After the decision to stop commercial helicopter flights in the central area of Everest National Park, the Air Service Operators Association has warned that other fished wing flights will also be stopped in that area. The association has said that if the ban on private flights in that area is not lifted, it will stop regular fished wing flights in Lukla and Solukhumbu area from January 10th.
Manoj Karki, president of the association, through a statement on Wednesday, warned that if the obstacles imposed by the rural municipality are not removed by next Wednesday, all commercial flights in that area will be stopped from Thursday. The Pasang Lhamu rural municipality stopped commercial helicopter charter flights for tourists in the Khumbu area from 17th of January.
After the decision of the rural municipality, Everest National Park Office Namche also instructed 11 helicopter companies in Nepal not to fly commercially in the protected area from December 17. But the park office has withdrawn its decision.
It would be appropriate to ban commercial helicopter flights as helicopter flights have affected the settlements and wildlife habitats in the central area of the park due to excessive noise pollution in Everest National Park. The rural municipality has not disclosed the ban on helicopters. The Airline Operators Association has stated that the rural municipality does not have the right to control the fundamental rights provided by the constitution and has also claimed that the decision is against the law.
The rural municipality has again issued a notice in the name of airline companies not to operate touristic helicopter flights other than emergency rescue. At present, after local clubs obstructed most of the helipads in the Khumbu region by burying flags, the union has also stopped charter helicopter flights there.
