Pilots have said that flying helicopters at Bhaktapur's Nalinchok heliport, built at a cost of Rs 12 crore, is dangerous. Three dozen pilots of 12 helicopter companies have suggested to the Civil Aviation Authority to improve 7 obstacles while warning that a terrible incident/accident may occur while flying from here.

They have also submitted a memorandum to the authority based on their experience of two weeks of flying in Nalinchok, which has been operational since June 7. Pilots at the heliport constructed on 33 Ropani area face risks both in landing and take off, says a captain. It is reported that a memorandum has been submitted to the authority for immediate improvement as there is a security threat. "There is a concern that if we do not implement the reduction of the risks we have faced at the Nalinchok helipad, there will be a terrible incident or accident," said the memorandum signed by 37 helicopter pilots. 

Pilots have pointed out that there is very high obstruction around the helipad. "There are electricity transmission lines to the south-east of the helipad, trees and telecom towers to the east and west," they wrote. There is no open space near the helipad, there is a settlement and there is a risk of hitting the buildings if the plane takes off in a normal way without carrying too much weight due to wind, temperature and load.' 

The pilots have asked the authority to remove houses, trees, electric poles, wires from the edge of the heliport up to a radius of one and a half kilometers. They demand that the heliport should have at least two points for ships to leave and enter and there should also be a control tower with air traffic.

If the heliport is operated commercially, there is a large number of heli traffic. After landing the aircraft, it takes at least 15-20 minutes to shut down the engine, write the technical log by the pilot and post the flight. If the same pilot has to fly another flight, more time is required. In such a situation, a control tower should be installed as the helicopter needs to hover, marshals are needed and an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) is needed for safe flight and landing, monitoring and management, the memorandum said.

The authority has designated four points (Fato, Final Approach, Takeoff Point) for landing and takeoff at the said heliport. But since the safety wall of the heliport and the private house are obstructing the gap point, the pilots insist that the gap point where the ship leaves and enters should be unobstructed for at least 70 to 100 meters.

The authority has made a parking area for helicopters in 26 ropani area out of 33 ropani. But the pilots say it is too small.  ''There is very little space to reach the parking area from the point of entry and exit of the helicopter. It is risky to turn and land the helicopter in a narrow area,” they wrote. They say that there is no oil corporation depot like Tribhuvan International Airport and it is not easy to fill the fuel.

The corporation now transports aviation fuel from tankers to the heliport. Airlines have started buying fuel from the corporation and storing it in tanks there. But they have mentioned in the memorandum that flight efficiency has been affected due to lack of fuel availability.