In Nepal’s flood zone, pilots are flying by their “own discipline”
Summary
Helicopter pilots are coordinating among themselves to safely carry out rescue and relief flights in Nepal’s flood-hit Rasuwa and Nuwakot, where damaged terrain has cut off normal air traffic control. Trishuli has become the main staging base as military and private helicopters shuttle survivors, supplies and fuel into the devastated districts.
Key Points
- Flood damage in Rasuwa and Nuwakot has erased landmarks and disrupted radio contact, forcing helicopter pilots to coordinate directly with one another in uncontrolled airspace.
- Trishuli has become the main rescue and relief hub, with the Army, Armed Police Force and medical teams receiving survivors before serious cases are flown to Kathmandu.
- Pilots say changing terrain, washed-away helipads, weather and fuel constraints have made every landing a new risk assessment.
- Around 30 military and private helicopters are now involved in the broader disaster response across the flood-hit areas.
