KATHMANDU, Jan 23 : A FlyDubai aircraft bound for the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa on Thursday afternoon was diverted to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu after it could not land due to low visibility conditions, having descended below a ceiling height at the airport. The diversion highlighted the challenges posed by the airport's previous landing system.
In an effort to address such issues, a new satellite-based alternative landing system called Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP-AR) was installed at the GBIA on the same day. However, airline operators opting to use this alternative landing system will need to undergo additional steps before they can use this alternative landing system.
The RNP-AR system relies on satellite technology and allows suitably equipped aircraft with adequately trained pilots to land in low-visibility conditions. Its successful implementation at the GBIA marks a significant upgrade from the previous systems.
GBIA to use satellite-based alternative landing system from Jan...
The alternative landing system enables aircraft to land with just 800 meters of visibility, significantly improving the airport’s ability to handle flights in low-visibility conditions caused by fog. Despite the availability of this satellite-based system, no aircraft could utilize it on the first day.
Pratap Babu Tiwari, general manager of the GBIA and the official who initially advocated for the installation of the system in April last year, explained that its implementation requires additional steps. “To use RNP-AR for landing, pilots need to conduct successful test flights and obtain permission from the aviation authority of their airline’s home country,” Tiwari said.
General Manager Tiwari also highlighted the need to impart specific training to the pilots using the RNP-AR system for landing aircraft at the GBIA. “Although some pilots may already have the expertise in RNP-AR, they need specific training for landing at the GBIA,” he said, while noting that some airline operators have already begun the process of securing the necessary permissions.
Information officer at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Gyanendra Bhul, confirmed that FlyDubai has applied for permission to use RNP-AR at the GBIA. The approval is expected to be granted within a week. “We have also been informed that Jazeera Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Nepal Airlines will soon submit applications to use the system,” Bhul said.
Officials at CAAN said the RNP-AR system was installed to mitigate flight disruptions, especially since the airport has struggled to operate flights before 11 am and after 7 pm. Previously, the GBIA relied on the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR) system, which required a minimum visibility of 1,800 meters for landings. The Instrument Landing System (ILS), also installed earlier, was unable to function effectively due to India's refusal to provide new aerial entry routes into Nepal.
The system had earlier been introduced at the TIA and is expected to help the GBIA overcome the challenges of flight disruptions caused by fog. International airlines such as Thai AirAsia, FlyDubai, Jazeera Airways, and Nepal Airlines Corporation are resuming regular commercial flights at the GBIA after earlier disruptions due to poor visibility they faced during winter days.
