA official, “and at the same time maintain safety and security, we won’t compromise on this.”
But Tandin Jamso differed, “At this instance, we do fear that competition might be misplaced,” he said.
The CEO also expressed disappointment that the government did not take into consideration bilateral processes the national airline is subjected to in Nepal. He said Drukair has no choice of choosing a ground handling agent in Nepal and must use the national carrier, Royal Nepal. Source: Kuenselonline
