KATHMANDU, Jan 23: A new system called Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP-AR) has been implemented at Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), enabling 800-meter visibility landings at the airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said it has installed the RNP-AR system at the GBIA to solve the problem of flight disruptions due to fog.
With the implementation of the RNP-AR system by CAAN, aircraft can land at the airport with just 800 meters visibility from Thursday. Information officer of CAAN, Gyanendra Bhul, said that Fly Dubai has already started the process for taking off and landing of aircraft through the RNP-AR system.
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The RNP-AR system allows sufficiently equipped aircraft with adequately trained pilots to land at an airport in low visibility conditions. However, approval must be obtained from CAAN. Previously, the GBIA was operating under the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR) system for landing. In this system, a minimum visibility of 1800 meters is required for an aircraft to land.
The international airline companies halted their services at the GBIA for some time due to low visibility caused by fog.
Thai AirAsia, Fly Dubai, Jazeera Airways and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) are currently operating regular commercial flights at the GBIA.
The RNP-AR system will be operated through satellites. Earlier, this system was also installed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
