KATHMANDU, Dec 14: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has revoked the decision of Sagarmatha National Park to ban commercial helicopter flights and landings in the Everest region. CAAN stated that the directive of the park will not be implemented since the authority to decide whether to allow or disallow helicopter company operators to fly to the Everest region is vested in the CAAN.
The decision follows the park’s written instruction to 11 helicopter companies on Wednesday stating that commercial flights in the park area would be banned from January 1. The park claimed that the overall tourism and wildlife of the park had been affected by the flights. The park office argued that it decided to ban the flights to stop wildlife-related criminal activities and to protect the livelihood of the locals. Following the decision, the helicopter company operators knocked on the door of CAAN, the aviation sector’s regulatory body, on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Friday, the CAAN stated that there was no basis for the decision to ban commercial helicopter flights and landings in the park. CAAN also instructed all helicopter companies and other concerned bodies to operate uninterrupted and regular commercial flights in the area until a final decision is made by the CAAN.
Sagarmatha National Park Office requests CAAN to ban commercial...
CAAN stated that the legal responsibility to regulate and manage Nepali airspace lies solely with it as per the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act, 2015 BS and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act, 2053 BS and the regulations under these laws.
The statement read, “The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 BS and the Himalayan National Park Regulations, 2036 BS, among other laws, state that the said body does not have the authority to restrict airspace above any national parks or wildlife reservations.”
After excessive helicopter activity began in the Sagarmatha National Park area, affecting the overall tourism and wildlife, the park, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the Buffer Zone Management Committee and local stakeholders decided to ban commercial helicopter flights and landings in the area from January 1.
In accordance with the decision, the park office had written a letter to 11 helicopter companies including Air Dynasty, Prabhu Helicopter, Kailash Helicopter, Mountain Helicopter, Altitude Air, Fishtail Air, Shree Airlines, Simrik Air, Heli Everest and Manang Air, directing them to stop the flights in the national park area.
The Sagarmatha National Park is home to the world's highest mountain Mount Everest, and peaks such as Lhotse, Pumori, Choyu, Nuptse, Khumbutse, and Renzola. According to the 2011 census, there are 912 households, 347 registered hotels and tea houses in 13 villages located in the area. The region includes both the Sagarmatha National Park buffer zone between Lukla and Monju and the town of Namche Bazaar as well as the villages of Thame, Khumjung, Pangboche, Pheriche, and Kunde. Similarly, the famous Buddhist monastery at Tengboche is also located in the region.
