Rabin Pradhan, currently the Director of Quality Assurance and Flight Safety in the country’s flag
carrier airline, Nepal Airlines Corporation. An engineer from the heart, Mr. Pradhan is an alumnus of India’s
most prestigious engineering college, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. With the dream of being
an Engineer, Mr. Pradhan finally achieved the dream in the year 1982 and right away started working as an
Aeronautical Engineer in the Department of Civil Aviation.
- Tell us about your childhood?
My father was a medical doctor and was posted during his service career to different places in Nepal and later in Colombo, Sri Lanka. So I spent my childhood and education indifferent places like Biratnagar, Kathmandu and Colombo.
- What do you find most enjoyable?
I enjoy spending my free time with my family members and listening to old melodious Nepali songs like those of Narayan Gopal.
- How did you get in this aviation sector, how did it happen?
I was studying, I.Sc. in Amrit Science Campus in the year 1974. Back then, RNAC was the best corporation. There were some engineers, f light engineers, pilots and administrators (working in RNAC) living in my neighborhood whose life style inspired me to join RNAC in future. So I decided to become Aeronautical Engineer to join RNAC. Fortunately, I got this opportunity to study B.Tech. (Hons.) Aeronautical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, India, back in the year 1977.After graduating in 1982, initially I joined Civil Aviation Department and then finally I was able to join RNAC in the year 1983.
- Tell us something about your alma mater. How was college life back then?
I studied few year s in an international school called “Overseas Children School” in Colombo, Sri Lanka .As I had friends from different countries, so I came to know about different people, places, cultures, religions, etc and developed a desire to travel in future. It has been fulfilled after working in N.A.C. to a certain extent. I still have contacts with those old friends and it was very interesting when I met some of them later on. Probably, we were second batch of students to undergo the new education system in Nepal called 6 monthly semester systems encountering frequent examinations and learning new terminologies like tutorial exams, mid-term exams, end-term exams, credit, merit, distinction, etc with college being called campus and I.Sc.as “Certificate level in Science”. I used to ride with pride my British bicycle called Hercules and used to go to Amrit Science Campus. Besides, I had some others friends studying in Tri-Chandra Campus and Public Youth Campus also. Sometimes, we use to bunk our lecture classes and go to cinema halls to watch new movies on the first day of its release.
- After graduation you straight came back to Nepal? Did not you try to work in India, since very few people would graduate with engineering degree back then?
My father died in an Indian Airlines B737 aircraft accident during approach at Palam airport, New Delhi on 31stMay 1973 on his way back from Colombo via Madras to take charge of his new duty as Director General of World Health Organization, South East Asia Regional office. At the same time, I was preparing for my final S.L.C. examination and also just recovering from jaundice. I am the only son in my family with my mother and other two sisters. So, with great difficulty, I was released from home for five years in the year1977 to study Aeronautical Engineering in India. Therefore, I decided to become Aeronautical Engineer to join RNAC .I came back home straightaway and pursued my ambition to work for R.N.A.C. after graduating in the year 1982.
- When have you been most satisfied in your life?
I was most satisfied in my life when my ambition from my college days to join RNAC finally materialized in April1983.
- Tell us about your one memorable event that happened in this sector?
One of the most memorable events was when RNAC started operating European sectors namely London, Frankfurt and Paris, which were a breakthrough and a milestone for us.
- Who is that one person that you admire the most and why?
I admire, Mr. B.R. Singh, the then General Manager of RNAC. During his management tenure, RNAC was able to expand its International Aircraft fleet by inducting the two Boeing 757-200 aircraft in the year 1987 and 1988.
- Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.
Probably in the year 2001, RNAC was facing a dispute with AMECO, Beijing, China related to refurbishment ofRB211-535E4 engines. AMECO had filed a legal suit in the People’s court of China against RNAC claiming around USD5.3 million as outstanding payment dues. I was one of the responsible officer, who played an important role during negotiating with AMECO on our several visits to Beijing, China to resolve the dispute amicably and ultimately was successful to reduce around USD 1.4 million with the Insurance company paying around USD 2.4 million and only the balance amount to be paid by RNAC on installment basis during a period of one year. At that time, all the spare engine and modules were withheld by AMECO and finally convinced them to release one spare engine for our grounded Boeing B757 aircraft. Later on RNAC, Board of Directors rewarded our team with two salary grades in that particular Fiscal Year. Among many incidents, I would consider this as one of the most memorable and significant accomplishment in my career.
- What do you think about the current Nepalese Aviation Industry?
Aviation industry is developing almost like banks in the country. Ultimately, I think it will be the survival of the fittest. In the forthcoming years, probably we will be able to see mergers and existence of few fixed wing aircraft operators only.
- You must have gone for so many trainings abroad. Tell us any incident during training period that makes you smile or was talk of the office back then.
During long duration trainings, we use to stay in apartments and do our shopping, cooking, dishwashing, cleaning and all kind of house-hold work together, which I guess was fun and enjoyable in a completely new place.
- Do you think that a government regulation should come to take care of the situation as the aviation sector slowly is mushrooming?
I do think a stringent government regulation should come to take care of this situation by timely monitoring and making recommendations accordingly.
- Aviation and Tourism is the key economical sector for the country, yet we do not have A-class airport, what do you think might be the reason behind it?
Lack of proper long-term visions from the policy makers in this sector.
- It is believed that the employment in the government aviation sector is not systematic and managed improperly. What’s your take on it?
Yes, it is true to some extent, but I think it is gradually improving. Universal principle of “proper man in proper place” should be adopted.
- New regulation, EASA is slowly changing the standards of Nepalese Aviation, how does NAC take it?
NAC was quite comfortable with the old regulations and now it is gradually adjusting to the new regulations. It will take some time for a complex government owned organization like NAC to fully adopt the new challenges.
- What is the biggest challenge for NAC?
The biggest challenge of NAC at the moment is to manage smooth operation of multiple aircraft f let being inducted almost at the same time period, after such a long interval of approximately 26years.
- How far NAC has gone to counteract it?
NAC is gradually struggling in more or less positive direction to face this big challenge.
- At the end, what would you like to say to the people?
I would like to wish all the readers a wonderful and safe aviation era ahead.
- Any specific message for the aviation professional in particular?
Let us develop our safety hazard reporting culture more vigorously and comply with its associated risk assessment/management timely, in order to achieve the final goal of “Safety through Quality”.
