Things have deteriorated more in these past ten years

-Captain P.R.Shakya, RNAC, Kathmandu

I met Captain Pushpa Raj Shakya on board RNA flight to Frankfurt on October 2, this month. He took over the Commandership of the RNA flight from Dubai airport. Talking of myself, I get bit nervous if some one proposes me to enter the cockpit. However, some fellow passengers that day insisted me to watch the proceedings inside the cockpit that in essence takes care of the whole operation of the flight to which the men outside the cockpit know nothing. I agreed reluctantly to be with the Captain for a small view and talks as well. It is for sure that I was trembling inside. Yet the friendly behavior of this sober man, Captain Shakya, encouraged me to watch the outer sky just out of the aircraft. My stay inside the cockpit was for not less than one hour. During this time Captain Shakya informed me of the countries we had been crossing on our way to Frankfurt, Germany.

Shakya hails from Bhojpur district. At the moment he is settled in Buddhanagar, Kathmandu. He is in this flying business since 26 plus years. While studying Bachelor in Science, B.Sc, he left for Canada, Toronto to be more precise, to get himself trained in as a Pilot. Button Ville airfield was his training center in Toronto. Since then he has been flying and flying and at the moment steers the handle of Boeing 757.

Soft-spoken Shakya readily agreed to my request for an exclusive tête-à-tête on matters related to the RNAC, his flying career and a bit of Nepal’s current political situation. Below the results -Chief editor.

TGQ1: Captain Mr. Shakya! How long you have been flying over the international skies? How you enjoy it: as a sportsman or a routine airline servant? Will you offer your comments?

Captain Shakya: First of all I thank you very much Mr. Upadhyaya for your keen interest exhibited in interviewing me. This shows that you and your newspaper possess some due respect for us engaged in this career.

As regards your question, I would tell you that I’ve been flying all over these past twenty-six years or so. During these years I’ve flown to the Nepali sky and the international as well. I recall that I began my flying career with the Twin-Otter aircraft. Later I enjoyed flying in Avro, Boeing 727 and at the moment, as you are yourself flying with me, is Boeing 757 aircraft. For this flight, I’m the commander and my bounden duty is to bring you all to Frankfurt, Germany, sound and safe.

I take this job in a sportsmanship fashion. It is also a job that comes under my, what you have called, routine as well. Undoubtedly, flying over known and unknown skies is a task, which is both adventurous and encouraging. Every moment in the sky is challenging for those who steer the wheels inside the cockpit and more so for the commander it is definitely a trying period. However, it is indeed interesting to fly. And there is no doubt that I’ve enjoyed flying to the fullest extent. No regrets.

TGQ2: Captain Shakya! What is the most challenging and frightening moment in your overly stretched flying career, if any? What you think of our pilots, more so the experienced Captains, such as you yourself, for example, in terms of safe flights. Your comments please.

Captain Shakya: In my opinion, it is all time and every time that the weather conditions en-route to the destination that poses some troubles. These troubles at times become more dangerous to handle. However, there is nothing to panic. Later come the thunderstorms that pose a formidable threat to the flying aircraft. These threats do occasionally come to you. At these critical moments, a good commander prefers to avert or say avoid the surmounting problems. If one bags the success then it is okay. Otherwise what has to be done at these moments-say rough weather conditions-is to penetrate into the weak points of the weather and make way for the aircraft. There are certainly weaker points in the weather and hence the wisdom is to search such points and get out of the rough weather.

Yes! Every pilot experiences some disturbances and frightening moments during flying career. I too had such experience in the distant past. However, a proper handling of the wheel and with some knowledge of the weather, I could get out of the trouble. Important thing is that the commander has to be pretty smart, attentive and stable. All these put in true perspective, the flight becomes comfortable. Believe me, the commander inside the cockpit remains ever attentive and it is his attention that the flight is safe and sound.

The man right to me also contributes a lot. Just see how busy he is in communicating the position of the aircraft to the men who are watching this aircraft in their RADAR down in their country. If some times our aircraft develops problem, the men in the RADAR watch this and allow us to land in their airport at times of emergency.

TGQ3: Captain Shakya! What is your opinion regarding RNAC given the fact that it is dubbed as an airline synonymous to "delay airliner"? Who is to be blamed? The management or the government itself, which is supposedly engaged in extracting commission from the purchase or lease of the aircraft, needed for the corporation? Your remarks please.

Captain Shakya: While talking about the mess in the country’s flag carrier, in my opinion, it is the government and the government alone that is responsible for the perennial mess. It is the government, which sends and appoints the "board members" to the governing board of the RNAC. Various commission agents have created havoc in the past and the process of loot in this regard is still continuing to the utter dismay of the workers and the men in the RNAC. In my humble analysis, "Wet Lease" is dangerous. We should go in for instead "Lease Purchase". If it is wet lease, it benefits the commission agents and not the RNA. However, if it is Lease purchase, slowly and slowly the aircraft comes to our possession and ultimately it adds up to the number of the aircraft in the country. The more aircraft you have, the more destinations you could fly. In our case, we have practically no aircraft, which impedes the growth of the RNA and is adversely affecting our national economy. It is definitely a dollar earner for this country. However, none in the government think on these lines, I suppose. Every body is talking of commission. I do not know who is extracting benefits?

Regarding the delay part of your question, definitely it is the lesser number of aircraft and the expanding number of foreign destinations. Add to this the meager numerical strength what we have at the moment. Some times the immigration people and the men at the customs at the airport to create problems, which we can’t overcome. It is their part of the duty in which we can’t interfere. All put together, the delay in the flights become inevitable.

TGQ4: How your kids and family members feel when you are out in flying duty? What is their comment including your parents? Also tell me how you feel when you steer the handle at the cockpit?

Captain Shakya: Frankly speaking, my family members feel very happy with the successful completion of each of my flights abroad. My eldest son is currently studying MBBS in Moscow. Second is yet again a pilot at the Shangri-La Air. Third boy is doing his Intermediate in Commerce. They love me when I’m back. It is every time a very very happy reunion. Regarding my father, who is sick at 88, doesn’t know about it. In the final analysis, we enjoy all after my come back each time.

TGQ5: Finally Captain Shakya, How you assess the current political situation of our country, Nepal?

Captain Shakya: I’m not convinced at all with the kind of situation we are in at the moment in the nation. It is going down each day. Back in my own RNAC, things have deteriorated more in these past ten years or so of this new order. Purchase lease is best for RNA. However, after the advent of this order, things went in favor of wet lease, which apparently suits, to the commission agents and their men in the RNA board. The government interferes in our business, which is unacceptable. Beyond the Royal Nepal Airlines, all sectors are in a mess. The common men are in a confused state. That’s all.

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