KATHMANDU, JULY 7
Helicopter pilots and operators have sought to draw the attention of the aviation sector regular to significant safety hazards and lack of necessary infrastructure that have been affecting daily operations while conducting flights from the Nalinchowk Heliport of Bhaktapur.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had recently brought the newly-built Nalinchowk Heliport into operation to shift chopper-related services from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The new heliport is equipped with over 13 parking stands and four take-off and landing pads.
In the memo signed by 40 pilots submitted to the authority, it is mentioned that there are significant safety hazards in operations from Nalinchowk Helipad that may result in catastrophic incidents/accidents in the near future during take-offs and landings. It has cited various high obstacles, electric wires and terrains surrounding the helipad.
"The helipad is surrounded by various obstacles like transmission wires to the south east, trees to the east and west, a telecom tower, tall building to the west directly beneath the approach paththat pose high risk," the memo reads.
Operators have suggested clearing nearby obstacles at least Inm radius of the heliport to ease take off and landing path and at least two way approach and landings.
Also, the lack of a control tower is said to affect commercial operations from the heliport and they have requested the authority to establish one for monitoring and managing traffic purposes.
"It take at least 15 to 20 minutes more for a pilot to complete his or her post-flight duties after landing the aircraft and shutting the engine, such as writing the tech log, among others. So landing on the Final Approach and Take-Off (FATO) point and towing the aircraft takes time and the helicopter may have to hold till everything clears, so hovering taxi to the parking is a must. Marshalling at FATO especially when operating through a one way approach is a significant threat due to lack of adequate manoeuvring area. ATC control tower must be established for monitoring and managing traffic. Also, as the FATO is too close to the end point of the heliport, operations are at risk due to high-rise buildings before the chopper can get the ETL (effective translational lift)," the memo states.
According to Gyanendra Bhul, information officer for CAAN, the authority has received the concerns from flight operators and has taken them seriously to not increase the stress on pilots which can affect safety and airworthiness of any flight. He added that the authority is working with other units to effectively resolve the issues.
The helipad is currently being managed through TIA and some infrastructure are yet to be completed as well. On December 12, 2023, CAAN had conducted the first flight from the helipad in the presence of related authorities, pilots, flight inspectors under its regulatory process where various manoeuvring requirements exercises were conducted. The report of that operation had also raised concerns over surrounding terrains and buildings. At present, 10 helicopters park at Nalinchowk and are conducting regular operations.
"While the management responsibility of providing local facilities and setting up fuel stations will be handled by TIA, the authority will oversee all activities related to operation and airworthiness concerns and work to resolve them. We are working to resolve the issues immediately but there are still many things that need adjustments. There are buildings, telecom towers, infrastructure and trees surrounding the heliport which will have to be addressed through a multi-level coordination with other government bodies and parties, which can be very complex and may take some time. Other issues raised by the pilots have also been taken seriously by the authority and has contacted the heliport unit for assistance in resolving them," said Bhul.
