KATHMANDU: Yeti Airlines’ second brand new Pilatus Porter (PC 6) aircraft landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) this afternoon. “The aircraft has flown direct from the factory to TIA,” said Yeti Airlines. It has a PT-6A-27 engine made by world renowned engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. There are 266 PC-6s in operation all over the world. Pilatus Porter has excellent short take-off and landing (STOL) performance and it is a multi-purpose airplane designed and built since 1959 by Pilatus Aircraft Ltd in Stans, Switzerland. The first flight of Pilatus Porter was operated on May 4, 1959. Pilatus Porter is celebrating its 50 years of production. Fifty years ago, during the Swiss Dhaulagiri Himalaya Expedition in May 1960, Pilatus Porter (PC-6) was used for transportation of climbing equipment. The name of the PC-6 at that time was ‘Yeti Himalaya’. “It is a coincidence that the airline bringing the Pilatus Porter to Nepal after 50 years is also Yeti Airlines,” according to Yeti Airlines that is planning to bring in a third PC-6. PC-6 is practical for almost every function as a sky cab. It is used for passenger and material transport, medical and emergency service, measurement and photo flights, with spraying equipment for agricultural work and for fire fighting. It can land equipped with skis on glaciers and with floats on water and is an ideal airplane for parajumping also. PC-6 fixed wing aircraft made the first world record of landing at an altitude of 5750m in 1960. Yeti Airlines – established in May 1998 – has 14 aircraft including PC 6 in its fleet. The airlines has started its flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the gateway to Mt Everest, the highest point on earth. This fleet of domestic airlines has been serving the isolated population in the remote mountain areas, providing the only means of transportation and connection to the outside world. “Yeti has has the biggest domestic flight network and flies to almost all destinations in Nepal,” claimed the airlines. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) had also operated three Pilatus Porters from 1961 to 1998. Yeti airlines is planning to revive PC-6 operation in the remotest areas of Nepal. “It will use the currently unused airports such as Syangboche, Jiri, Langtang, Dhorpatan and Kalikot which have long enough runways to suit the PC-6,” said Vijay Shrestha, executive director of Yeti Airlines Domestic (P) Ltd.

Yeti Air’s fleet

KATHMANDU: Yeti Airlines domestic has 14 aircraft at present. • J-41(Jet Stream)– six aircraft – for Trunk Route • DHC 6/300 (Twin Otter) – four aircraft – for STOL Sectors • Do-228(Dornier) – two aircraft – for STOL Sectors • PC-6 (Pilatus) – two – for Charter only

Single-engine plane to fly soon

KATHMANDU: Air Kasthamandap has formally launched its single engine PC 750 XSTOL aircraft in the Nepali sky. “Its operational and maintenance crew are experienced and trained,” said the airlines promoted by professionals in the aviation field. The operation of the aircraft will start from the third week of July and the company expects its second aircraft by September and a third one in a year. “The airlines will be based in Surkhet and wil fly to Simikot of Humla, Talcha of Mugu, Jufal of Dolpa and Kolti of Bajura,” according to the company. — HNS