Photo: Binod Pariyar
LUMBINI: Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa has installed the RNP-AR (Required Navigation Performance-Authorization Required) system, which enables aircraft landings even in low-visibility conditions.
Pratap Babu Tiwari, the general manager of Gautam Buddha International Airport Civil Aviation Office, said that the system was put into operation on Thursday.
According to Tiwari, the satellite-based technology addresses landing challenges when visibility drops below 1,800 meters.
While the Civil Aviation Authority Nepal (CAAN) had planned to install an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport, it could not materialize due to India’s lack of consent. As an alternative, CAAN implemented the RNP-AR system, which requires airlines to install and train pilots on the new technology.
“The RNP-AR equipment placed in the cockpit will now make landings easier even in low visibility,” Tiwari said. He added that the satellite-based RNP-AR approach system was initiated by publishing a 42-day notice.
With the new system, aircraft can now land with just 900 meters of visibility, compared to the previous requirement of 1,800 meters, according to Tiwari. “Pilots must follow precise directional guidance and obtain permissions from relevant aviation authorities,” he added.
This technology, which is designed for challenging and geographically complex airports, is already in use at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
Tiwari said foreign airlines must obtain permission to operate flights by complying with regulations from their respective countries and CAAN. After obtaining permission, pilots will require training (test flights) to complete the entire process.
The RNP-AR system at Tribhuvan International Airport operates at a minimum visibility of 1,100 meters, while the Gautam Buddha International Airport system will function at 900 meters visibility, according to CAAN.
The Terai-Madhesh region experiences significant visibility challenges during November to January leading to disruption in flight operations. Airlines like Qatar Airways, Thai Air Asia, Fly Dubai and Jazeera earlier suspended services to Gautam Buddha International Airport citing low visibility. Currently, only Fly Dubai and Nepal Airlines are operating flights at the airport.
