First international airshow in offing

Coinciding with the official launch of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011, Avia Club Nepal is organising the first ever international air show -- Himalayan Paramotor Yatra 2011 -- inNepal.
The organisers are expecting some 30 participants from around the world. "Some 17 participants including from Brazil, Germany and Russia have already confirmed their participation," Natasha Shrestha, managing director of the Avia Club Nepal. "They will fly from National Stadium and Tundikhel in Kathmandu," she said. "In the second leg, the tour will continue to Hetauda, Bharatpur, Butwal, Lumbini, Tansen and concludes in Pokhara.
"A highly qualified team of Russian aerobatics will perform the aerobatics," she said, adding that Himalayan Motor Yatra 2011 will be organised on January 12-23," she said, adding that the event will highlight Nepal as a airsport tourism centre, where round the air many airsports competitions could be organised.
There are 11 companies involved in the airsport, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation since 1996.
After the airsport started in Nepal some one-and-a-half decades, it will be the first time the international pilots will be taking part in the power paragliding (PPG) -- paragliding with the motor -- competition.
"The participanting pilots carry motors on their back," said Stephen Shrestha, director at the Avia Club Nepal. "The pilots, who love low flying in low speed love solo love this sport," he said, adding that the pilots cruise around half and hour to one-and-a-half an hour after power PPG takes off to sky between 300 to 500 feet.
The Avia Club has been organising annual national paragliding competition in coordination of local tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara since last 12 years. "Nepal has a lots of potential for the airsport," she added.
Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA) is established in 2003 to promote Nepal as airsport destination. NAA is a member of Federation of Aeronautic International (FAI) -- a global air sports federation -- that organises aeroneautical sports around the world and has 102 members. Nepal is also the member of FAI.
"The airshow to be organised in Nepal is also listed in the FAI's annual event giving Nepal much-needed publicity for the Nepal Tourism Year 2011," the organisers said.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has in coordinatin with the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) has been managing the time and security for the air show as the Nepali sky has been crowded lately.