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Not
unfounded is the small airport of Lukla (Nepal), at the foot of the
mighty Mount Everest, perhaps the most dangerous airport in the world!
Only a few specially trained pilots dare even to approach at Lukla.
Touch and go: Impossible!
Weather changes, fog suddenly emerging and dangerous crosswinds are
probably the smallest warping challenges to the pilot. The actual
landing but resembles that of a landing on an aircraft carrier!
Our chief photographer, Guido E. Buehlmann visited Lukla in
November 2011 for his third time (1998, 2007) and the bad weather had
some surprises for him too!
Here is his breathtaking report for WINGS AVIATION.
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AET, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AFA, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AFA, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AFA, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AFA, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AEV, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AEV, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AEV, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AET, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-AET & N9-AEV, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Am Fusse des Mount Everest
Lukla lies
at 2'866 meters above sea level and is regarded as the most important
origin and destination of many Himalayan expeditions. The season,
normally, will end by late November every year. Lukla was formerly made
with some sheepfolds, and as Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa Tensing
on 29th May 1953 for the first time the climb Mount Everest (8'847 m),
emerged in the following years, the first modest accommodation for
climbers who participated in Mount Everest expeditions.
In 1964,
at the request of Hillary, began the construction of a gravel track
which was initially only used by Pilatus Porter PC-6’s. Today there will
take-off and land, on this 500 m. runway which was paved in 2001,
aircrafts such as the De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, Dornier Do-228,
Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter, as well as helicopters of various types.
If someone has fear of flying and do not want to fly, he can reach the
nearest bus stop in six to seven days' march! Happy Hiking is a must!
After an
extended period of bad weather, which kept us 7 days to inactivity, the
weather appear to getting better, and finally, the flight-operations
could be resumed. During this time around 2’500 stranded climbers are
"jammed" in waiting on their departure (flight) to Kathmandu; like my
companion and me! On the first flight day there were more than 50
landings on the small Mountain-airstrip at Lukla.
Dornier Do-228 N9-AHS, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AHS, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AHS, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AHS, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AHS, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Pilatus PC-6 “Turbo Porter”N9-AUI, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Pilatus PC-6 “Turbo Porter”N9-AUI, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Pilatus PC-6 “Turbo Porter”N9-AUI, Tara Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIE, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIE, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIE, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIG, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIE, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIG, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIH, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIH, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AHA, Sita Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIG, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIG, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Dornier Do-228 N9-AIG, Agni Air (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
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If you want to take stunning pictures of take-offs and landings, coupled with a fantastic backdrop of the Himalayan mountain range, then you will find it in Lukla!
However, you should meet the following requirements: Good health, enough leisure time, open to any itinerary changes (weather) and probably most important: "No fear of flying!"
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Airlines that fly from Kathmandu to Lukla: |
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Airlines |
Aircraft |
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Royal Nepal Airlines |
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Tara Air (ex Yeti Airlines) |
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Sita Air |
Dornier Do-228 |
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Agni Air |
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Helicopter Services |
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Airlines |
Aircraft |
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Mountain Helicopter |
Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350 |
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Air Dynasty Heli Services |
Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350 |
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Fishtail Air |
Bell Jet Ranger 206B, Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350 |
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Simrik |
Kawasaki B117 |
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The helicopters are used for various supply and passenger flights to the higher base camps at Mount Everest. Probably the most important missions of the helicopter crews, however, are rescuing climbers from the cliffs of the mountains, often their own abilities and physical performance overestimated, or have been simply amazed by bad weather. |
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Tara Air
Royal Nepal Airlines
Tara Air
Agni Air
Amazing view from the cockpit of a DHC-6 Twin Otter on final (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-ABO, Royal Nepal Airlines (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-ABO, Royal Nepal Airlines (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N9-ABO, Royal Nepal Airlines (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350, N9-AJE, Mountain Helicopters (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350, N9-AJE, Mountain Helicopters (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Kawasaki BK117, N9-AEL, Simrik (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350, N9-AJJ, Mountain Helicopters (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350, N9-AFQ, Dynasty Heli Services, (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Bell Jet Ranger 206B N9-AIIFishtail Air, (Picture courtesy Guido Buehlmann)
Unfälle
14. May
2012
After take-off on the
Jomsom Airport (Nepal) to Pokhara, the pilot of AGNI Air reported
technical problems with its Dornier Do-228 (9N-AIG) and asked to the
return to Jomsom Airport. Shortly before landing, his plane crashed on a
small hill near the airport, this according to statements from the
authorities.
Of the 21 passengers/crew, 15 persons lost their lives.
7. November
2010
In the early morning
of 07th November 2010, two crew members of the Fishtail Air company flew
in there Aerospatiale Ecureuil AS350B3 (9N-AIX) on a rescue mission to
Mount Ama Dablam at 6'812 meters.
There were waiting a Japanese and a German climber to be rescue of their
threatening situation.
During the very delicate and demanding rescue maneuvers the rotor
blades hit a nearby wall of ice and snow. The helicopter came into an
unstable flight position and crashed several hundred meters in depth.
Late Captain. Sabin Basnyat and late Sr. Tech. Purna Awale lost their
lives.
24.
August 2010
On a flight from
Kathmandu to Lukla, the pilot of AGNI Air company reported a technical
problem with the on board generator of his Dornier Do 228 (9N-AHE).
Especially since the weather got worse and even be flown by the failure
of the generator, the crew decided to turn back to Kathmandu.
Only 18 miles southwest of the airport of Kathmandu, the aircraft
crashed in a small valley.
Three crew members and eleven passengers lost their lives.