Fishtail Latest News !

Heli-Skiing in Annapurna

10th July, 2010, Fishtail Air

Fishtail Air’s AS350B3 ‘Equiriel’ helicopter flew some French clients to the snowy slopes of Annapurna for some exciting skiing adventure. In Heli-skiing instead of ski-lifts or hiking , skiers use a helicopter to access an off-trail for downhill skiing. Instead of lugging heavy ski gear and hiking up the rough terrain, skiiers can now access the snowy Himalayan slopes via a helicopter. The Himalayan mountains in Nepal offer some of the best terrain, snow and ski conditions, with the added bonus of a spectacular scenary.
Posted below are some pictures taken during the heli-skiing adventure in the Annapurna on April 2010.

Fishtail Air conducts rescue operation in Lo Manthang

21st June, 2010, Fishtail Air

In another life saving attempt, Fishtail Air's air ambulance flew a local female patient from Lo Manthang area in Upper Mustang to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. The helicopter flew to Lo Manthang on 20th June and returned to Kathmandu, carrying the patient on 21st June,2010.The helicopter was flown by Capt.Gregor Bear & Capt. Deepak JB Rana.

Pic: A local female patient onboard @ Lomanthang / Helicopter @ Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu

Heli Pilgrimage Tour to Damodar Kunda(4890m)

21st June, 2010, Fishtail Air

Fishtail Air conducts pilgrimage tours to major Hindu pilgrimage sites. The pictures below were taken on 21st June, 2010, during a charter flight to Damodar Kunda (4890m), one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage site in Upper Mustang. damodar kunda
Arial View of Damodar Kunda (4890m) Damodar Kunda (lake) is situated in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas north of Annapurna range. It lies high in the Himalayas in Upper Mustang area, at an elevation of 4890 meters. A big festival is held here during the full moon night in Autumn. Many Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims make a pilgrimage to this place every year. The Tibetan plateau and Damodar Himal to the north and the Annapurna Himalayan massive to the south can be viewed from the vicinity of the holy lake.
In the ‘Barah Puran’, Lord Krishna mentions that whoever visits Damodar Kunda and takes a dip in the lake will be freed from all sins. Another story mentions the miraculous healing of the two sons of Kubers who are advised by Lord Krishna to bathe in the holy waters of Damodar Kunda to release themselves from all sufferings caused by sins committed in their previous birth.

Pic: Arial View of Damodar Kunda (4890m).

Flowering Ceremony By Fishtail Air’s Helicopter

20th June, 2010, Fishtail Air

En route, the clients enjoyed the aerial view of Asia’s tallest Lord Shiva statue. The 108-feet idol of Lord Shiva, lies in the outskirts of Kathmandu in Sanghabhanjyang of Chittapol, Bhaktapur. The idol, made up of cement and concrete, took more than a decade to complete. They offered floral tribute to the idol by showering flower petals from aboard the chopper.

Pic: Tallest idol of Lord Shiva in Asia (108 feet) - Sanghabhanjyang of Chittapol VDC-5, Bhaktapur On dated 21St June 2010 .

Acclaimed Indian Actress Deepti Naval flies with Fishtail Air

20th June, 2010, Fishtail Air

Acclaimed Indian actress Deepti Naval enjoyed a Mount Everest flight via Fishtail Air on 20th June, 2010. The chopper was flown to Gokarna Village Resort early in the morning to pick up the actress for her Mount Everest flight. Deepti Naval is best known for her sensitive portrayal in the following movies Saath Sath, Chasme Badoor,Mirch Masala, Freaky Chakra and Bawander. Besides working in movies, the actress is also a talented painter.

Pic: Deepti Naval (right)enjoying her flight.

A Patient who needed specialized medical attention was flown from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Fishtail Air’s Helicopter

18th June, 2010, Fishtail Air

On 18th June, 2010, a patient who was in urgent need of medical attention was flown from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Fishtail Air’s Helicopter. Along with the patient, there were a medical team of doctors & assistants accompanied. To save lives at risk, Fishtail Air has introduced ambulance facilities in its helicopters. The air ambulance has medical facilities and equipments supplied by Air Zermatt which can be fitted or detached in minutes. This service will benefit not only injured mountaineers but also patients from far- flung areas in need of special emergency medical care.

Pic: Patient Rescued on 18th June, by Fishtail Air.

Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt Introduces Alpine Rescue System in Nepal

24th May, 2010, Fishtail Air

On 22nd May 2010, Fishtail Air organized a press conference at Nepal Tourism Board's premises in Kathmandu. The conference was held to highlight the introduction of Alpine rescue System in the Nepalese Himalaya through a joint venture of Fishtail Air and Swiss company Air Zermatt. Present at the conference were Fishtail Air's Chairman Capt. Bikas JB Rana, CEO Mr.Suman Pandey, Air Zermatt's Director of Operations -Mr. Gerold Biner and Rescue Specialist Mr.Bruno Jelk, Fishtail Air's pilots and rescue specialists and media persons.
Visual footage on Air Zermatt's operation in the Swiss Alps and spring 2010 rescue missions in the Nepal Himalayas conducted by the joint team Air Zermatt and Fishtail Air were shown during the meeting. Briefing media persons Mr. Suman Pandey said that the partnership between Air Zermatt and Fishtail Air will go a long way in developing Alpine Rescue System in the Himalayas, thus saving many lives of mountaineers and adventurers. He also informed the gathering about Fishtail Air's new Air Ambulance.

Pic: Patient Rescued on 18th June, by Fishtail Air.

Dead Bodies of Russian & Swiss climbers recovered from Mt.Everest

23rd May, 2010, Fishtail Air

Following the rescue at Mt. Dhaulagiri ,the rescue team of Fishtail Air and Air Zermatt retrieved the dead bodies of Russian and Swiss climbers from Mt. Everest (8848m) on 17th May. The team of Sherpas from Extreme Everest Expedition who are up on a clean –up drive in the mountain helped to bring down the dead bodies from the Hillary Step to Camp 2 (6500m). While the Russian climber had died recently, the body of the Swiss climber had been lying at the South col since Spring, 2008.

Pic: Sherpa Everest Cleaning Expedition 2010, Camp 2 Everest

Pic: Dario Schwörer, Gerold Biner, Capt. Sabin Basnyat, Purna Awale, Bruno Jelk, Pheriche

Pic: Camp 2, Everest

Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt carries out the highest longline rescue in history

30th April, 2010, Fishtail Air

Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt’s team made a record breaking rescue on 29th April, 2010 using ‘human sling operation’, on Mt. Annapurna I (8091m/26,545ft). Three Spanish climbers were evacuated from 6900m by Fishtail Air’s AS 350 B3, using human sling operation. The climbers were stranded in the mountain due to bad weather for 36 hours.
The rescue operation was carried out by Capt. Daniel Aufdenblatten from Air Zermatt, Switzerland, while Swiss Mountain Guide, Richard Lenner hung on the sling and lifted the stranded climbers. The three Spanish climbers were evacuated with the longline, one by one and flown to base camp at 4000 meter. This was the highest longline rescue in history. Fishtail Air has been carrying out special rescue missions this season, together with Air Zermatt’s assistance, using it’s newly acquired AS 350 B3.Recently the team had rescued 4 Korean Climbers and 3 Nepalese Sherpas from 6,500m at Mt. Manaslu on 26th April.

Pic: Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt carries out the highest longline rescue in history

IMAX’s Director David Breashers Flies to Everest with Fishtail Air

26th April, 2010, Fishtail Air

Kathmandu ( April 26, 2010): Renowned American filmmaker, adventurer and author David Breashers enjoyed a mountain flight to Everest region via Fishtail Air’s chopper yesterday (25th April ).
Best known for co-directing, photographing, and co-producing the acclaimed IMAX film ‘Everest’ in 1996, Breashers has also worked on feature films like ‘ Seven Years in Tibet’ and ‘Cliffhanger’, and the award-winning documentary ‘Red Flag over Tibet’. In 1983 he transmitted the first live pictures from the summit of Mount Everest. For his achievement in filmmaking he has been awarded four Emmy Awards. David Breashers has also co-authored National Geographic's best-selling book ‘Last Climb’ which documents the disappearance of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine on Mount Everest in 1924. His memoir entitled ‘High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places’ (Simon & Schuster), documenting his life as a mountaineer and filmmaker, remains a best-seller.

Pic: David Breashers (3rd from Left) with friends and Fishtail Air’s crew