Robust Army Aviation in Nepal for Services to the Country, People and Organization

UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 Robust Army Aviation in Nepal for Services to the Country, People and Organization Man Bahadur Karki Abstract nimble and adoptable force multiplier for enhanced national security, examines its Aviation is an essential mode of transport contributions in the service of country, people service because of the mountainous terrain and organization as a state–owned institution in Nepal. Diff erent parts of the country with supports from secondary data. cannot be connected through a wide range of road network. Further, Nepal’s diverse Keywords: Air transportation, Nepal Army geographical features, ranging from high Aviation, civil aviation, state owned aircraft hills to low wetlands appropriate airport Introduction: Prospect of Aviation Industry in transport. Nepal Army Aviation unit has Nepal immensely contributed to the organizational operational fl ights, emergency aerial rescue, Aviation is an equally essential mode of relief, humanitarian services and nation’s transport in Nepal. Because of its diverse development with the limited resources and geographical features, infrastructures and infrastructure during its fi fty–fi ve years geo-strategic position, air transportation of journey in the air. After the adoption of can best serve Nepal for its security and liberal sky policy by the Government of Nepal connectivity. Air transportation has an in 1992, the private airlines commenced inherited advantage of speed, height and commercial air operations. Prior to this fl exibility to carry out the tasks through Nepal Airlines and Nepal Army Aviation unit eff ective utilization of air assets. When there were only the two entities operating inside is a need for service in a short notice and the domestic airspace of Nepal. Despite the regular transportation of passengers, cargos, number of private air operators, there are logistics services, special and other fl ights still not enough and abundantly available at the normal and emergency, aviation is the air assets to fulfi ll all the requirements of most eff ective mode of transport. Despite fast air services especially in emergency aerial growth in private air operators in Nepal, there rescue, quick disaster response humanitarian still lack abundant air assets to provide quick assistance and relief fl ights in a short notice. aerial rescue, relief, humanitarian and special Furthermore, there is a scope for the civil– fl ights. Precisely, there is a tremendous military partnership in the civil aviation fi eld prospect of partnership opportunity for the for the Nepal Army Aviation. This article, Nepal Army Aviation to collaborate with the in eff orts to make the Army Aviation agile, civil aviation in order to promote tourism and strengthen economy in the country. 129 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 In the history of aviation in Nepal, 1949 and charter services in various regions of the AD is considered a beginning of aviation country. As of now there are four fi xed wing operations in Nepal with the landing of Indian airlines operating international sector and nine Ambassador Mr. Sarjit Singh Mahathia four- airlines in the domestic sectors. Likewise, ten seater single engine Beechcraft Bonanza fl ight rotary wing companies and four recreational at Gauchar, Kathmandu (KC, 2020, np). This (Ultralight) companies are operating in the offi cial fl ight opened a new avenue to start development of air transportation in Nepal Himalayan Aviation Dakota chartered fl ight (CAAN, 2020, p. 1). from Kathmandu to Kolkata, India. Within a few years of charter service, then Royal Prior to the entry of private commercial Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) began operation in the aviation industry in 1992, there domestic and international scheduled fl ights were only two Government entities operating from July 1958. Likewise, various domestic inside the domestic airspace in Nepal. Those airports were constructed to expand domestic were the Nepal Army–owned aircrafts and networks for the RNAC commercial fl ights Nepal Airlines commercial aircrafts. Nepal home and also expanded in the international Airlines was rendering mostly the commercial routes with this national fl ag carrier. scheduled and chartered fl ights by the fi xed wing in the various airfi elds. Whereas Within less than a couple of decades, Royal another state–owned entity, Nepal Army Nepalese Army Airborne Transport Support Aviation was rendering the services with the Wing was established in 1965 with the three fi xed and rotary wing across the country for Twin Pioneer aircraft gifted by the British the transportation of developmental goods, Government to start troops transportation, emergency rescue, relief, transportation of V/ rescue, cargo and operational needed fl ights. VIP passenger and other miscellaneous works In the subsequent years, the name of this on charter basis as per the Commercial Flight wing changed with various names and Development Committee Order 2036 BS fi nally expanded at the level of Directorate (Byaparik Udan Bikas Samiti Gathan Aadesh General of Army Aviation (DGAA) in April 2036).1 Some of these commercial fl ights 2010. DGAA comprises fl ying bases of Mid transported turbine, parts of suspension- Air Base, Western Air Base, V/VIP Flight bridge, and daily use commodities to remote Service, Maintenance Service and Training areas. They would also deliver food items, Center. including salt, rice, oil, noodles and lentils. In the meantime, those airlines could carry After the Government’s adoption of the constructions materials, such as rod, cement, liberal sky policy in 1992, the private sector iron, steel and solar power panels. Likewise, started to invest in the aviation industry in those carriers delivered fuel and vehicles Nepal. Such liberalization opened another to rural parts across the hilly region of chapter and expanded aviation services Nepal at the request of Government, non- through private investment in the aviation industry. This policy attracted the investors 1 According to Commercial Flight Development to start fi xed wing (airplane) and Rotary Wing Committee Order 2036 fi fty percent of the amount collected from the charter fl ight goes directly to the (helicopter) operations. Rotary wing service national revenue and the remaining fi fty percent will is mainly on the charter basis, whereas the be used for the maintenance, procurement of spares and fi xed wing started the scheduled commercial training of the crew. 130 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 governmental and international organization. civil aviation, transportation of construction Likewise, there was regular charter service materials, explosive for construction of requested by Nepal Food Corporation and road, sling operation and V/VIP chartered Salt Trading Corporation to transport daily service. At times, it is taking more than one commodities, such as rice and salt in the day to locate and recover the lost aircraft. Mid-Western and Far Western region where Other times, there are several premature the road connectivity was very limited. In this death of pregnant women without health situation, air was considered the most feasible facilities in the remote villages and delay in option. In this period, other entity aircrafts providing aerial rescue fl ights, lack of air were rendering commercial passengers resources during the monsoon season or at and limited cargo fl ights in domestic and other human induced and natural disaster to international sectors, including the Very/Very provide swift aerial response, transportation Important Personnel (V/VIP) offi cial abroad of fuel, bitumen, explosives in the various trips. regions of the country for road, hydropower construction work, transportation of critical The frequency of the civil support fl ights to medical equipment and medicine during the Nepal Food Corporation and Salt Trading epidemic and pandemic, support fl ights to Corporation decreased in Nepal Army sister security forces, federal and provincial Aviation as the private airlines with fi xed and government fl ights and so on. Therefore, rotary wing aircraft started their commercial it clearly vindicates the utilization and operation from 1992. Nonetheless, there importance of state owned air assets to render are still several requests made at the army service not only confi ned to the organization, aviation for air services of emergency aerial Nepal Army but to the country and people rescue, Search and Rescue (SAR) service to too. Fig.1 Airports of Nepal (Source: https://www.guthi.net/nepalatc/airports.html#15.%20Bhojpur) 131 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 Army aviation is the state–owned aircraft deal reconnaissance and surveillance, show of in Army assets is investment in the national force, deterrence, battle casualty evacuation assets to strengthen and promote national from the front line, communication fl ights, security of the country. Air assets are costly observation and correction of the artillery fi re to procure, operate and sustain its operation. and so on are the key operational and tactical However, it has got several advantages and fl ights of the robust Army aviation. is indispensable for every country. For that reason, Bhandari claims that Army aviation V/VIP Flight Service “should not be considered as a costly burden Some of the air assets are registered as in times of peace and important at the time per the Nepal Civil Aviation Regulations of threat or war” (Bhandari, 2009, p. 3). The (NCAR). These assets are maintained, more we equip, maintain, expand, improve, operated and regulated in accordance

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