CAAN mandates two pilots on helicopter flight for VIPs

KATHMANDU, June 20:” The Civil Aviation  Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to implement a provision of two pilots on a chopper flight for VIPs as mentioned and recognised by the government. 

A meeting of the CAAN held on Sunday under the chairmanship of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale took a decision to this effect. 

The meeting agreed to implement an automated software application for assessing potential for flight safety and mitigating such risk prior to the operation of each helicopter flight. 

“The application is aimed to strengthen the helicopter’s flight safety. It will analyze weather conditions, flight duration, experiences of pilots, geographical condition and other aspects for the consolidated flight safety,” according to a press statement of CAAN.  

 The government regulatory body of civil aviation said that the decision applied for domestic flights for VIPs. There are presently 10 private and one government-owned helicopter companies in the country.  

Besides, the meeting also decided to shift Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)-based parking space for helicopters and aircrafts to outside the Kathmandu Valley as well. As per the decision, helicopters and aircraft will be sent out of Kathmandu for night-stop parking and they are required to operate the first flight of the day from the base airport (stop area). 

The decision to shift the parking space is to reduce parking loads at TIA. In case of airlines companies, the decision shall come into effect from June 27 while the helicopters companies are required to implement it from June 21.