Asian Airlines (also known as Asian Airlines Helicopter[1]) was a helicopter airline based at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal founded by Ang Tshering Sherpa in 1993.[4] It claims to be the first helicopter airline of Nepal.[5] It ceased operations in 2006.[citation needed]
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Founded | November 1993[1] | ||||||
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AOC # | 004/96[2] | ||||||
Hubs | Tribhuvan International Airport | ||||||
Headquarters | Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal[3] |
History
editAsian Airlines was founded after the deregulation of the Nepalese aviation sector.[6] According to Tashi Sherpa, managing director of Asian Airlines, the airline wanted to start fixed-wing operations but the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation urged the airlines to operate helicopters.[6] The first flight of the airline was delayed, as the delivery of its first two helicopters was stuck at Jinnah International Airport for over a month, as Nepalese authorities were hesitant on allowing Russian-built aircraft in Nepal.[4]
Fleet
editAccidents and incidents
edit- On 20 February 2002, during the Nepalese Civil War, members of the People's Liberation Army, Nepal destroyed a MI-17 belonging to Asian Airlines in Surkhet.[8][9]
- [10][11]
References
edit- ^ a b "Asian Airlines Helicopter". Archived from the original on 2 August 2001. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "Civil Aviation Report 2009-2010" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "Contact". Asian Airlines. Archived from the original on 14 June 2001. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b Rana, Ujeena. "On Top of The World – Ang Tshering Sherpa". Business 360. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Rana, Ujeena. "On Top of The World – Ang Tshering Sherpa". Business 360. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Here come the Flying Trucks". Nepali Times. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ Russian Climb retrieved 19 November 2006
- ^ "Soviet Transport Database". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Terror insurance". Nepali Times. 29 March 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Where is Charlie Uniform?". Nepali Times. 11 April 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Satellites to the rescue". Nepali Times. 5 July 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2019.