With the aim of bringing Nepal’s air safety record up to the inter­national standards the ‘Helicopter Society of Nepal’ has been estab­lished under the chairmanship of Capt Rameshwar Thapa.

Thapa, who is the chairman of Simrik Air, is among Nepal’s most reputed rescue pilots. Before his latest appointment, he had twice served as the chairman of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal.

Besides Thapa, tourism entrepre­neur and chairman of Dynasty Air Ang Tshering Sherpa and executive chairman of Manang Air Satish Prad­han have been chosen as vice-chair­men of the working committee. Likewise, the CEO of Heli Everest Yograj Sharma has been chosen as general secretary while Janak Thapa, also of Heli Everest, serves as the treasurer.

Likewise, Chairman of Altitude Air Nimanuru Sherpa, manag­ing director of Prabhu Helicopter Binod Thakali, managing director of Simrik Air Capt Siddhartha Jung Gurung and Shree Air’s corpo­rate director Anil Manandar have been chosen as member of the working committee.

The non-profit hopes to help improve Nepal’s aviation record, as well as to build safe helipads and increase the availability of trained manpower in the field.

The society will work for the devel­opment of aviation and tourism under the government’s remit and take the initiative to highlight the importance of helicopter companies for the country.

Also, it will reward those who have made significant contribution for the development of helicopter transport in Nepal. Towards this goal, different kinds of programs will be being organized right across the country. Moreover, the society will try to disseminate right information about the recently reported problem of ‘fake rescues’.