Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has eased restrictions on flight operations at Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) airfields in hilly and mountainous regions.
The existing restrictions, which are in place until September, among others, prevented airlines from flying to these airfields after 12:30 pm. It had particularly harsh impacts on remote districts in Karnali Province where air travel serves as the sole dependable mode of transportation.
Under the new guidelines, airlines can operate flights to these airfields at any time of day if pilots and dispatchers make a written declaration of ensuring Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Minima along the flight route. Additionally, the pilot in command (PIC) overseeing flights to STOL airfields should be content with the VMC visibility and cloud clearance distance as mentioned in CAA Nepal Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 2.
VMC Minima refers to the specific minimum weather conditions required for safe visual flight operations. VMC stands for ‘visual meteorological conditions’ which indicates weather conditions that allow pilots to navigate and control the aircraft by visually referencing the ground, landmarks, and other visual cues. VMC Minima is established as a set of criteria that define the minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements for a pilot to conduct flights. These criteria are outlined by aviation regulatory authorities to ensure the safety of flights, especially during takeoff, landing, and flight maneuvers conducted without relying on instruments.
Moreover, airlines conducting flights to STOL airfields from Nepalgunj Airport are mandated to assign a Flight Operation Officer (FOO) at the airport. As per the new rule, airlines must conduct all tasks related to flight operations through the FOO.
Likewise, CAAN has formed a high-level committee led by a Deputy Director General to study the availability of en route weather conditions and review the operating hours of STOL airfields.
