Jun 20, Kathmandu:  Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has been directed to make it mandatory for two pilots in VIP helicopter flights.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on Sunday issued a six-point directive to further strengthen flight safety and streamline flight operations. The authority issued a press release on Sunday asking the Nepal government to make it mandatory for two helicopter pilots to fly on a special person (VIP) flight.

Airlines have been instructed to operate an automated system for flight safety risk assessment and risk mitigation using helicopters prior to each flight. Instructions have also been given to make arrangements for the safety of each flight by such a system keeping in view the weather conditions, duration of the flight, the experience of the helicopter pilot, geographical conditions, and other conditions.

In order to strengthen the aviation security of indigenous pilots by implementing the NEA’s decision to have two pilots in the helicopter, each helicopter company has been asked to make arrangements to fill up the pilot posts as per the number approved by the Authority within a maximum period of three years. . ,

Airline operators have also asked to make the first flight from the same airport after spending the night at the designated base airport from June 20. Similarly, the NEA has also asked helicopter companies to make the first flight from the same airport after spending the night at the designated base airport from June 27.