Sagarmatha National Park’s decision to prohibit helicopter flights is overturned by CAAN

Sagarmatha National Park’s decision to prohibit commercial helicopter flights and landings in the Everest region has been overturned by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). Since the CAAN has the power to determine whether to permit or prohibit helicopter firm operators from flying to the Everest region, the park’s direction will not be carried out, the CAAN said.

The decision comes after the park informed 11 helicopter businesses in writing on Wednesday that commercial flights will not be permitted within the park region starting on January 1. The park asserted that the flights had impacted both the park’s general biodiversity and visitors. The park management contended that it made the decision to prohibit the flights in order to prevent illegal operations involving wildlife and to safeguard the people’ means of subsistence. The operators of the helicopter company knocked on the door of CAAN, the aviation industry’s regulating authority, on Thursday after the judgment.

The CAAN said there was no justification for the decision to prohibit commercial helicopter landings and flights in the park in a statement released on Friday. Additionally, until the CAAN makes a final decision, all helicopter firms and other relevant entities are to continue conducting frequent and uninterrupted commercial flights in the region.

In accordance with the terms of the Civil Aviation Act, 2015 BS and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act, 2053 BS, as well as the regulations under these laws, CAAN declared that it alone has the legal authority to control and administer Nepali airspace.

The statement continued, “The aforementioned body is not authorized to limit airspace over any national parks or wildlife reservations, according to the Himalayan National Park Regulations, 2036 BS, and the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 BS, among other regulations.”

The Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the Buffer Zone Management Committee, and local stakeholders decided to prohibit commercial helicopter flights and landings in the area as of January 1st after excessive helicopter activity started to negatively impact the park’s overall tourism and wildlife.

Eleven helicopter companies, including Air Dynasty, Mountain Helicopter, Prabhu Helicopter, Kailash Helicopter, Altitude Air, Simrik Air, Fishtail Air, Heli Everest, Shree Airlines, and Manang Air, received a letter from the park office instructing them to cease flying within the national park area in compliance with the decision.

Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, and other peaks including Lhotse, Pumori, Choyu, Nuptse, Khumbutse, and Renzola are all located in Sagarmatha National Park. There are 912 households, 347 registered hotels, and tea houses spread throughout 13 villages in the region, according to the 2011 census. In addition to the town of Namche Bazaar, the area include the villages of Thame, Khumjung, Pangboche, Pheriche, Kunde, and the buffer zone of Sagarmatha National Park between Lukla and Monju. Likewise, the area is home to the well-known Buddhist monastery at Tengboche.