Test eligibility of pilots for high altitude flying: Report

December 17, 2002
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The Commission formed to probe the accident of a helicopter of the Karnali Air at Makalu base camp has in its report said that the accident occurred because of the failure on the part of the pilot to maintain balance of the chopper.

Captain Dipak Rana was flying the ill-fated helicopter without any passengers and it was damaged beyond repair in the accident. Rana had sustained minor injuries during the accident.

The report has quoted Rana as saying that the helicopter went out of control because of adverse weather conditions and high altitude. Rana had not undergone training in high altitude flying in bad weather conditions, and the standard flight procedure was not followed fully.

The report has suggested that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal should test the eligibility of pilots for high altitude and impart necessary training in this regard.

The report has forwarded a request to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to issue directives to Karnali Air to comply with the suggestion that it should impart training in high altitude flying to all its pilots within 60 days.