Single engine aircraft return to Nepali skies

DINESH KARKI
KATHMANDU, March 3: Though single engine Pilatus Porter aircraft were once banned by the government, these small flying machines have made their way into Nepali skies once again.

The government has allowed six airlines to operate air taxi service by using Pilatus Porter aircraft. Two of these airlines - Tara Air and Air Kasthamandap -- have already introduced Pilatus Porter aircraft in their fleet.
irendra Kumar Singh, under secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, said four other airlines - Makalu Air, Unity Air, Akash Bhairav and Highlander Aviation - have been permitted to operate single engine aircraft. “These airlines are waiting for Air Operation Certificate (AOC) from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN),” Singh told myrepublica.com.

Vijay Shrestha, group executive director of Yeti Airlines and Tara Air, said single engine aircraft are the best options to operate air service in Nepal, considering difficult topography. Tara Air currently operates flights to Langtang, Dhorpatan and Syangboche by Pilatus Porter PC-6 aircraft.

“Excellent take offs and landing as well as high altitude capabilities makes this aircraft the best choice to operate flights in Nepal´s difficult terrains,” Shrestha told myrepublica.com.

Swiss made single engine Pilatus Porter aircraft, which Tara Air has introduced to Nepal, has been claimed as the most reliable single engine aircraft in operation worldwide.

Air Kasthamandap has been operating charter flights to remote areas of Nepal with its Aircraft P750 XL from New Zealand. The airline has been operating flights to Jumla, Dolpa, Mugu and Humla district from its base in Surkhet.

The government lifted ban on the operation of single engine aircraft after conducting extensive study on safety records and realizing the importance of such aircraft for a hilly and mountainous country like Nepal. The government started granting license to operate chartered flights on single engine aircraft from 2009.

“Since engine aircraft like Pilatus Porter are the aircraft that are between choppers and Twin Otters,” Shrestha added.

Single engine aircraft are best suitable to transport necessary cargos to remote and distant places that do not have access to roads and infrastructure to support flights of double engine aircraft.

“Single engine aircraft was reintroduced to provide quick and easy access to distant places of Nepal. We have permitted airlines to operate single engine aircraft to connect remote and distance places in the country,” Singh added.

Published on 2010-03-03 03:00:01