KATHMANDU, FEBURARY 10
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has formally communicated its decision to the District Administration Office (DAO) in Solukhumbu, stating that local stakeholders are against the operation of commercial flights in the Everest region. This decision follows a series of discussions and a meeting held on January 24 at the DAO office, where stakeholders deliberated on the resumption of helicopter flights in the area.
During the meeting, it was decided to continue rescue flights and formulate comprehensive guidelines for such operations. These guidelines will incorporate recommendations from health workers and require self-declarations from patients. Additionally, mountain flights were approved for one-touch landings at altitudes below 4,300 meters. For cargo transportation, expedition-related flights will be permitted up to Pangboche, while other goods transportation via helicopter will require prior approval.
The stakeholders also committed to finalizing an agreement within 15 days to regulate commercial helicopter operations and establish protocols for rescue flights directly to Kathmandu.
In a letter addressed to the DAO on Sunday, the rural municipality clarified that the local level has only agreed to the above points from the January 24 meeting. The municipality urged the DAO to manage helicopter flights in the Everest region in accordance with these decisions.
The January 24 meeting also emphasized the need to engage with local communities to discuss the continuation of flights while addressing their concerns. However, after extensive discussions with local stakeholders, it was concluded that, apart from rescue flights, cargo transportation to Pangboche, mountain flights, and other permitted operations, regular commercial flights would not be allowed.
Mingma Tshering Sherpa, Chairperson of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, reiterated the local level's opposition to unregulated commercial flights.
"We conveyed the message that commercial flights require community consensus. While we remain opposed to unregulated commercial flights, we've agreed to resume rescue and non-commercial flights to create a conducive environment for further discussions," Sherpa had earlier stated after the January 24 meeting.
The rural municipality has urged the DAO to adhere to these decisions and manage flights in the Everest region accordingly.
With local levels and stakeholders refusal, the futuer of commercial helicopter operation in the everest region remains in limbo.
