Demonstration flight of Altitude Air with Koala helicopter
March 26, 2017-Kathmandu
Altitude Air has conducted three demonstration and experimental flight with Koala Helicopter. The Nepali heli-operator has conducted its demonstration air trip to Lukla and Namche Bazaar.
The Koala helicopter took off for Lukla on the evening of 24th March for the first demonstration. Similarly, the helicopter made its second demonstration voyage to Namche Bazaar yesterday at 8 am and has traveled to Lukla at 7:50 am this morning from TIA.
The Italian crew, Captain Oliva and Co-pilot Simoni Moro, are the controller of the Koala helicopter.
As been reported, a team of seven Italian aircraft expert had arrived Kathmandu to analyze the demonstration flight of Koala series helicopter.
The documentation procedure for operating the helicopter was completed and was approved by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on 24 March at afternoon. Soon after receiving the approval of operation, the helicopter took off for Lukla in the evening.
The heli-operator had earlier planned to conduct at least a single demonstration flight from March 24 to 14 April. The results of the demonstration flight are yet to be reported. “Results of the demonstration flight will be finalized on 15th April after completing the last demonstration flight on 14th April” added the source.
The Leonardo Helicopter/Augusta Westland Koala AW119 of US with registration N499SM landed TIA at 1:50 pm on 23rd March.
Altitude Air currently conducts its flight operation with an Airbus AS 350 B3e helicopter and plans to add two Koala series helicopter after the success of the demonstration flight. The heli-operator also aims to add additional Airbus AS 350 B3e helicopter to its fleet.
Leonardo has been producing the AgustaWestland AW119 Koala helicopter and is an eight-seat utility helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine. Introduced as the Agusta AW119 Koala prior to the Agusta-Westland merger has been targeted as operators favoring lower running costs single-engine aircraft.
