Buddha Air prides itself in maintaining safety as the highest priority and has always bought brand new aircrafts in line with this policy. At the moment Buddha Air owns a fleet of five just off the factory Beechcraft 1900D and three ATR 42 – 320 (Avions de Transport Régional or Aerei da Trasporto Regionale).

Beechcraft 1900D (B1900D)

The B1900D have been modified and upgraded from its predecessor Beech 1900C and first commercially commissioned in March 1992. Buddha Air is the only airline operating brand new, straight-out-of-the-factory, and currently in production pressurized aircrafts in Nepal. The aircraft is manufactured by the US based Raytheon Aircraft Company (now Hawker Beechcraft). Each Beechcraft cost Buddha Air about US$ 5 million each.

The B1900D is the only 19 seat aircraft in the world to meet FAA’s stringent turbine engine rotor burst requirement and the FAR 23. The aircraft has all the modern avionics, instruments and airframe including weather radar and EFIS (semi glass cockpit) that are in modern jetliners. The engines PT6A-67Ds are more powerful than its predecessors and have a service ceiling of 33,000 feet and a single engine performance of 17,500 feet. B1900D is also the chosen 19-seater aircraft of the American Aircraft Pilot's Association.

Beech 1900D aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art safety devices like TCAS, GPWS, radar etc. Our aircraft have very wide seats - similar to those on MD 80 jets. Full pressurization and air conditioning allow instant optimum cabin temperature. The remarkably low noise level helps you relax and concentrate more on the views outside. Full stand-up cabin height and reading lights add to your comfort.

The Beech 1900D is a substantial redesign of the earlier 1900C model entered service featuring a wing span (over winglets) of 17.67m (58ft), wing area of 28.8 sq m (310.0sq ft), length of 17.63m (57ft 10in), and height of 4.72m (15ft 6in) in 1991.

 The Beechcraft 1900 D is the latest and last version of the world famous Beechcraft 1900 series used as a regional airliner and corporate transporter and run on two 955kW (1280shp) P&WC PT6A67D turboprops. It has maximum cruising speed of 533km/h (288kt) and is capable of long range cruises of upto 2776km (1498nm). It can fly with a maximum takeoff weight of 7688kg (17,120lb) and requires two flight crews.

ATR 42-320

ATR is an French-Italian aircraft manufacturer formed in 1981 by Aérospatiale of France (now EADS) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) of Italy. Its primary products are the ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft.

Alenia Aeronautica's manufacturing facilities in Pomigliano d'Arco, near Naples, Italy produce the aircraft fuselage and tail sections. Aircraft wings are assembled at EADS Sogerma in Bordeaux in western France for Airbus France. Final assembly, flight-testing, certification and deliveries are the responsibility of ATR in Toulouse, France.

The ATR 42-320 is the second development of the ATR 42. It draws from in-service experience of about 700 ATR aircrafts flying worldwide, with average dispatch reliability in excess of 99.6%. It uses Pratt and Whitney Canada PW121E engines offering a cruise speed of 250 knots, a fast climb from 1,500 ft to 17,000 ft in less than 10 min, outstanding take-off and single engine performance maintained even in hot and high condition. It has excellent short-field performance and step approach capability.

The ATR 42-320 provides passengers with an on-board comfort and services comparable to the jetliner. It has a high cruise ceiling of about 7,000 m (21,000 ft) with inherent stability and can operate in a maximum altitude of 25,000ft. It features large overhead bins including a handrail to facilitate passengers and crew movement along the cabin and has more windows than rows of seats for optimized views, individual reading lights and cabin attendant call system along with quiet, comfortable and spacious cabins.

ATR 72-500

ATR 72-500 represents the latest generation of turboprop aircraft with comfort and performance. The 70-seat ATR 72-500 is known to be the best aircraft with turbo-prop engines. Powered by PW127 engines, also used to power ATR 42-500, the ATR 72-500 provides an outstanding short field performance for an aircraft of this size. The modernized new look passenger cabin, ergonomic leather seats and more quiet than regional jets are the main features that makes it the most comfortable aircraft for regional operations.

In ATR 72-500, a range of improvements in the field of noise and vibration has been implemented. The aircraft has an optimized, efficient and technologically advanced acoustic treatment of the structure with the installation of Dynamic Vibration Absorbers and skin damping. A new look interior is engineered for maximum noise reduction and optimum comfort through new materials, absorbent panels and carpets. There are large overhead bins including handrail to facilitate passengers and crew movement along the cabin.

ATR 72-500 emits about 50% less CO2 per passenger-km than new-generation jets and up to three times less CO2 than older ones. Compared to a car, the ATR 72-500's carbone dioxyde (CO2) emissions per seat/km on a 200-Nm (370 km) sector are 15% lower.