Kathmandu, March 23

Kailash Helicopter Services Pvt Ltd today announced that it is all set to commence commercial operations in the country from Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the newly established company, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal today issued the air operator certificate licence to launch the services.

Assembled in Singapore-based Airbus Helicopters Southeast Asia Pte Ltd, the chopper with call sign 9N-AML had landed at Tribhuvan International Airport on March 3.

Captain duo Ashish Sherchan and Ingimar Dalen along with engineer Peter Buchwieser had conducted the 19-hour-long ferry flight via Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India, said Pratap Jung Pandey, managing director of the company.

According to Pandey, the six-seater AS350 B3E chopper is renowned globally for high altitude search and rescue work with an impressive cargo-swing load capacity. The company purchased the single-engine chopper at around Rs 300 million, he added.  It has already conducted successful test flights, he said.

The brand new chopper will help fulfil the need of general consumers, Captain Sherchan, who is also chairman of the company said. “Safety as well as prompt service is our top priority,” he added.

The chopper, which is known for its capacity to fly at an altitude of about 23,000 feet, will be used in different services such as medical evacuation, corporate flights, human/cargo sling operations, high altitude operations, aerial survey, sightseeing, mountain flights and other special adventure missions. “It will help promote Nepal’s tourism industry,” Pandey said.

The company also plans to buy more choppers in the near future.

The company’s Board of Directors include Captain Sherchan, Pandey, Iswari Poudel, Sriram KC, Ramesh Kumar Pandit and Sunil Shrestha.

According to Airbus, the H125 series is currently in-service worldwide, and is mainly used for high performance missions in high and hot conditions. “The H125 is a member of Airbus Helicopters’ rugged and proven Ecureuil family and some 6,000 Ecureuils have been delivered in nearly 120 countries for some 1,800 operators.”

Currently, there are eight helicopter companies operating in the country.