Kamal In a historic move, a helicopter has been imported into Nepal through the Tatopani customs point for the first time. Mountain Helicopters Pvt. Ltd. brought the helicopter through the Chinese route, marking a new milestone in Nepal’s aviation and trade logistics.
Helicopter Brought in a Container
According to Ram Chandra Bhusal, the Corporate Manager of Mountain Helicopters, the helicopter was manufactured by Airbus, France. It was transported to Nepal through China in a 40-foot container, with its rotor blades and other parts dismantled for safe shipping.
Bhusal explained,
“We loaded the helicopter in a container after dismantling the blades and parts. Now, we will reassemble it at Tatopani customs and fly it to Kathmandu after customs clearance.”
A First for Tatopani Customs
Rajendra Prasad Chudal, Chief of Tatopani Customs Office, confirmed that this is the first time a helicopter is being processed at this customs point. He said,
“In my experience, this is the first helicopter under customs clearance at Tatopani. A 1% duty and 13% VAT will be charged.”
Why Tatopani Route?
Nepal has two major trade routes with China: Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi (Timure). The company chose Tatopani over Timure because the latter is narrow and difficult for heavy transport.
Bhusal said,
“We had the option of using the sea route via Kolkata, but that would take around a month. The China route via Tatopani took only 8 to 10 days, so it was the better choice.”
Helicopter to Join Mountain Flights
After clearance and reassembly, the new helicopter will be used for mountain flights and other aviation services. With this import, Mountain Helicopters Pvt. Ltd. will now operate three helicopters in total.
Summary
This successful import sets a new precedent for aviation logistics through Nepal’s northern trade routes. It highlights the potential of the Tatopani customs point for high-value and time-sensitive imports. The move is expected to boost connectivity, save time, and reduce import costs in the long term.
