Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt pull off yet another difficult rescue operation

On Monday, 26th April, Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt’s rescue team evacuated seven members of a Korean expedition team from Mt.Manaslu(8,163m).The team comprising of pilot Capt. Sabin Basnyat, and rescue specialists from Air Zermatt, Richi Lehner and Dany Aufdenblatten left Kathmandu at 6:30 AM for Manaslu Base Camp. From above the Base Camp, the team saw, four people at Camp 2 at 6,200 meters and three people at about 200 meters away, moving slowly towards the camp. The rescue team took four rotations to rescue the very exhausted and frostbitten Korean Climbers and Sherpas. After arriving at a stopover, a second helicopter flew the rescued climbers to Kathmandu, while Dany, Sabin and a cameraman from Swiss TV ( who was recording for a documentary), went back to look for the remaining two climbers. They finally spied the lifeless body of one climber at an altitude of 7000 meters in a flank. The body of the other climber could not be located. Due to the height and steep terrain the body of the dead climber could not be recovered.

Year 2011 proved to be a bumper year for Nepalese tourism industry as tourist arrival figures reached a record high. By November 2011 Nepal had welcomed more than 5 lakh visitors – a record high. Tourism entrepreneurs hope that this positive trend will continue  and 2012 will bring in more tourists. Taking into consideration the surge in tourist arrivals, Fishtail Air is all set to upgrade its existing fleet of aircrafts. A delegation from the company led by Chairman, Bikash Samsher JB Rana is on an European tour, visiting helicopter design & manufacturing units in Switzerland, Italy and France. As part of their mission, the team visited the factory of AugustaWestland (an Anglo-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company) at Costa di Samarate, Italy on 13th of Dec. 2011. Mr. Umberto Fonteneila the company’s Vice President, Sales in his briefing to the Fishtail Air team recommended AW 119 Koala Helicopter for Nepal’s high altitude and mentioned that the company is reviewing it’s tradition chart on the altitude limits to enable Koala to fly in higher altitudes. The aircraft’s power, speed, space and passenger occupancy level could become extra benefits to consumers involved in different adventure activities at high altitude. Following the sales briefing,  the company took the delegation from Fishtail Air (Bikash Samsher JB Rana, Chairman, Suman Pandey, CEO and Ashish Sherchan, Director Operation) for a test flight in Samedan , Switzerland. AugustaWestland has expressed a desire to work with Fishtail Air in conducting test flights of ‘Koala’ in the Nepal Himalaya in the near future.

Sales briefing in progress at AugustaWestland

Mr. Suman Pandey & Mr. Bikash Samsher JB Rana at Samedan, Switzerland

The 'Koala'

Heli- Trekking in Everest Region

Is it possible to trek to Everest region and return to Kathmandu in two days? It may seem unbelievable (what with AMS & other health concerns),  but yes we have made it possible! How did we do  it? Read our trip our report on the Everest Heli-Trek that we organized for Danish clients Mr. Ole Andersen & Ms. Line Gjessoe Andersen.

The father and daughter duo Mr. Ole Andersen & Ms. Line Gjessoe Andersen, after arriving in Kathmandu, were  flown  to Lukla on 14th May 2011. From Lukla they began their two-day trek to Shyangboche.

On the way to Shyangboche

Line with guide Maya Gurung

Above Namche

Trek to Shyangboche

After reaching Shyangboche, on 16th May they boarded Fishtail Air’s AS 350 B3 helicopter and flew over the snowy and towering Mount Everest and other mountains, and the mesmerizing  Gokyo Lake, finally landing at Kalapatthar (5,545m) – one of the finest viewpoints to view Mount Everest up close and the site of the World’s Highest Cabinet Meeting (held on December 4, 2009).

Enjoying the mountain views from aboard the chopper

Himalayan Panorama – Everest Region

Gokyo Lake

Breathe easy – Oxygen systems are always at hand to help you breathe easy at high altitude

At the Base of Mount Everest – Kalapatthar(5545m)

After exploring and capturing some fantastic shots in their cameras,  the father and daughter duo were flown to Yeti Mountain Home in Kongde or Kongde Resort for breakfast.

Breakfast at the World’s Highest Luxury resort in Kongde (4250m)

Located at an elevation of 4250m, this is the highest luxury hotel in the world. From Kongde, the clients  were flown to Kathmandu. According to Mr. Ole “it was a very good and memorable trip”.

(Photos: Explore Himalaya)

Helicopter Association International (HAI) has conferred Eurocopter Golden Hour Award to  Late Capt. Sabin Basnyat of Fishtail Air. The award has been conferred for his role in operating the Highest Sling Rescue Operation on Mount Annapurna at a height of 6,900 meters. The daring rescue operation was jointly conducted by members Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt on 29th April 2010. Late Captain Basnyat’s wife Mrs. Poonam Basnyat has been invited to ‘Heli Expo 2011’ to receive the award. The event will  be held  in Orlando, Florida on March 7th 2011.

Reinhold Messner is a living legend of the mountaineering world. The Italian climber is renowned for being the first climber to summit all 14 eight thousanders. He has also to his credit the achievement of being the first solo climber to ascend Mount Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen.
Messner is currently in Nepal shooting a documentary for a German production house in the Everest region. The documentary is expected to promote Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
On 29th, 30th & 31st October, Reinhold Messner flew on Fishtail Air’s helicopter to capture footage of the mountains in the Everest Region. Captain Siddhartha Jung Gurung was in charge of the flight.