Airliners in Nepal: Tara Air (तारा एयर); Imprints in Nepal

December 30-KATHMANDU

Providing air service in the remote and mountainous region of the country, Tara Air has been truly a friend of the general people living in the hilly areas of the country where road access is difficult. The airlines, a subsidiary company of Yeti Airlines, conduct with STOL aircraft to fly and provide service in high altitudes with simplicity and reliability.

History and Introduction

Established in 2009 using aircraft from Yeti Airlines fleet, Tara Air primarily based at Tribhuvan International Airport and secondarily at Surkhet and Nepalgunj airports provides air service basically in the hilly regions of the country. The airlines has total six aircraft in its fleet out of which two aircraft are Dornier Do-228, three are de-Havilland Canada Twin Otter and one is Viking Air DHC-600 Twin Otter.

The airline maneuvers scheduled domestic flights to a number of destinations as well as offering air charter services. The destinations of Tara Air are Taplejung, lamidanda, dolpa, Simikot, Jomsom and Lukla. Tara Air conducts daily scheduled flights between Kathmandu and Lukla, and between Jomsom and Pokhara. Other destinations are assisted at varying frequency.

Fleet Introduction:

1. Dornier DO-228
2. De Havilland Canada DHC 6-300 Twin Otter
3. Viking Air DHC 6-400 Twin Otter

Dornier DO-228

The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH.

• General characteristics
• Crew: 2 pilots
• Capacity: 19 passengers
• Payload: 2,340 kg freight
• Length: 16.56 m
• Wingspan: 16.97 m
• Height: 4.86 m
• Wing area: 32.0 m²
• Empty weight: 3,739 kg (8,243 lb)
• Max: Takeoff weight: 6,400 kg
• Power plant: 2 × Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-5-252D and -10 variation
• Propellers: Hartzell Propellers model- HC-B4TN-5ML/LT10574 , 4 per engine
• Performance
• Maximum speed: 433 km/h
• Cruise speed: 315 km/h
• Range: 1,111 km nmi with full payload
• Service ceiling: 8,535 m (28,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,870 ft/min)

De Havilland Canada DHC 6-300 Twin Otter and Viking Air DHC 6-400 Twin Otter

The DHC -6/400 and DHC-6/300 Twin Otter are 19 seater Canadian-built STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) utility aircraft. The aircraft’s fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and relatively high rate of climb have made it a successful passenger airliner in the mountains of Nepal over the last few decades.

De Havilland Canada DHC 6-300

• General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots
• Seating: 20 passengers
• Wingspan: 65 ft 0 in (19.8 m)
• Wing area: 420 sq ft (39 m²)
• Height: 19 ft 4 in (5.9 m)
• Empty weight: 7,4151 lb. (3,363 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW): 12, 500 lb. (5,670 kg)
• Maximum landing weight (MLW): 12,300 lb (5,579 kg)
• Power plant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 680 shp each
• Maximum speed: 170 knots (314 km/h at cruise altitude)
• Cruise speed: 150 knots (278 km/h at cruise altitude)
• Range(Max fuel, no payload): 775 nmi, (1,434 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft. (7,620 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,600 m/s (8.1 m./s)
• Power/Mass: 0.12 hp/lb (0.20 kW/kg) or 8.33 lb/hp (5 kg/kW) reciprocal value

Viking Air DHC 6-400 Twin Otter

• General characteristics
• Crew: 2 pilots
• Seating: 19 passengers
• Wingspan: 65 ft 0 in (19.8 m)
• Wing area: 420 sq ft (39 m²)
• Height: 19 ft 6 in (5.9 m)
• Empty weight: 6,881 lb. (3,363 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW): 12, 500 lb. (5,670 kg)
• Maximum landing weight (MLW): 12,300 lb (5,579 kg)
• Power plant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 750 shp each
• Maximum speed: 170 knots (314 km/h at cruise altitude)
• Cruise speed: 150 knots (278 km/h at cruise altitude)
• Range(Max fuel, no payload): 799 nmi, (1,1480 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft. (7,620 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,600 m/s (8.1 m./s)
• Power/Mass: 0.12 hp/lb (0.20 kW/kg) or 8.33 lb/hp (5 kg/kW) reciprocal value

Some Accidents and Crashes 

1. On 26 May 2010, a DHC-6 Twin Otter took off from Birendranagar Airport in Surkhet towards Talcha Airport in Rara with 18 passengers and 3 crew members on board. At 10 am, the aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Birendranagar Airport after its cabin door abruptly. Unlocked five minutes after take-off. Tara Air officials said that the cabin attendant succeeded to lock the door instantaneously after it released to forestall any possible mishaps.
2. On 15 December 2010 a DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed soon after takeoff from Lamidanda Airport in Nepal which was en route to Kathmandu. All 19 passengers and 3 flight crew died in the crash.
3. On 23 June 2011, Dornier Do 228 9N-AGQ was considerably smashed in a heavy landing and runway excursion at Simikot Airport, Nepal. The aircraft was effective as a cargo flight from Nepalgunj Airport.
4. On 24 February 2016, Tara Air Flight 193 went misplaced just after takeoff whilst travelling to Pokhara-Jomsom. It was later found that the aircraft crashed into the mountainous northern area killing 23 people counting 2 babies and 3 crew members.

Future Plan:

In future, the airlines aims to bring three factory made Twin Otters to operate in the country.

Photo Feature