Tara Air conducts test flight of Twin Otter

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Tara Air has successfully completed the test flight of a Twin Otter 9N ABM from Tribhuwan International Airport with cooperation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

The airlines had on January 3 signed an agreement with Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to operate two Twin Otters — 9N ABM and 9N ABQ — of the corporation on lease for 10 years.

The private airline company has overhauled the two aircraft that were grounded for more than a decade, said senior manager at Tara Air Vinaya Shakya. “This is the first of its kind agreement between the national flag carrier and Tara Air, which is a subsidiary of Yeti Airlines domestic that flies to 32 destinations within the country daily with its seven Jetstream-41 aircraft.”The Twin Otters met the International Civil Aviation Operator’s standards and its overhauling was done by international technicians, said Tara Air, adding that with the additional aircraft, it is planning to fly to generally inaccessible regions of the country to provide air connectivity to the local population and will be instrumental for their economic and social development. “The company is also targeting to develop rural tourism,” he added.After the open sky policy of the government post the 1990-movement, domestic private airline companies have been aggressively serving customers, limiting the role of Nepal Airline Corporation, which was the only airlines in the country till 1990. Tara Air flies to all nooks and corners of the mountain terrain of the country. The domestic airline company has maintained a unique fleet mix which have proven short take-off and landing capabilities for the last several decades.