Helicopter flights to be operated from Nalinchok

In order to reduce the air traffic at Tribhuvan International Airport, helicopter services will shifted to the helipad at Nalinchok in Bhaktapur. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to shift the operations of helicopter services from the helipad on 32 ropanis of land owned by the CAAN.

“We are shifting the helicopter service to Nalinchok to ease the traffic congestion at the Kathmandu airport. Once the helipad is shifted to Bhaktapur, the problem of domestic and international commercial flights being held on the ground or in the sky will gradually improve.” CAAN Director General Pradip Adhikari. said at the ground breaking ceremony of the new domestic terminal at Gaucharan on Sunday.

The proposed helipad will be fully operational by coming summer. The helicopter flights carrying sick persons and emergency may be allowed to use the TIA but all commercial and recreational helicopter flights will be operated from Nalinchok. It is also stated that private helicopter service providers were consulted for the shifting of the helipad. Currently there are 10 private companies are providing helicopter services in Nepal.