Kathmandu:

Landing difficulties caused by dense fog at Bhairahawa’s Gautam Buddha International Airport have been resolved with the introduction of a new navigation system.

The airport has implemented the Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) system from today.

This advanced technology allows aircraft to land with visibility as low as 800 meters, significantly lower than the 1,800-meter visibility required under the current Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-Directional Range (VOR) system.

Airport Chief Pratap Babu Tiwari stated that the new system was introduced to address the severe disruptions in flight operations caused by thick fog during winter.

Airlines can now operate flights under low-visibility conditions after obtaining approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

However, airlines must train their pilots and equip their aircraft with specialized instruments to utilize the RNP AR system, according to CAAN.

This satellite-based navigation system is already in use at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, ensuring safer and more efficient flight operations.