Many airline companies in the country had not been able to conduct flights to majority of the far-flung areas after the government banned usage of single-engine aircraft citing safety reasons. Single-engine aircraft, which have short take-off and landing capability, are vital for airlines serving small airfields located in high altitudes.
However, after conducting a study on safety records and acknowledging the importance of such aircraft for a hilly and mountainous country like Nepal, the government has started granting license to operate chartered flights on single-engine aircraft some five months ago.
Taking advantage of the revised provision, Yeti Airlines has recently brought a Pilatus Porter, a Swiss-made single-engine aircraft with capacity to seat nine passengers and two crew members. This aircraft is known as one of the most reliable single-engine aircraft currently in operation worldwide.
Initially, Yeti Airlines will use its Pilatus Porter only to ferry passengers to four remote places – Langtang, Jiri, Dhorpatan and Syangboche. The airlines plans to fly to around 10 other far-flung places with small airfields soon after purchasing two more of Pilatus Porters in near future.
“We believe launching flights to places that have not been served by many will further consolidate our market position,” Vijay Shrestha, executive director of Yeti Airlines, told myrepublica.com.
Pilatus Porter was first used in Nepal in May 1960 to ferry transportation and climbing equipment of Swiss Dhaulagiri Himalaya Expedition. Nepal Airlines Corporation, the state-owned airline company, also used three Pilatus Porters from 1961 to 1998.
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