KATHMANDU: Altitude Air Pvt Ltd has brought a new Airbus helicopter for commercial operations in the country, the company said in a statement.

Assembled in Malaysia, the chopper with a call sign 9N-AMX has landed at Tribhuvan International Airport at around 4:00 pm while Captain duo Keshav Prasad Gauchan and Rabindra Prajapti along with Engineer Anirudra Shrestha conducted a 16-hour-long ferry flight from Malaysia via Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India, Nima Nuru Sherpa, Managing Director of the company said.

According to him, the six-seater AS 350 (H125) B3E chopper was renowned globally for high altitude search and rescue work with impressive cargo-swing load capacity.

The company purchased the single-engine chopper at around 270 million rupees, he added.

The brand new chopper will help fulfil the need of general consumers by conducting high altitude search and rescue operations through its third Airbus chopper.

The board of directors include company’s Chairman Lakpa Sonam Sherpa (Thamserku Trekking), MD Nima Nuru Sherpa (Cho-Oyu Treks), Vice-chairman Furba Gyaljen Sherpa (Himalayan Sherpa Adventure), Jiban Ghimire (Shangri-La Nepal Treks), Ram Prasad Sapkota (Himalayan Social Journey Treks), Mingma Gelu Sherpa (Seven Summits Club), Captain Sobit Gauchan and Jyoti Adhikari (Eco Trek International).

The company has also announced its plan to buy more choppers next year.

According to the Airbus, the H125 series are currently in-service worldwide and are mainly used for high-performance missions in high and hot conditions.