With the coming into operation of Pokhara International Airport, paragliding, which has been flying in the skies of Sarangkot for almost two and a half decades, has been moved to Mandredhunga, five kilometers west of Sarangkot. Since last January 1, paragliding has been stopped in the skies of Sarangkot. Paragliding from Sarangkot to Mandredhunga Sarre is currently undergoing a test flight.
Even earlier, paragliding flights were available at Mandredhunga. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal had previously taken permission to fly paragliding in the sky of Mandredhunga. However, Mandredhunga’s flight was not commercialized. Commercial flights could not be made from Mandredhunga as the scenery of Pokhara Valley, Phewatal and Himalayas is not very visible. Only learner pilots used to go to Mandre Dhunga for practice and long time solo pilots.
However, now the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN), the regulatory body of air services, has designated an area for paragliding only in the sky of Mandredhunga. Since the airport came into operation in Sarangkot, Toripani and Tamagi areas where paragliding was allowed earlier, the authority has banned flights.
According to Krishan Bhandari, outgoing president of Nepal Air Sports Association (NA), the umbrella organization of paragliding professionals, the sky takeoff point of Mandredhunga is about 1700 meters (5708 feet) above sea level. The authority has set a height not to fly above 6000 feet in Mandredhunga. Bhandari said that after flying, you can only go up to about 300 feet.
Paragliding from Mandredhunga can land in Pamey area of Siran area of Phewatal. Now, even during the trial, palm trees are landing in the field. According to Bhandari, after taking off from Mandredhunga, it is not easy to observe some scenes as you cannot fly much higher than the take-off point. He said that although you can see Phewatal, Himal and Pokhara market, it is not as clear as from Sarangkot.
According to Bhandari, after take-off, they can only move up to 500 meters to the east (Toripani-Sarangkot) and west (Panchase). To the north (Suikhet) you will be able to go only up to 50 meters. To the south (Pame) they will be able to come up to 4 and a half kilometers. ‘The box has become a little narrower,’ he said, ‘it has made it a bit difficult.’
‘You can’t go north after take-off. Go straight south. Lakes, mountains and markets are not clearly visible from Sarangkot,’ said one of the pilots who has a long experience of paragliding. You cannot see the Himalayan range as you do not go to the north. A flight like that of Sarangkot cannot happen under any circumstances.’
According to the pilot, after taking off from Mandredhunga, it will come directly towards the landing zone. “Since the landing zone is a bit south, the flight duration may be longer,” he said, “but, like before, you can’t see the mountains, lakes, and Pokhara market clearly. As soon as it takes off, it will proceed directly, then it will come to the landing place.’ He said that the lake and the market can only be seen from a distance, so it is not clear.
According to the general secretary of Nepal Hanggliding and Paragliding Association, Shailendra Rawat, it has now been landed at Palme. He said that a test flight is being conducted at Mandredhunga. According to him, the test flight has been going on for two days in Mandredhunga. For the next three days, the paragliding pilot is preparing to fly another pilot. ‘A tandem pilot will fly another pilot and fly 2 times a day and then go on to commercial flights. First is the place to be solo. Now that the guest will be flown, we have tried to make the pilots feel safe,’ he said.
According to Rawat, the authority has given permission to fly to Mandredhunga only for one month in the first phase. Now it takes at least 15 minutes to reach the loading area after take off. Earlier, after taking off from Sarangkot, it was possible to land at Khapaudi landing site within 7-8 minutes. But now, he said, he will have to fly for some more time to arrive at the landing place. However, due to not being able to gain more height, Rawat said that the lake and mountains cannot be seen as before.
Bhandari, the outgoing president of the organization, said that there was a problem due to the narrow sky of Mandredhunga. ‘The airspace of Mandredhunga will become narrow. The playing area will be narrow as it will not be able to take much height,’ he said, ‘we will request the authority to widen the narrow area.’ He said that the test flight of paragliding has been taking place in the sky of Mandredhunga for two days.
He said it was being tested for commercial flights. Apart from that, all the pilots and companies of paragliding have been put together to tell about the sky of Mandre Dhunga. ‘Since it is a new area for everyone, the briefing will be held. Experience flying in new areas. Despite being far away in terms of infrastructure and surroundings, paragliding has been able to continue in the sky of Pokhara,’ he said, ‘We should promote it by informing about the new place.’
