Aviation Club Pokhara has conducted a test flight of an ultra-light aircraft from Janakpur Airport to explore the feasibility of sightseeing flights over Mount Everest, surrounding peaks, and the Koshi Tappu region. As part of the trial, the ultra-light aircraft took off from Janakpur Airport today, heading towards Rajbiraj.
With the growing interest of Indian tourists in experiencing aerial views of the Himalayas and the Koshi River, Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh had requested the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to facilitate ultra-light aircraft operations.
CAAN Deputy Director Dev Chandra Lal Karna stated that the test flight was conducted to determine whether Everest’s summit could be viewed from Janakpur, with the aircraft successfully reaching Rajbiraj.
He further mentioned that if the test flight proves successful and commercially viable, plans will be made to operate ultra-light sightseeing flights from Rajbiraj Airport for Everest tourism in the future.
Karna highlighted that helicopter sightseeing over Everest is expensive, while commercial airplanes do not offer a complete scenic experience. He expressed confidence that ultra-light aircraft would provide an affordable and appealing alternative for tourists. The estimated cost for an ultra-light flight to view Everest is around Rs. 15,000 per person, with the aircraft accommodating one passenger per flight.
