Buddha Air Acquires New ATR 72-600 Aircraft

Kathmandu. Buddha Air has brought an ATR–72–600 aircraft today. According to the statement issued by the company, after completing the necessary procedures, flights will be operated from next month.

Buddha Air has brought the aircraft with call sign 9N–AOS from Toulouse, France. It has been informed that this ATR–72–600 aircraft is equipped with a full glass cockpit avionics system, modern navigation system, digital flight management, and advanced safety system. Aircraft of this series are considered environmentally friendly due to their low fuel consumption.

The ATR–72–600 series aircraft imported by Buddha Air is equipped with an RNP–AR approach system. With the help of this system, aircraft can be safely landed at Kathmandu and Bhairahawa airports even with a visibility of approximately 900 meters.

Nepal Civil Aviation Authority is also studying the implementation of RNP–AR based flight procedures at Pokhara International Airport. If this procedure is implemented, it is expected that Buddha Air's aircraft will be able to fly and land safely in a visibility of about 2000 meters.

Buddha Air believes that flight delays and disruptions due to low visibility will be reduced. This will maintain flight safety and also increase the quality and reliability of air services.

Currently, according to the 'Instrument Landing System' (ILS) procedure, a visibility of 3100 meters is required for Pokhara and 1600 meters for Kathmandu and Bhairahawa.

Buddha Air has also informed that it will bring another ATR–72–600 series aircraft by the end of August. Similarly, it is working according to the plan to bring two more aircraft of the same series within the next few months. Buddha Air currently has one ATR–42–320, fifteen ATR–72–500, and one ATR–72–600 aircraft.