-KATHMANDU
The aviation regulatory body, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has announced to initiate establishment of new approach procedure at Janakpur Airport.
According to the source, CAAN along with the coordination with Buddha Air has planned to establish the RNAV (Area Navigation) to operate the airport at Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). At a seminar held at Janakpur, Dhanusa on May 18, the authorities have decided to establish RNAV (Area Navigation) at by September 2018. This new navigation procedure will help in conducting IFR procedure and night flight at Janakpur Airport.
CAAN Representative Mr. Deepak Baral, Mr. Murari Prasad Paudel, CAAN Head of Janakpur along with Mr. Subarna Kharel, Operation Director, Captain Ranjan Subedi and Captain Pramod Thapa from Buddha Air were also present. Representatives from other airlines also participated in the seminar.
Earlier on April, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari has vowed to initiate the expansion project of Janakpur Airport. The expansion project includes the renovation of terminal building and the expansion work of the runway from 1300 meters to 1500 meters will be started and the IFR equipment will be installed in the coming year in the airport to conduct night flights. CAAN has also planned to add Small Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) Vehicle at the airport.
At present, only TIA, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Simara, Biratnagar and Dhangadhi airports operate flight at night which has capacity to land ATR-72 model planes except in Simara. After the commencement of flight in these two areas, CAAN plans to launch night flights in other big airports in Terai region. This will help to demise the hectic traffic TIA has to face as it operates both national and international flights in narrow structure which has been problem for slot management that causes planes to hold in air for certain time.
