KATHMANDU, JULY 12
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to implement new regulations with immediate effect in a bid to strengthen the country's helicopter flight safety following the fatal crash of Manang Air chopper 9N-AMV in Solukhumbu that killed all six people onboard on July 11.
One of the key changes under the new regulations is the formation of a team to daily control and supervise helicopter and Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) operations.
That team will be responsible for ensuring that all helicopter flights are conducted in a safe and efficient manner.
Likewise, CAAN has also announced that either the point of origin or destination during helicopter operations must be an aerodrome.
This means that helicopters can no longer land or take off from non-controlled aerodrome locations, such as rooftops, helipads, or even open fields.
Another key change is the centralisation of permission for helicopter operations, including rescue flights, at the Air Transport Department (ATD) which will help to ensure that all helicopter flights are properly reviewed and approved before they are allowed to take off.
The new regulations also restrict non-essential flights, such as mountain flights, external load operations (sling flights), and showering of flowers by helicopters, until September. This is to help reduce the number of helicopter flights during the monsoon season, when the weather conditions are more challenging.
Finally, the new regulations has mentioned prohibiting flight crew members who have a share in the company from exercising the privileges of their licence for all types of commercial flights by amending Air Operator Certificate Requirement (AOCR). This provision is likely to come into effect in a few weeks, as per a CAAN source, who added that it is believed the new provision is expected to prevent conflicts of interest.
According to the record of CAAN, 35 fatal helicopter crashes have occurred in Nepal. In 2023 alone, four helicopter crashes were reported in the country.
In early May, a Simrik Air helicopter had crashed in the Sankhuwasabha district resulting in the tragic death of one passenger, while four others sustained injuries. Likewise, Heli Everest and Air Dynasty helicopters have crashed this year, but did not result in any casualty.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
