Nepali helicopter operators have sought Airlines operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) help in getting compensation from the French helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter.
The manufacturer has provided Mountain Helicopters, Simrik Air and Fishtail Air helicopters with 'faulty engine', the operators claimed in the letter to the AOAN.
"Though the helicopters are delivering best performance at high altitude flight, the operators are suffering from premature engine failure," they said, adding that the manufacturer should pay the compensation for the repair cost as well as business loss.
Basically the Time Between Overhaul (TBO), the engine manufacturer (Turbomeca, France) assured us 3,500 hours but the engines have started showing premature failures in 230 hours to 1,100 hours creating huge loss to the operators, they claimed, asking the AOAN to take up the issue with Eurocopter, and lend support to the claims of aggrieved operators.
"Both Eurocopter and Turbomeca should take up the issue at their higher management level as we feel that this is not being solved to the operators satisfaction at the field representatives level," they added.They have taken the issue to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) also.
The AOAN had also formed an investigation committee on premature failure of 2B1 engines of Eurocopter helicopters and the committee has already submitted the report to the AOAN.
After investigating the case of problems on engine module 3 of ARRIEL 2B1 engines installed on AS-350B3 currently operating in Nepal, the team concluded that all the AS350B3 operators have found similar problems of degradation of T4 margin during Power Assurance Check (PAC); premature failure resulting untimely replacement of Engine module 3 (MO3); the manufacturer is not taking the issue seriously and being adequately responsive to the operators; despite operators strictly following the procedures laid down on the Maintenance Manual as well as the specialist’s advises from Turbomeca, the problem still persists; due to the engine premature failure problem, Fishtail Air and Mountain Helicopter have already replaced MO3 on their engines and Simrik Air has also closed its high altitude operations compelling all the three of them to rethink the viability of B3 operation in Nepal and they should be compensated for the repair cost as well as business loss.
The committee reported that each of three engines has the same symptom — HP turbine blade tips were found damaged by rubbing on shroud — apart from the same symptoms of rapid drop in T4 margin and Boroscopic finding of turbine blade rubbing on the shroud. "It seems that the engine is not being able to cope up the high temperature over long periods which have resulted in the turbine rubbed as evidence in the Boroscopic check," the committee concluded.
Showing posts with label Fishtail Air. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fishtail Air. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Chopper fare to be unifor from March 1
The helicopter service provider airlines companies are making their fares uniform from March 1 as they have decided to charge $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season.
"Though some light helicopter service providers were charging $1,880 earlier, others were already charging $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season," said Bikash Rana, chairman of Fishtail Air -- a helicopter charter company operating within Nepal based in Kathmandu. "The uniform fare will be effective from March 1," he added.
Due to difficult geography, most of the western hilly districts are linked to the capital with the air services only and for emergency aid the helicopter is the only means of transportation.
Helicopter services industry is well established also due to rising rescue operations in the mountains. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), there are 10 helicopter operators with valid Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), after some of them have not renewed their licence, though some 18 airlines were registered in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for helicopter operations.
Fishtail Air, Shree Airlines, Manang Air, Mountain Helicopters, Muktinath Airlines, Sky Tech Heli Safari, Air Dynasty, Simrik Air, Hamro Air are currently operating helicopter service providers.
"Of the total 63 AOC issued by the CAAN, some 29 airlines operators AOC have been invalid and cancelled and 34 have valid AOC," CAAN director Madhav Prasad Dahal said, adding that 27 airlines are in operation, seven operators AOC is valid but they are not in operation, 12 operators have valid AOC for fixed wing and 12 have AOC for Aviation Sports operation.
"Though some light helicopter service providers were charging $1,880 earlier, others were already charging $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season," said Bikash Rana, chairman of Fishtail Air -- a helicopter charter company operating within Nepal based in Kathmandu. "The uniform fare will be effective from March 1," he added.
Due to difficult geography, most of the western hilly districts are linked to the capital with the air services only and for emergency aid the helicopter is the only means of transportation.
Helicopter services industry is well established also due to rising rescue operations in the mountains. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), there are 10 helicopter operators with valid Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), after some of them have not renewed their licence, though some 18 airlines were registered in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for helicopter operations.
Fishtail Air, Shree Airlines, Manang Air, Mountain Helicopters, Muktinath Airlines, Sky Tech Heli Safari, Air Dynasty, Simrik Air, Hamro Air are currently operating helicopter service providers.
"Of the total 63 AOC issued by the CAAN, some 29 airlines operators AOC have been invalid and cancelled and 34 have valid AOC," CAAN director Madhav Prasad Dahal said, adding that 27 airlines are in operation, seven operators AOC is valid but they are not in operation, 12 operators have valid AOC for fixed wing and 12 have AOC for Aviation Sports operation.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Domestic airfare goes up
The domestic air travel is going to be expensive by Rs 250 to Rs 500 from Wednesday in all sectors.
"Though the government permitted us to increase airfare from February 13, we are increasing the airfare effective from Wednesday," said Rupesh Joshi, marketing manager of Buddha Air.The airlines were asking the government to let them increase airfare as it has been five years that they have not revised the airfares. "Though, airfares are revised every two years, this time it is being done after five years," he said, adding that the airlines have increased the fares to only 33 per cent from what the government permitted.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has on the basis of the inflation rate of the last five years, permitted the airlines to hike the airfare. Generally, every two years, the airfare has been revised based on the increasing price in the market.
The government had formed a committee to revise the airfare in November, 2010 and the committee had submitted its report to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation in December suggesting the airfare hike.
The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has requested the government to revise airfare upward due to rise in Air Turbine Fuel (ATF), insurance fee, lease tax, VAT, renewal fee in the last five year.However, the operators have adjusted the minimum airfare and fuel surcharge to increase in the total fare.
Earlier in December too, the airlines operators had hiked the additional fuel surcharge by Rs 60 to Rs 80 according to the distance, citing the reason of the hike in ATF price.
Meanwhile, the chopper companies have also made their fares uniform by making it $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season. "Though some light helicopters were charging $1,880 earlier, others were already charging $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season," said Bikash Rana, chairman of Fishtail Air -- a helicopter charter company operating within Nepal based in Kathmandu. "The uniform fare will be effective from March 1," he added.
"Though the government permitted us to increase airfare from February 13, we are increasing the airfare effective from Wednesday," said Rupesh Joshi, marketing manager of Buddha Air.The airlines were asking the government to let them increase airfare as it has been five years that they have not revised the airfares. "Though, airfares are revised every two years, this time it is being done after five years," he said, adding that the airlines have increased the fares to only 33 per cent from what the government permitted.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has on the basis of the inflation rate of the last five years, permitted the airlines to hike the airfare. Generally, every two years, the airfare has been revised based on the increasing price in the market.
The government had formed a committee to revise the airfare in November, 2010 and the committee had submitted its report to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation in December suggesting the airfare hike.
The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has requested the government to revise airfare upward due to rise in Air Turbine Fuel (ATF), insurance fee, lease tax, VAT, renewal fee in the last five year.However, the operators have adjusted the minimum airfare and fuel surcharge to increase in the total fare.
Earlier in December too, the airlines operators had hiked the additional fuel surcharge by Rs 60 to Rs 80 according to the distance, citing the reason of the hike in ATF price.
Meanwhile, the chopper companies have also made their fares uniform by making it $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season. "Though some light helicopters were charging $1,880 earlier, others were already charging $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season," said Bikash Rana, chairman of Fishtail Air -- a helicopter charter company operating within Nepal based in Kathmandu. "The uniform fare will be effective from March 1," he added.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Fishtail Air rescues french trekker
A lone French trekker Dominique Alvernhe, who was marooned at Chola Pass Glacier for about two days has been rescued by the Fishtail Air.
After two days, he could contact his parents back home, who quickly relayed the incident to the French Embassy in Nepal and the embassy immediately asked the Airlines for the rescue, said the Fishtail.
Alvernhe had fractured his arm and a leg while on his way at Chola Pass (5420m) on January 20.
"The veteran pilots Captain Deepak J B Rana and Captain Ashish Sherchan took off some Sherpa guides from Kathmandu on January 21 as soon as the location of Dominique was relayed," it said, adding that the 9N-AJI (AS 350 B3) chopper carried out a reconnaissance over head the location. Though, they located Dominique, due to very strong winds, they gave up the mission on January 21 and Sunday early morning, Dominique was eventually was rescued and flown to Kathmandu.
The whole dramatic operation was conducted in co-ordination with the French Embassy in Nepal and Dominique Alvernhe’s parents.
Similarly, a team of 14 -- including 10 Everest summiters -- who became stranded due to bad weather after carrying Nepal's tourism torch to a lesser peak, has also begun to be rescued.
Ten Everest heroes, who had created a record, stranded in Lukla, a mountainous region in north considered the gateway to the Himalayan peaks, since January 17.
They included Temba Tsheri Sherpa, who at 16 had been the youngest climber to summit Mt Everest in 2001, and Pemba Dorje Sherpa, who holds the record for the fastest ascent at 8hour 10 minutes.
They were part of the 14-member team, including three tourism officials and Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), which had headed towards Mt Ama Dablam earlier this month.
After two days, he could contact his parents back home, who quickly relayed the incident to the French Embassy in Nepal and the embassy immediately asked the Airlines for the rescue, said the Fishtail.
Alvernhe had fractured his arm and a leg while on his way at Chola Pass (5420m) on January 20.
"The veteran pilots Captain Deepak J B Rana and Captain Ashish Sherchan took off some Sherpa guides from Kathmandu on January 21 as soon as the location of Dominique was relayed," it said, adding that the 9N-AJI (AS 350 B3) chopper carried out a reconnaissance over head the location. Though, they located Dominique, due to very strong winds, they gave up the mission on January 21 and Sunday early morning, Dominique was eventually was rescued and flown to Kathmandu.
The whole dramatic operation was conducted in co-ordination with the French Embassy in Nepal and Dominique Alvernhe’s parents.
Similarly, a team of 14 -- including 10 Everest summiters -- who became stranded due to bad weather after carrying Nepal's tourism torch to a lesser peak, has also begun to be rescued.
Ten Everest heroes, who had created a record, stranded in Lukla, a mountainous region in north considered the gateway to the Himalayan peaks, since January 17.
They included Temba Tsheri Sherpa, who at 16 had been the youngest climber to summit Mt Everest in 2001, and Pemba Dorje Sherpa, who holds the record for the fastest ascent at 8hour 10 minutes.
They were part of the 14-member team, including three tourism officials and Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), which had headed towards Mt Ama Dablam earlier this month.
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