3 new paragliding companies to get operating licenses

Three new paragliding companies are coming into operation as the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has lifted the restriction on issuance of new operating license.

Upon request from tourism entrepreneurs, the government had temporarily stopped allowing new players from entering the paragliding sector in Pokhara -- the most preferred paragliding destination since the beginning of 2012. Officials of CAAN Pokhara and operators had asked the government to control the number of new players because of increasing traffic congestion in Pokhara airport.

After the request from entrepreneurs, the government had asked CAAN to conduct necessary investigation and give its opinion

Pramod Nepal of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) said, “We have received green signal from CAAN to issue licenses to three operators.” According to Nepal, the companies queuing up to obtain license include Flying Himalayan Paragliding, Mountain View Paragliding and Fly Nirvana. All three companies are based in Pokhara and have applied for operating license in Pokhara, whereas Mountain View Paragliding has sought permission to start operation in Syangja.

CAAN had studied the situation of traffic congestion and technical viability before lifting the restriction.

Sovit Basyal, general secretary of Nepal Air Sports Association (NASA), said although the immediate add-ons might not create congestion as the industry is serving low number of tourist because of recent cancellations due to bandas and political instability, the impact might be seen once the companies start full-fledged operations.

Basyal said a proper regulation was necessary for smooth operation of the business as operators were not able to provide the service as per demand because of increasing traffic congestion. According to entrepreneurs, at present 15 paragliding companies are operating with the capacity to operate up to 150 flights a day. However, because of the series of strikes last month operators are forced to limit their operation to 45-50. “Paragliding has become an important acitivity in Pokhara and proper mechanism is necessary to regulate it and to make the business sustainable,” he said.

The month of April-May is considered as the best season for paragliding in Pokhara which however turned out to be disappointing with several cancellations because of frequent strikes and Nepal bandas.

source: republica,1 June 2012