Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

As operations to support communities devastated by severe flooding and landslides in Nepal transition from the rescue to relief phase, helicopters are continuing to play a critical role. Recent events have revealed a need for lessons to be learned about how rotorcraft are deployed in emergencies, as well as ongoing opportunities for the international aviation community to contribute to the country’s recovery needs, according to Abhinav Karki, former CEO of local operator Mustang Helicopter, who is now advising Nepal’s government on aviation reforms.
Nepal’s private helicopter operators have been supporting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2026-09-08/helicopters-play-crucial-role-himalayan-flood-rescues">rescue and relief efforts</a> alongside the Nepali Army. According to Karki, the experience so far has highlighted the importance of effective coordination among the various agencies involved in emergency aviation operations.
Air traffic control infrastructure is absent in the remote mountainous areas where flash floods have cost more than 1,000 lives, with several thousand more people still missing. “Pilots have been flying in very difficult terrain that has required a lot of coordination to fly VFR,” Karki told AIN.
Karki, a former Airbus executive, said that international aviation companies could still do more to support the relief and recovery efforts by providing equipment and expertise. He pointed to the need for more drones to be deployed for search and surveillance roles, and also for satellite imagery capability that would provide more sophisticated weather information around which missions could be planned.
<h2>More Help Needed</h2>
“The first phase [immediately following the floods] was always going to be chaos, and having more drones to find people would have helped,” he said. “For the second phase, we could definitely use more helicopters, and especially those with emergency medical support capability.”
There are 51 airfields across Nepal’s Himalayan terrain, but most of these do not have even basic air traffic control service. When helicopters are deployed from the capital Kathmandu, they generally rely on local navigation aids. Operations have been managed by the civilian Rescue Coordination Centre and the Military Command Centre.&nbsp;
Nepal’s government is pressing for consolidation among helicopter operators in a bid to make them more capable. By 2029, each operator is expected to have at least five aircraft, and this will likely result in some mergers.
According to Karki, there is a need for local fleets to include more advanced, twin-engine helicopters. He also appealed for recognition of the vital role of rotorcraft in public service, rather than as purely a luxury lifestyle product. In Nepal, army helicopters are used to serve remote communities, such as by ferrying pregnant women to the hospital.
In his view, the disaster in Nepal and the neighboring Tibet region of China has exposed the need for more effective international training and planning for disaster relief. “What we need is worldwide disaster management because we need expertise and better plans when we are fighting the impact of climate change,” Karki concluded. “Whether it is fighting fires in California or floods in Nepal, it is the same challenge.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Nepal’s Helicopter Relief Efforts Require More Support and Coordination

Local rotorcraft industry leader urges international partners to get involved in crisis 

Lessons are already being learned from the initial helicopter response to Nepal’s flood disaster, and local experts say more help is needed from the industry.

Nepal Relief Efforts Need More Support and Coordination

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Frederic Lemos departs after serving as CEO of ACH since 2017

Boltoukhine Named Head of Airbus Corporate Helicopters

Matt Thurber

Medium twin-engine rotorcraft will supplement European firefighting operations

Avincis Orders Five McDermott 214ST Utility Helicopters

Neelam Mathews

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

Helicopters Play Crucial Role in Himalayan Flood Rescues

Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany 

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

More In Rotorcraft

Boltoukhine Named Head of Airbus Corporate Helicopters

Frederic Lemos departs after serving as CEO of ACH since 2017

Avincis Orders Five McDermott 214ST Utility Helicopters

Medium twin-engine rotorcraft will supplement European firefighting operations

Helicopters Play Crucial Role in Himalayan Flood Rescues

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view

FAA Floats Special Conditions for Skyryse Fly-by-wire R66

Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN