Asian Airlines Explained

Airline:	Asian Airlines
Founded:	November 1993^[1]
Headquarters:	Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal^[2]
Aoc:	004/96^[3]
Hubs:	Tribhuvan International Airport

Asian Airlines (also known as Asian Airlines Helicopter^[1]) was a helicopter airline based at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal founded by Ang Tshering Sherpa in 1993.^[4] It claims to be the first helicopter airline of Nepal.^[5] It ceased operations in 2006.

History

Asian Airlines was founded after the deregulation of the Nepalese aviation sector.^[6] According to Tashi Sherpa, managing director of Asian Airlines, the airline wanted to start fixed-wing operations but the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation urged the airlines to operate helicopters.^[6] The first flight of the airline was delayed, as the delivery of its first two helicopters was stuck at Jinnah International Airport for over a month, as Nepalese authorities were hesitant on allowing Russian-built aircraft in Nepal.^[4]

Fleet

The airline operated a fleet of MI-17 helicopters.^[7]

Accidents and incidents

• On 20 February 2002, during the Nepalese Civil War, members of the People's Liberation Army, Nepal destroyed a MI-17 belonging to Asian Airlines in Surkhet.^{[8] [9]}
• ^{[10] [11]}

External links

• The Rising Nepal - Airline defunct
• Mount Everest.net - Asian Airlines helicopter photos

Notes and References

1. Web site: Asian Airlines Helicopter . 1 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010802102058/http://www.asianhelicopter.com/main.htm . 2 August 2001.
2. Web site: Contact . Asian Airlines . 1 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010614092938/http://www.asianhelicopter.com/contactus.htm . 14 June 2001.
3. Web site: Civil Aviation Report 2009-2010 . Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal . 1 April 2020.
4. Web site: Rana . Ujeena . On Top of The World – Ang Tshering Sherpa . Business 360 . 1 April 2020.
5. Web site: Rana . Ujeena . On Top of The World – Ang Tshering Sherpa . Business 360 . 1 April 2020.
6. Web site: Here come the Flying Trucks . Nepali Times . 1 May 2019 . 12 January 2001.
7. http://www.russianclimb.com/outdoor.html Russian Climb
8. Web site: Soviet Transport Database . Scramble.nl . 1 May 2019.
9. Web site: Terror insurance . Nepali Times . 1 May 2019 . 29 March 2002.
10. Web site: Where is Charlie Uniform? . Nepali Times . 1 May 2019 . 11 April 2002.
11. Web site: Satellites to the rescue . Nepali Times . 1 May 2019 . 5 July 2002.