The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has issued a special monsoon safety directive requiring airlines, pilots and aviation personnel to follow stricter operating procedures during the 2026 monsoon season.

The “Monsoon Circular 2026”, approved by the CAAN Director General on June 3, will come into force on June 15 and remain mandatory until the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology declares the end of the monsoon.

Under the directive, pilots and flight dispatchers must verify aircraft technical condition and minimum equipment requirements before every flight and obtain detailed weather information for routes, destinations and alternate airports.

Helicopter operators must assess weather conditions in mountain valleys and identify safe alternative landing sites before departure. All helicopter flights during the monsoon must be operated by two pilots, except medical evacuation flights carrying stretcher patients.

CAAN has ordered that critical aircraft systems, including anti-skid systems, windshield wipers, weather radar, slats and flaps, engine reverse thrust systems and Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS), must be fully operational. Aircraft with defects in these systems will not be permitted to fly.

Pilots must maintain a minimum distance of 20 nautical miles from severe thunderstorms and hazardous weather systems. They are authorised to return to departure points or divert to alternate airports if conditions worsen.

During landing, crews must prioritise instrument approaches over visual approaches when necessary and initiate a go-around if a stable approach cannot be maintained.

Airlines have also been instructed to take into account pilot fatigue when scheduling night flights. Pilots encountering significant deviations from forecast weather must immediately report conditions to air traffic control.

CAAN information officer Gyanendra Bhul said the circular aims to reduce human error during adverse weather by strengthening decision-making standards.

“Nepal has experienced many aviation accidents linked to poor weather, including cases where flights continued despite deteriorating conditions or aircraft skidded on runways,” Bhul said. “The circular provides a legal and operational framework to prioritise passenger and aircraft safety.”

Monsoon and pre-monsoon periods remain among the most challenging for aviation in Nepal, with heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, low visibility, wind shear and icing at higher altitudes increasing operational risks.

Helicopter operations face added challenges in mountainous terrain, where cloud buildup and sudden visibility loss can increase the risk of disorientation and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents.

The circular applies to all domestic and international airlines operating in Nepal, including Nepal Airlines, Himalaya Airlines, Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines, Sita Air, Saurya Airlines and Summit Air, as well as helicopter operators, pilots, flight dispatchers and air traffic controllers.

CAAN has also made monsoon safety training, diversion procedures and threat management mandatory for all flight crews.