August 12: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is preparing to shift the helipad of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) away from the airport premises as part of the Domestic Airport Improvement Master Plan.

The CAAN is currently implementing this master plan by setting up hangar in the parking lot of the airport.

Accordingly, the CAAN has signed a contract agreement for establishing a parking lot for helicopters with a capacity to accommodate 27 choppers at Nalinchowk of Bhaktapur.

The CAAN signed the contract worth Rs 150 million with Uma and Pratima/ Kali JV last Friday for the construction of the heliport.

As per the agreement, the construction company will have to complete the heliport within ten months after signing the pact, informed CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula.

According to Niraula, airline companies will operate helicopter service from their new base in  Nalinchowk from mid-May next year.

CAAN has allocated budget for the construction of the heliport in the current fiscal year. The aviation governing body has also allocated budget of Rs Rs 10 million for the construction of a new terminal building and a tower in Nalinchowk.

CAAN has 33 ropanies of land in its name in Nalinchowk.

The plan is to shift the entire helicopter base from TIA to Nalinchowk, said Niraula.

He informed that the CAAN has already signed separate contracts for setting up the heliport away from TIA and to construct hangars in TIA. 

Although the CAAN is preparing to shift the heliport away from TIA, the airline companies will be allowed to use TIA for their service. TIA will be open for helicopter service especially for transporting sick patients and during emergency or for VVIP security, said Niraula.

“However, commercial flights will take place from Nalinchowk,” he added.

According to Niraula, the CAAN is preparing to construct a hangar at the current parking lot of TIA with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

TIA has the capacity to accommodate twenty two helicopters at present. The new heliport will be able to accommodate 27 choppers.

CAAN informed that a total of 38 helicopters belonging to 11 different companies are currently operational in Nepal. Among them, 21 are operating with their base in TIA.