Himalaya Airlines join hands with AOC-N to boost their CSR Activities

Himalaya Airlines – an international air carrier – joined hands with Airlines Operating Committee (AOC)-Nepal (AOC-N) to fortify its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) initiative of contributing for the betterment of the society. Consortium of airlines came in together with AOC-N, for their annual welfare activity today. Under AOC-N’s banner, this year’s welfare activity was carried out to support Matatirtha Bridhashram Samiti located at Matatirtha, Kathmandu, a press note from the airlines reads.
Acknowledging the need for the extra care, for the health and hygiene of the elderly ladies, Himalaya Airlines’ contribution of the supplies of cleaning materials included: soaps, detergents, toiletries, towels, brooms and the hair trimmers on the special request for the occupants of the old age home, the note reads, adding that Matatirtha Bridhashram Samiti located about 15-km west of Kathmandu was established in 1997 and provides shelter to the female citizens of Nepal over 60 years of age who are needy,without shelter, without guardians and in need of care and attention. “Apart from the food, shelter, and clothing they provide health services along with the religious and entertainment programmes for the residents.” A total of 25 elderly women and 5 helpers reside in this Old Age Home.
While handing over the goods to the Samiti Manager Ram Thapa, head of Department of Brand and Service Improvement Ujjwala Dali said that Himalaya Airlines appreciates AOC-N’s sincere efforts for this great initiation and is thankful for including us to contribute our share to this Samiti. “We are honoured to be a part of this solicitous activity as H9 is always keen to join hands for the welfare of the society,” she sadia, adding that sheltering these mothers and nurturing them at the times they need most, is a very noble task shouldered by Matatirtha Bridhashram Samiti. “Himalaya Airlines is determined to further extend the helping hands to the Samiti on a more frequent basis and requests all the other organisations as well as the individuals to join in together to support these mothers.”

Shree Airlines to fly to India, Bangladesh

Shree Airlines is going to conduct international flights to India and Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has permitted Shree Airlines to operate flights to New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Banglore of India and Dhaka of Bangladesh.
Now, the airline will have to get permission from the aviation regulator body of Nepal – Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) – and airport authorities of India and Bangladesh to operate flights to their respective destinations.
“The airliner is soon going to start procedures related to documentation and taking slots in those destinations,” informed corporate head of Shree Airlines Anil Manandhar. “We believe that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will soon decide on providing air operator’s certificate (AOC),” he said, adding that it has been almost two years since the airline company had sought permission from the government to operate short-distance international flights. “We will operate flights as soon as we get go-ahead from the CAAN.”
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had permitted Shree Airlines to operate chartered flights to Varanasi in India.
After getting the permission, the private airlines successfully conducted a demonstration chartered flight to Varanasi, and formally applied for regular international services.
The ministry has granted permission to Shree Airlines to operate international flights using three of its CRJ-200 and CRJ-700 aircraft, as the airlines has completed the necessary process to operate scheduled flights ti India and Bangladesh.
Manandhar also claimed that the scheduled international flights of Shree Airlines is aimed at helping the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign. The airline plans to use 50-seater CRJ 200 and 70-seater CRJ 700 for the flights, he said, adding that Shree Airlines is also expecting the arrival of three Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 series aircraft. “It had received permission from the CAAN to purchase the aircraft in 2018.”
At present, Buddha Air had obtained permission to operate scheduled short-haul international flights to India.

Shree Airlines to fly to Varanasi

Shree Airlines is going to fly to Varanasi as the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has today permitted the airliner to operate chartered flights to Varanasi in India.
The airlines will now conduct a demonstration flight to Varanasi and take forth other procedures for regular operation, according to marketing manager of the airline Anil Manandhar. “The demonstration flight will be conducted on Monday with a 78-seat Bombardier CRJ 700 aircraft carrying representatives from CAAN and the airline company,” he said, adding that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will decide whether to provide air operator’s certificate (AOC) to the airlines after the demonstration flight.
Shree Airlines has been seeking permission from CAAN – since last one-and-a-half years – to operate short-distance international flights. “As we have received permission to operate flights to Varanasi, we hope to contribute to Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign through this flight,” Manandhar said, adding that India is the largest market for Nepal’s tourism sector. “We are aiming to carry more Indian tourists to Nepal.
“If we could operate scheduled flights then we will be able to bring more Indian tourists to the country,” he said, adding that the CAAN has, however, given permission for chartered flights only.
Currently, Buddha Air has been operating scheduled flights to Varanasi.
Shree Airlines plans to use three of its four aircraft – two 50-seat CRJ-200s and a 70-seat CRJ-700 – to conduct short-distance international chartered flights. Shree Airlines began its operation in 2002 as a helicopter service provider but launched fixed-wing air operations in August 2017. It has been operating scheduled domestic flights to Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Bhairahawa and Bhadrapur.

Shree Airlines operates proven flight to Biratnagar

Domestic carrier Shree Airlines has – after a long wait – operated its first proving flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar today. Shree Airlines operated its 50-seater CRJ 200 with callsign 9N-AMA for its proving flight.
The airline – the largest helicopter operator in the country – is preparing to begin fixed-wing operations. It has already acquired three aircraft – two 50-seater Bombardier CRJ 200s and one 70-seater CRJ-700 – to start commercial passenger service. However, according to civil aviation rules, it has to conduct a proving flight to get Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).
According to Shree Airlines corporate manager Anil Manandhar the proving flight was operated to fulfill the requirements of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). "Now, the inspection team of CAAN, which was on board the proving flight, will submit its report to the aviation sector regulator within two or three days," he said, adding that the CAAN will take a decision on AOC based on the report.
The airlines is expecting CAAN to issue AOC by next week. “Once we get AOC, we will start scheduled flights immediately after we get AOC,” Manandhar added.
Shree Airlines is planning to operate scheduled flights to five destinations; Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. It also plans to operate mountain flights offering affordable fares and promising a safe and pleasing experience to the passengers.
Shree Airlines is the largest helicopter operator in the country, operating a fleet of Mi-17 and AS 350 B3e helicopters.

NAC adds second Airbus, names Lumbini

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) today received its second Airbus.
The second of the two Airbus A320-200 aircrafts ordered by the national flag carrier has landed at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu today early morning, said spokesperson of NAC Ram Hari Sharma.
The aircraft named 'Lumbini' landed at the TIA at 6:40 am, he said, adding that the aircraft has flown to Kathmandu via Doha from German. " A flight instructor from Airbus and an NAC pilot flew the aircraft from Hamburg in Germany via Doha to Kathmandu."
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has given 9N-AKX call sign to the new aircraft that will start commercial operations after getting clearance from the regulatory authority.
"The aircraft will go through regular procedure like payment of customs duty to the government and obtaining air operators certificate (AOC) from the CAAN before it will start its commercial operation," Sharma added. "NAC will begin the registration procedures first."
The first – Airbus 'Sagarmatha' – of the two Airbuses arrived on February 8. It had started its commercial operation from February 27 from New Delhi. Sagarmatha was welcomed with a colourful fanfare. However, Lumbini has been welcomed silently as the country is mourning the loss of thousands people, who died due to Saturday's devastating earthquake. But NAC chairman Ram Sharan Neupane and acting general manager Ganesh Bahadur Chand welcomed the Airbus that had 18 passengers, including crew members, four German doctors, two nurses, two representatives of the German organisation and two journalists from Hamburg to Kathmandu.
The aircraft has but also brought in a medical team and relief materials. According to NAC, four doctors, two nurses, two observers and two journalists were on board the aircraft besides the Nepali team which went to Germany to receive the aircraft.
The Airbus Foundation, Humedica – a German NGO – and NAC used the flight to transport relief materials and medical team to provide aid to the victims. The aircraft has brought five tonnes of relief supply including 3.3 tonnes of medicine. The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus teamed up with German relief organisation Humedica to help send the aid t Nepal.
Likewise, a five member team consisting of director of NAC's Quality Assurance and Flight Safety Department Rabin Pradhan, director of Engineering Department Karna Bahadur Thapa, Project Coordinator Prabhas Karmacharya, Engineer Pawan Kumar Karwal and chief of CAAN's Airworthiness Division Bhesh Raj Subedi had gone to Germany on April 22 to receive the aircraft.
The national flag carrier has now four aircraft – two Airbus and two Boeings – in its international fleet. The NAC had started the process to acquire aircraft for international operation six years ago. But it got delayed due to controversy. NAC finally signed purchase agreement with Airbus for two aircraft on June 27, 2013. The catalogue price of Airbus A320-200 is around Rs 15 billion. But the Airbus is providing free training to NAC's engineers and pilots according to the agreement.
NAC had borrowed Rs 10 billion from from Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) at a fixed interest rate of 12 per cent per annum. The NAC will pay back the loan within 15 years, according to the agreement.
Powered by engines made by US-based International Aero Engines both the Airbus A320 aircraft has a capacity of 158 seats, including eight for business class and the rest for economy class. But NAC’s two aage-old Boeings 757 — Gandaki and Karnali — have a seat capacity for 190 passengers.
With the second Airbus, NAC will now add more international destinations including Bangalore in India and Guangzhau in China, Sharma informed. But the corporation has been facing shortage of pilots to fly the Airbus.

EC experts arriving today to assess onsite six air carriers safety measures

A six-member European Commission (EC) delegation is arriving Nepal today to study the documentation system of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and look into domestic air carriers' safety measures.

The team will conduct safety assessments of six domestic air carriers – Nepal Airlines Corporation, Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Tara Air, Sita Air and Shree Airlines – for five days on February 3-8.

After onsite safety assessment, the team will prepare a report and submit it to the meeting of EC's Air Safety Committee – in Brussels in April – that will decide whether or not to lift the ban on Nepali airlines from flying to European skies that the EC imposed on December 5, 2013.

The team will also reevaluate CAAN's documentation and progresses made so far on airworthiness and examine the improvements of personnel licensing mechanism of CAAN to ensure safety of passengers and aircraft.

Earlier, International Civil Aviation Organisation's Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) had pointed out several safety issues and raised questions regarding implementation of new guideline for providing Air Operators' Certificate (AOC) to new airlines and extending AOC for existing airlines.