Nepalese Army Air Service

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Nepalese Army Air Service
Active	1965
Country	Nepal
Branch	air force
Type	air
Role	transport and support
Size	215
Part of	Military

Plane at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu

Nepal has no separate Air Force but flies several aircraft within Nepalese Army Service, also known as the Nepal Army Air Wing. It was formed in 1960s, but finally became an air force unit in 1979. It is now again a part of the Army. The main objective of this flying element is transport, flying paratroopers and assistance in case of an emergency (e.g. natural disasters). Apart from the 11th Brigade the country has established a VIP Flight. From Tribhuvan Airport, mostly the aircraft are stationed at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan, Surkhet, and Dipayal.

Since 1996 the country is facing attacks by Maoist rebels trying to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and establishing a communist republic. Their attacks have increased since the massacre within the Royal Family in 2001. This development has led to the need for armed helicopters. In recent years several types of aircraft have entered service; MI-17s, M28 Skytruck, ALH Lancer and Dhruv. The UK has delivered two Islanders and two MI-17s free off charge. China decided to deliver an MA-60 (an Y-7 derivative).

The NAAS consists of 215 members.

1 Aircraft
2 Facilities
3 Army pilots training School
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Aircraft

The Nepalese Army Air service has in its service the following aircraft.

Manufacturer	Type	Number	Origins
PZL-Mielec	Skytrucks light transport aircraft and patrol arcraft	2	Poland
Britten-Norman	Britten-Norman Islander(BN-2) light Utility aircraft, mainline airliner and Cargo aircraft	2	United Kingdom
HAL/Avro	Hawker Siddeley HS 748 airliner/transport aircraft	1	India/ United Kingdom

Also, there are the following helicopters.

Manufacturer	Type	Number	Origins	Details
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant	MI-17 medium twin-turbine transport/utility helicopter	3*	Russia	See notes
HAL Dhruv	multi-role helicopter	2	India
Aérospatiale	Aérospatiale Alouette III light helicopter	2	France
HAL	SA316B Cheetah light helicopter	2	India	variant of Aérospatiale Alouette II/SA 315B Lama India
HAL	Lancers light helicopter	1	India	variant of Aérospatiale Alouette II helicopter India
Eurocopter	Eurocopter Super PumaAS 332 L Super Puma transport/utility helicopter	1	France
Eurocopter	Eurocopter Super PumaAS 332L1 transport/utility helicopter	2	France
Bell Helicopter	Bell 206Jet Ranger Multi-purpose utility helicopter	1	United States
Bell Helicopter	Bell 206L Jet Ranger Multi-purpose utility helicopter	2	United States
Eurocopter	Ecureuil A350 light helicopter	2	France
HAL	HAL Dhruv	2	India	variant of Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BK 117 B2
Eurocopter	Aérospatiale Puma SA332L medium-sized twin-engined transport/utility helicopter	2	France

Notes:

One of the Army Air Unit's MI-17 helicopters crashed during the skirmish between security forces and the People's Liberation Army (Maoist) at Sarlahi district, which is situated at the border between Nepal and India in April 2006.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Facilities

In all Nepal there are 36 airfields that are able to support military operations. Flowing named based are paved and able to support in all time military operation.

[edit] Army pilots training School

The Nepal Army Air service has its flying and Helicopter Pilots training school since from 2004 within the 11no. Brigade, it is the only Helicopter Pilots training school in Nepal,(there is a fixed-wing pilot training school in Bharatpur, Nepal by private pilots training school) This school produces army air service pilots and civilian too. This school provide the MI-17, Lancers, Bell and Ecureuil Helicopter flying training.