KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 20
The aircraft of Aero Thai Company is set to conduct the first mechanical flight test (calibration flight) at Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) from November 21 to 28. As a result, regular flights to and from the region will be disrupted while test is being conducted.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft will perform calibration flights from 10:00am to 1:00pm and from 2:30pm to 5:30pm from Monday onwards for a week. Jagannath Niroula, spokesperson for CAAN, said that the calibration test will be conducted for six hours a day throughout the week, adding that it is the first mechanical test being conducted at the airport.
"The construction of PRIA has reached completion with a few maintenances works yet to be completed. Over 16 metres of the targeted 40 metres of Rittepani Hill have been cut off so far. The hill had to be cut off by at least 14 metres to conduct the calibration test. The Pokhara metropolis is also working towards relocating the landfill site and they have reassured CAAN the work will be finished on time for the new international airport to come into operation from January 1, 2023. The authorities have assured us they will stop dumping garbage at the landfill site and find ways to relocate it before the deadline," Niroula said.
"The data and results received from the test will be published a week after the test is completed. Buddha Air and Himalaya Airlines have already shown interest in conducting a test flight while other airlines will also come forward after the first test results are published," he added.
According to Binesh Munakarmi, project manager of PRIA, all the equipment installed at the Pokhara Regional International Airport will be tested to see if they work properly or not.
"The communication and navigation equipment including the instrument landing system (ILS) among others will be tested during the calibration flight. We will inspect and improve the services if needed after the results are published," he said.
Munakarmi also shared that regular flights being conducted to and from the region will be disrupted during the time of the calibration test. Over 20 flights are conducted daily from Pokhara to various parts of the country at present. "Regular flights to and from the region will face some disturbance during the testing hours. Regular flights will be conducted before 10:00am if the weather is clear and in the evenings after the test is finished. Some flights will also be conducted during the afternoons when the calibration testing team is on a break," he said.
He also said that the landfill site near the airport will be covered to reduce bird activity during the calibration test, adding that Rittepani Hill has also been cut off to the required height for the test. "After coming into operation, the airport will reduce air traffic congestion at other international airports, ease travel for students and adults, and contribute to tourism growth in the region," Munakarmi added.
CAAN is preparing to start regular flights at the new international airport from January 1, 2023. CAMC Engineering Company was entrusted with the contract to build the airport in May 2014. Construction work of the airport started in July 2017.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 21, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
