August 4: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has tightened the flight schedule of airports in remote areas keeping in mind the effect of the monsoon.

Considering the risk of flying when the weather is unfavorable and also acknowledging accidents in some cases, the CAAN has implemented a schedule to fly to remote areas only during the specified time and not to make overtime flights in such areas with high risk.

A meeting of the Directorate of Aviation Services held a few days ago took a decision to this effect while taking flight safety precautions during monsoon into account.

The authority has stopped flights before or after the scheduled time for three months in airports where aircraft with low seating capacity and helicopters make flights.

Gyanendra Bhul, information officer and deputy manager of the CAAN, said that this arrangement has been implemented following the crash of a helicopter some time ago.

"Helicopter accidents have occurred more in Nepal during the monsoon season," he said, adding, "This arrangement has been implemented to reduce such risks and for flight safety."

A Nepali pilot and five foreign nationals had died when a helicopter of Manang Air crashed in Likhupike Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu District on July 11.

The meeting attended by Deputy Director General of the Directorate Premnath Thakur and other officials of the CAAN decided to issue circulars the airline companies to strictly implement the provisions mentioned in Section 10, Rule 65 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2058.

Meanwhile, the Domestic Airports and Management Directive 2079 has barred additional flights other than those scheduled during the regular operating hours at various airports, especially during July, August and September.

CAAN will also monitor the flights of the domestic airports to ensure whether they comply with the new rules or not.

Airports such as Taplejung, Manang, Jomsom, Lukla among others are considered remote airports. Domestic Airports and Management Directive 2079 also mentions these airports and other such as Phaplu, Simikot, Bhojpur, Dolpa, Thamkhark, Rara, Masinechaur, Bajura, Sanfebagar, Chaurjahari, Roujatar, Baitadi, Doti, Tikapur, Mahendranagar, Ilam, Sukilumba, Khiji Chandeswari, Resunga, Bajhang, Salle, Khanidanda, Kangeldanda, Baglung, Darchula and Meghauli as remote airports where flights should be operated in morning shift.

As per the directive, flight hours in these airports have been fixed for morning shift from February 16 to November 15.