KATHMANDU, June 3: The Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has said that it is impossible to implement the decision of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to have two pilots in a single-engine helicopter.
On Tuesday, the authority had made it mandatory for two pilots to fly in single-engine helicopters, except as specified. The association, in response, has suggested that the move would not be appropriate for commercial flights. The Civil Aviation Authority is studying the possibility of having two pilots in a helicopter by forming a five-member technical team.
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Stating that it will cost a lot of money to hire two pilots for a single-engine helicopter, the association said that the companies will collapse if they are made to comply with the decision.
Of the 11 helicopter companies currently operating in Nepal, 31 single-engine helicopters and five two-engine helicopters have been operating commercial flights. Ten foreign and 26 Nepali pilots have been flying single-engine helicopters.
