Keshav Pathak/Pokhara Sports: For the paragliding sport and tandem flight, Machhapuchhre Village Municipality of Kaski will move forward as a new destination after a successful test flight at three different locations.
After a week-long test flight and landing in different three wards of Machhapuchhre, paragliding is said to be suitable for both commercial and solo flights. The commercial paragliding flight, which was in Sarangkot, Pokhara, and recently returned to Toripani, is now move forwarding to the northern part of Kaski.
Mr. Basantaraj Dawadi, Managing Director of Koleli Flying Paragliding, who is also working for the development of paragliding, along with the professionals of Adventurous Sports in Pokhara, informed that the test flight was conducted in collaboration with the ROC-holder company Annapurna Paragliding. He said that the tests were completed successfully throughout the Notam period. “We have completed this test with the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) Safety Department, Pokhara Tower, and Machhapuchhre Village Municipality under the authority,” he said.
Mr. Dawadi also acknowledged that “it is suitable for both sports (solo) and commercial flight (tandem). Machhapuchhre Village municipality will now move forward as a sports tourism destination along with tourism. He expressed his gratitude to the CAAN Safety Department, Pokhara Tower, Annapurna Paragliding and Village Municipality for supporting the test flight. He said, “CAAN also plays a vital role in protecting the paragliding of Pokhara. Together with CAAN, we were looking for a short-distance paragliding flight area that would not fall within the international flying zone. Now everyone’s wish has been fulfilled. Machhapuchhre will be identified as a suitable destination for paragliding.”
Three destinations, Ward No. 1, Ward No. 4, and Ward No. 8 of Machhapuchhre, are suitable for flights. The flight from Tuvudanda Shari Pakha in Ward No. 1 will land at Ghachok, Ward No. 3 of Machhapuchhre, while the flight from Ward No. 4 Lahachok will land at Mardi Khola Landing Point, and from Ward No. 8 Mirku Danda, the landing point will be at Thanti of the same ward.
To protect the paragliding of Pokhara. Dawadi said that the businessmen were also excited that this would not even fall into the flying zone. “The flight areas we have tested can be reached only in 45 minutes from Pokhara,” Dawadi said.They are easy, attractive, and a suitable destination for close observation of the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna ranges.”.
Bimal Adhikari, the captain of the Nepalese team and the Asian paragliding medalist, said that it was a pleasure to have a paragliding flight test at Machhapuchhre. He said, “We have suffered a lot from restrictions in Sarangkot and in Toripani.” He said, “No one heard our pain for the last 2 years. We will definitely be able to start our practices.” He said that 40 minutes is not too far from Pokhara, and it will be easy for any pilot to be there.
Solo flights are closed in Pokhara’s Toripani, Pokhara due to safety concerns. Due to the suspension of solo flights, the solo pilot players who come from abroad and locals are disappointed, and the government also lost a huge amount of annual revenue.
