Manang Air new Helicopter integrated with latest technology for a comeback

Manang Air is preparing to resume commercial flights after a six-month hiatus. In preparation for commercial flights, the company has leased helicopters from Airbus.

The new helicopter from Airbus that landed Kathmandu earlier has received registration of ‘9N-AOE’ and is currently undergoing livery painting inside Buddha Air. Another helicopter is scheduled to be brought in by the company within two months. The new helicopter is the new version H125 (AS350 B3e) of the Airbus Helicopter. The aircraft consists of fully integrated glass flight deck with integrated Garmin G500H TXI and Garmin GTN650 Xi which is a modern tech and provides flight information and safety.

The company’s security manager, Raju Neupane, stated that preparations for flights are progressing rapidly. “We have acquired helicopters. We are currently in the necessary process with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for AOC issuance. Once the process is complete, we plan to commence flights,” he said. “We have confidence that the process will be expedited within two weeks.”

The company’s services were halted after two consecutive helicopter accidents. Last July, a helicopter ‘9N-AMB’ belonging to Manang Air crashed in Surke while flying from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu, resulting in the deaths of six people, including the pilot. Then, on September 27, a helicopter 9N-ANJ crashed during a Lukla-Lobuche flight. After that, the CAAN had suspended the company’s AOC and the company’s operation shut.