Kathmandu, June 30:

In a bid to maintain air safety standards across the country and to reorganise air traffic in certain sectors, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) enforced the amended “Safety Minima” to the country’s aviation sector effective from today. CAAN issued a circular on the Safety Minima to all the airlines today.

CAAN in its Safety Minima has set the minimum visibility for take off and landing of fixed wing airplanes in Aeronautical Fixed Information Service (small airports) from 5 km to 1500 ft. The former minimum visibility standard for the same was from 2.5km to 1000 ft. For helicopters, the minimum visibility for take off and landing remains 1.5 km.

The aircraft and helicopters flying from Kathmandu to Lukla are required to pass through Lamjura while they are supposed to fly back from Lukla via Karti.

While flying in the Kathmandu-Pokhara sector, the airplanes and helicopters should pass through Manakamana and fly back from Pokhara through Bandi. Earlier all the airplanes in the Kathmandu-Lukla used to fly back and forth through Lamjura while those flying in the Kathmandu-Pokhara sector used to pass through just Mankamna, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, chief of CAAN’s Air Safety department told this daily.

“We have amended new Safety Minima as per the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation requirements, with a sole objective to maintain air safety standards and to do away with air traffic congestion in the concerned sectors,” said Suman. CAAN will take action against those who violate the rules, he said.