The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has lifted the helicopter flight restrictions imposed during the monsoon season. According to CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul, the decision was made following the official announcement that the monsoon season has ended.
With the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology declaring the end of the monsoon, CAAN has revoked the ban on helicopter operations, including mountain flights, ceiling flights, and flower-dropping flights, which were restricted during the rainy season. These types of flights pose significant risks during the monsoon due to unpredictable weather conditions.
Every year, CAAN imposes flight restrictions during the monsoon to mitigate potential risks associated with heavy rainfall and fluctuating weather conditions. This year’s monsoon, which began on June 10, officially ended on October 12, according to the meteorological department. Typically, the monsoon enters Nepal around June 13 and exits by early October.
Spokesperson Bhul explained that the flight ban was necessary due to the sudden and unpredictable weather changes during the monsoon, which could increase the risk of helicopter operations, particularly in mountainous regions.
CAAN has also clarified that helicopter flight permits will now be issued directly by Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for normal cargo, passenger flights, and flights within the Kathmandu Valley. Previously, following a July 13, 2023, Manang Air helicopter crash, all flight permits had to be issued through CAAN’s central office.
The aviation authority further stated that helicopter flights outside the Kathmandu Valley will continue to require authorization from the central office. However, pilot checks, non-commercial flights, and flights originating from airports outside the valley will still need approval from CAAN’s headquarters.
Spokesperson Bhul added, “After last year’s Manang Air crash, we had centralized the issuance of all helicopter flight permits through our central office. Now, we have returned the authority to Tribhuvan International Airport for flights operating from and within the Kathmandu Valley, effective from Ashwin 24.”
Source: RSS
