July 16: Following the crash of a Manang Air helicopter last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has enforced new rules to ensure safety of helicopter flights, especially during the monsoon period.

The regulator of the aviation sector of Nepal has suspended non-essential flights such as mountain flights, external load operations (sling flights) and showering of flower until September. CAAN, however, clarified that rescue flights will not be hampered during thisperiod.

Issuing a recent notice, CAAN said that it will issue permission for helicopter operations, including rescue flights, to be centralized at Actual Time of Departure (ATD) during this monsoon. Such a rule will remain in force until September with periodic review in a weekly basis for the effectiveness of this provision.

As per the new provisions, either the point of origin or destination during helicopter flights should be an aerodrome.

CAAN also said that flight crew having share in the company shall not exercise privilege of license for all types of commercial flights.

The notice further states that CAAN has formed a team for daily control and supervision of helicopter and Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) operations.

The new regulation announced last week comes in the wake of the crash of the Manang Air helicopter with call sign 9N-AMV in Lamjura Pass of Solukhumbu district killing five Mexicans and the pilot on July 11.