Sita Air Explained
Sita Air is an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal, operating domestic services within Nepal.[2] It was established in 2003. The airline's main base is Tribhuvan International Airport with hubs at Pokhara Airport and Nepalgunj Airport.[3]
History
The airline received its air operators certificate in 2000, and was established in October 2000, but was unable to operate until 2003 due to political unrest in Nepal.[4] Operations started on 6 February 2003 with a single Dornier 228; a second aircraft was added in April 2003.[5]
In August 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal barred the airline from carrying passengers due to safety concerns and failing to meet international standards. The airline was allowed to continue operating cargo flights.[6] However, by 2016, the airline was allowed to operate passenger services again.[7]
In 2016, the airline was sold to Biratnagar-based Agrawal Group for NPRs 550,000,000.[8]
In 2017, Sita Air bought two more Dornier 228 aircraft from Simrik Airlines.[9]
Destinations
Sita Air currently operates services to the following domestic destinations (as of May 2019):
Fleet
The Sita Air fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of May 2019):[15]
Accidents and incidents
- On 30 September 2004, a Sita Air Dornier 228 crashlanded at Lukla Airport, causing the airport to be closed for several days.[16]
- On 12 October 2010, a Sita Air Dornier 228 hit a wall beside the runway in Lukla Airport as its brake system did not work properly. The engine inlet of the aircraft was damaged heavily. The aircraft was attempting to land at Lukla airport. It was lifted by helicopter to Kathmandu for repairs and put back to service.[17] This same aircraft went on to have another crash landing accident on Simkot Airport in 2013.[18]
- On 28 September 2012, Sita Air Flight 601, a Dornier 228 crashed just after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport. All 16 passengers and three crew on board were killed. The flight was bound for Lukla.[19] [20] An investigation into the crash concluded that it was caused by passenger and cargo payload that exceeded the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight.[21] [22]
- On 1 June 2013, a Sita Air Dornier 228 sustained substantial damage upon landing accident at Simikot Airport. There were no injuries among the five passengers and two crew members.[23] The left hand main landing gear broke and the Dornier 228 came to rest on the side of the runway. The no. 1 propeller, left wing and underside of the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The aircraft had to be airlifted to Kathmandu by a helicopter.
- On 23 April 2017, Sita Air Flight 617, a Dornier 228 met a minor incident at Phaplu Airport. The wing tip of theaircraft of was damaged as the aircraft hit the wall on the apron at Phaplu Airport.[24]
- On 20 February 2018, Sita Air Flight 601, a Dornier 228 was forced to make an emergency diversion after the aircraft experienced abnormal pressure reading on the engine during the flight to Lukla from Kathmandu which forced the flight crew to carry out the precautionary engine shutdown procedure, shutting down the right engine.[25]
Notes and References
- Web site: About Us – Sita Air.
- "Contact Information ." Sita Air. Retrieved on 29 December 2011. "Sinamangal Ward No: 9 Kathmandu, Nepal"
- Web site: Sita Air. 9 May 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141101201431/http://www.sitaair.com.np/des_nepaljung.php. 1 November 2014.
- [Flight International]
- Web site: Sita Air. 9 May 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141101200939/http://www.sitaair.com.np/history.php. 1 November 2014.
- Web site: Caan clips airlines' wings for violating safety rules . The Kathmandu Post . https://web.archive.org/web/20171012095048/http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2014-08-19/caan-clips-airlines-wings-for-violating-safety-rules.html . 12 October 2017.
- Web site: 2016; Prosperous year for Domestic airlines in Nepal. 26 March 2017. Aviation Nepal. 1 May 2018.
- Web site: Sita Air Sold To Agrawal Group For Nrs. 55 Crore. Aviation Nepal. 1 May 2018. 1 September 2016.
- Web site: Simrik Airlines left with fewer flights. 27 August 2017. Aviation Nepal. 24 October 2017.
- Web site: Destinations : Bajhang . Sita Air . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317115128/http://sitaair.com.np/des_bajhang.php . 17 March 2016.
- Web site: Destinations : Dang . Sita Air . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317120727/http://sitaair.com.np/des_chaurjhari.php . 17 March 2016.
- Web site: Destinations : Dhangadi. Sita Air . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317113650/http://sitaair.com.np/des_dhangadi.php . 17 March 2016.
- Web site: Destinations : Janakpur . Sita Air . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317112807/http://sitaair.com.np/des_janakpur.php . 17 March 2016.
- Web site: Destinations : Dang . Sita Air . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317121838/http://sitaair.com.np/des_dang.php . 17 March 2016.
- http://www.sitaair.com.np/fleet.php Sita Air Fleet
- Web site: Lukla airport still closed . Nepali Times . 1 November 2020.
- Web site: Registration Details For 9N-AHB (Sita Air) Dornier 228-202 - PlaneLogger. www.planelogger.com. 2016-12-27.
- News: Ujjwal Acharya on Twitter. Twitter. 2016-12-27.
- News: British, Chinese among 19 dead in Nepal plane crash. Reuters. 28 September 2012. 9 May 2015.
- Web site: 28 September 2012 - Nepal plane crash kills all 19 on board: police (UPDATED) - Foreign - My Sinchew. 9 May 2015.
- News: Probe blames overloading for 2012 Sita Air crash. The Kathmandu Post. 2016-12-27.
- Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Dornier 228-202 9N-AHA Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM) . Aviation Safety Network . Flight Safety Foundation . 2016-12-27.
- Web site: Sita Air aircraft meets with accident in Humla' no casualty - The Himalayan Times. The Himalayan Times. en-US. 2016-12-27.
- Web site: Sita Air Dornier 9N-AHR meets an incident in Phaplu Airport. 23 April 2017. Aviation Nepal. 30 October 2017.
- Web site: Sita Air Dornier 228 lands safely at TIA after right engine shutdown. 20 February 2018. Aviation Nepal. 20 February 2018.
