KATHMANDU: India has granted clearance for the operation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is currently on a four-day official to India, shared the information at a press conference after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the latter’s office, Hyderabad House.
“I appreciate the Government of India for giving clearance for the operation of ILS-ar Gautam Buddha International. This would help the country operate safer flights with full capacity”, PM Dahal noted.
He said Nepal has expected operation of flights to different cities of India from the newly-constructed Bhairahawa and Pokhara-based international airports.
On the occasion, PM Dahal further shared there were possibilities of flights between the two countries from Gautam Buddha International Airport and India was positive to provide additional air entry points.
“ATR aircraft flights are already being made possible via Bhairahawa airport. We have requested Indian government to permit for air entry point from Mahendranagar”.
Though ILS was installed at Guatam Buddha international airport, it has not come to operation since long. General Manager of the Airport Hamsha Raj Pandey said aircrafts can land in any weather based on instrument-based landing with the system coming into operation.
Earlier, the aircrafts used to cancel their flights in hazy and foggy weather when the system installation was not permitted from Indian side due to close Nepal-India border.
In normal condition it requires 1,500 meter visibility for the aircrafts for landing.
But, with the new system in place, aircrafts can make their landing in 800-meter visibility.
The Gautam Buddha International Airport has come into operation since last year.
Comment