CAAN in no mood to expand paragliding services

POKHARA, Nov 25: Despite repeated efforts, tourism entrepreneurs have failed to expand paragliding -- an adventure sport which has been drawing a large number of tourists -- beyond Pokhara as the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has persistently refused to issue license to aspiring paragliding operators.



The entrepreneurs of Pokhara have been pushing for expanding paragliding to other places mainly after the air space in the lake city became congested due to growing number of paragliders during the tourist season. They said they were even ready to carry out the feasibility study on their own. [break]



"Sadly, however, CAAN has not been granting us permission for the test flights in new areas," said Sovit Baniya, secretary of Nepal Air Sports Association (NASA).



NASA, which had prepared to launch test flights in new destinations, has withdrawn its plan following CAAN restriction. “Increasing congestion in Pokhara´s airspace poses a threat to the safety of paragliding, but CAAN has turned a deaf ear to our requests," said Baniya, urging CAAN to allow them expand paragliding services in new places.



According to NASA, entrepreneurs have been allowed to operate paragliding services from Pokhara and Bandipur. Currently 19 companies operate around 300 flights on an average in Pokhara every day.



Baniya said entrepreneurs were positive about expanding paragliding services to Dang, Dharan and Ilam but CAAN has cold-shouldered their request for permission. “Paragliding has helped a lot to promote tourism in Pokhara but it seems CAAN does not want to acknowledge our efforts,” he said.



Tourism entrepreneurs said Bhedetar of Ilam, Kanyam of Ilam and Laxmipur of Dang were feasible destinations for paragliding. “We have been awaiting a nod from CAAN so that we can at least conduct test operation but that does not seem to be happening,” he added.



Paragliding operators opine that diversification of the destination would make the service more popular.



However, CAAN officials stated that they cannot issue permission right away due to complexities in the process. “We are positive about expanding the service but we need to follow due process,” said deputy director of CAAN Min Raj Upadhyaya.



He said the authority would grant permission for test flights only after carrying the feasibility study. “We really cannot issue permission unless our technicians find the destinations feasible,” he said.

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