Skip to main content

Lukla Airport: Why is this airport located in the lap of Mount Everest considered scary ?

What is the geography like ?

Lukla Airport has been in operation since 1971.


It was later renamed Tenzing-Hillary Airport in honor of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary.

It is 2800 meters above sea level.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, it is 527 meters long and 20 meters wide, which is shorter than other airports.

As there is a short runway, ‘overshoot’ is not possible there. Experts say that it would be difficult to land the same flight.

How is it different from others ?

Experts say that if the landing is not considered safe in the final case, the airport should have a place where the aircraft can be flown straight ahead or left or right.

‘Overshoot’ is considered to be the general standard required for an airport. But Lukla has not reached that standard.

Due to the short runway, the airport has been constructed in a different way to speed up the flight and stop the landing.

Its lower part and upper part are at an angle of about 12 degrees. It makes a difference of 150 feet between the two ends of the runway.

That’s about the height of a 10-story house.

The airport is considered to be one of the most feared airports in the world as it has a 700 meter high cliff on one side.

Experts say that the point of landing should be constantly ‘marked’ because of the steep runway that makes it seem like the plane is still landing when it lands.

What is the weather like

Lukla Airport is considered to be the gateway to Everest.

Being in a mountainous region, fog and wind add to the complexity of flight. So there is usually a flight in the morning.

Pilots say that even if they break the rules many times because of the weather, there is no alternative to landing.

It is said that as the weather changes, it becomes difficult to determine where to land on the runway and pilots are mistaken.

The challenge of controlling the ship in Chait-Baishakh is seen as the western wind is blowing in the hills around the airport.

Captain Uddhav Ghimire of the Nepal Airlines Corporation, who has flown in Lukla for a long time, says, “The pilot himself should be aware of many things when the weather forecasting or traffic conditions are not good.”

“Every flight is a different experience for an experienced pilot.”

Rainfall and high winds in the spring add to the complexity. The wind causes problems even when the weather is good.

Why is Lukla busy ?

Every year thousands of tourists lurk to the base camp of Everest.

The only mode of transportation for climbing and trekking Everest is by plane.

As the pedestrians often start walking from Lukla, there is more air pressure in the spring.

Due to the current season of climbing and climbing Mt. Everest, the pressure of aircraft has increased in Lukla.

In recent years, there have been more than 100 daily flights.

Many flights from Kathmandu to Lukla have now been shifted to Ramechhap due to the air pressure caused by the runway maintenance at Kathmandu Airport.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nepal’s tourism sector most affected by corona virus ?

Although only one person in Nepal has been infected with the corona virus so far, the mountaineering, trekking and hotel business, which is dependent on foreign tourists, has been affected. The government has said it will open for mountaineering in the coming spring, including Mount Everest. Although the government has not imposed a direct ban on pedestrians, pedestrians are required to submit a health certificate and be allowed to walk after being isolated for 14 days. Photo by Googel. China is a major source of tourism in Nepal. The corona virus was first reported in China and another source in India. Badly affected. Nepal has declared 2020 as the International Year of Tourism and started a campaign to attract 2 million foreign tourists.Even major tourist destinations, such as North America and Europe, are struggling with the epidemic. Many countries have called for a citywide lockdown and social distance from meetings and gatherings. Although the impact of COVID-19 is global and mul

Hero of rescue: Lakpa Norbu

Lakpa Norbu Sherpa, who climbed to Khumbu carrying a heavy book at the age of going to school, has been active in rescue work by hanging himself in a helicopter in the Himalayan region for 17 years. Helicopters have been landing and taking off at the base camp since morning during the Everest ascent. Lakpa Norbu Sherpa has been busy flying and landing helicopters called 'Mountain Taxis' since morning. Three satellite sets hang around his waist. Sometimes talking to the pilot of the helicopter and sometimes talking to the climbers in the upper camps. In Mt. Everest and most of the surrounding mountains, the news comes to his set before anyone is at risk, sick or injured.  Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Village Municipality-1, Khari Khola He is a famous 'helicopter rescue expert' working in the Himalayan region. He spends about 75 days at the Everest base camp each year during the climbing season. If we add up the time he spent in the base camp for the last 17 years, it is about 1,2