Nepal Airlines Corporation - a Brief History
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A BRIEF HISTORY OF AVIATION IN NEPAL
The development of aviation in Nepal can be traced back to the mid 1940's, when a lone pilot who spluttered over the mountains, dipped into Kathmandu valley landing on a cow grazing field. That field, Gaucharan, is now the site of Nepal's only international airport. In April of '49, a single engine (seated) vintage Bonanza aircraft of Indian Ambassador Mr. Sarjeet Singh Mahatahia landed at Gaucharan and thus heralded the beginning of aviation in Nepal.
Himalayan aviation Douglas DC-3(VT-DCE) Dakota aircraft started three flights a week scheduled flights between Patna and Kathmandu. Another Dakota VT-CBC brought in king Tribhuvan from Patna on the 18th of February, 1951, to announce the drawn of democracy in Nepal. The Government of India donated this aircraft to Nepal. Later, Indian National Airlines started flights between Calcutta and Kathmandu.
The advent of commercial aviation in Nepal was the outcome of democratic spirit if 1951 when a private airlines from India, Indian national Airways was allowed to link Kathmandu with Patna, three flight a week. Commercial Services to Pokhra, Bhairawa, Simara and Biratnagar from Kathmandu were launched with a Dakota DC-3. After the nationalization of air services in India, eight domestic private carriers were merged to form Indian airlines. Encouraged by the domestic needs to accelerate the pace of development in this land locked and road less country, HMG nationalized the air transport system in Nepal to form Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation on 1 July 1958. The management of the airline was contracted out to managing agent Maharaja Kumar of Mayurbhanj who held 49% share in NAC and bought the first DC-3 9N-AAB from Indian Airlines Associates. He is said to have collected some 75,000 IC from his uncle to start NAC in 1958. Capt. Jay Singh was the first pilot to fly the scheduled flight to Simara on 4th July 1958 Pokhara and Bhairawaha on the 5th and
INTRODUCTION
A BRIEF HISTORY OF AVIATION IN NEPAL
The development of aviation in Nepal can be traced back to the mid 1940's, when a lone pilot who spluttered over the mountains, dipped into Kathmandu valley landing on a cow grazing field. That field, Gaucharan, is now the site of Nepal's only international airport. In April of '49, a single engine (seated) vintage Bonanza aircraft of Indian Ambassador Mr. Sarjeet Singh Mahatahia landed at Gaucharan and thus heralded the beginning of aviation in Nepal.
Himalayan aviation Douglas DC-3(VT-DCE) Dakota aircraft started three flights a week scheduled flights between Patna and Kathmandu. Another Dakota VT-CBC brought in king Tribhuvan from Patna on the 18th of February, 1951, to announce the drawn of democracy in Nepal. The Government of India donated this aircraft to Nepal. Later, Indian National Airlines started flights between Calcutta and Kathmandu.
The advent of commercial aviation in Nepal was the outcome of democratic spirit if 1951 when a private airlines from India, Indian national Airways was allowed to link Kathmandu with Patna, three flight a week. Commercial Services to Pokhra, Bhairawa, Simara and Biratnagar from Kathmandu were launched with a Dakota DC-3. After the nationalization of air services in India, eight domestic private carriers were merged to form Indian airlines. Encouraged by the domestic needs to accelerate the pace of development in this land locked and road less country, HMG nationalized the air transport system in Nepal to form Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation on 1 July 1958. The management of the airline was contracted out to managing agent Maharaja Kumar of Mayurbhanj who held 49% share in NAC and bought the first DC-3 9N-AAB from Indian Airlines Associates. He is said to have collected some 75,000 IC from his uncle to start NAC in 1958. Capt. Jay Singh was the first pilot to fly the scheduled flight to Simara on 4th July 1958 Pokhara and Bhairawaha on the 5th and