Wikipedia

Tenzing-Hillary Airport

Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Nepali: तेन्जिङ हिलारी विमानस्थल, IATA: LUA, ICAO: VNLK), also known as Lukla Airport, is a domestic airport and altiport in the town of Lukla,[2] in Khumbu Pasanglhamu, Solukhumbu District, Koshi Province of Nepal. It gained worldwide fame as it was rated the most dangerous airport in the world for more than 20 years by a program titled Most Extreme Airports, broadcast on The History Channel in 2010.[3]

Tenzing-Hillary Airport

तेन्जिङ हिलारी विमानस्थल
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Nepal
OperatorCivil Aviation Authority of Nepal
ServesLukla, Nepal
Hub for
Time zoneNST (UTC+05:45)
Elevation AMSL9,337 ft / 2,846 m
Coordinates27°41′16″N 086°43′53″E / 27.68778°N 86.73139°E / 27.68778; 86.73139
WebsiteTENZING HILLARY (LUKLA) AIRPORT
Map
Tenzing–Hillary Airport is located in Nepal
Tenzing–Hillary Airport
Tenzing–Hillary Airport
Location of airport in Nepal
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 527 1,729 Asphalt
Source:[1][2]

The airport is popular because it is considered the starting point for treks towards Mount Everest Base Camp. There are daily flights between Ramechhap or Kathmandu and Lukla during daylight hours in good weather. Although the flying distances are short, rain often occurs in Lukla while the sun is shining in Ramechhap or Kathmandu. High winds, cloud cover, and changing visibility often mean flights can be delayed or the airport closed.[3] The airport is contained within a chain-link fence and is patrolled by the Armed Police Force Nepal, Nepal Civil Police or Nepali Army around the clock for security.[4][5]

History

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The airport was built in 1964 under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary, who originally intended to build it on flat farmland. However, local farmers did not want to give up their land, so the airport was built in its current position. Hillary bought the land from local Sherpas for US$2,650 and involved them in building the facilities.[6] It has been said that Hillary was unhappy with the runway's soil resistance, and that his solution was to buy local liquor for the Sherpas and ask them to perform a foot-stomping dance to flatten the land that served as the runway.[7] The runway was paved in 2001.[8]

In January 2008, the airport was renamed in honour of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first people confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest, and also to mark their efforts in the construction of this airport.[9]

Facilities

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Landing and taking off at Tenzing–Hillary Airport.
 
A plane landing in Tenzing-Hillary Airport prior to paving of the runway.

The airport's paved asphalt runway is accessible only to helicopters and small, fixed-wing, short-takeoff-and-landing aircraft such as the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Dornier 228, L-410 Turbolet and Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter. The runway is 527 m (1,729 ft) × 30 m (98 ft) with an 11.7% gradient.[1] The airport's elevation is 9,334 ft (2,845 m).[1] The airport is used for passenger flights and for transporting most of the building materials and cargo to Lukla and other towns and villages to the north of Lukla, as there is no road to this region.

In the early morning, the wind is usually from the northeast, changing to a southwest wind from mid to late morning due to the action of the sun on the mountains to the north of Lukla. The airport regularly closes from mid to late morning due to the strong southwest winds that create crosswinds or tailwinds. Consequently, flights are usually scheduled for the early morning. A sudden loss of visibility preventing planes from landing under visual flight rules (VFR) will result in the immediate closure of the airport.

Keeping turnaround times to a minimum, planes will attempt to make as many flights as possible from either Ramechhap or Kathmandu to Lukla before the airport is closed. When Ramechhap airport is in use, shorter flight times from Ramechhap than from Kathmandu will allow more flights.

Although the airport is nominally open throughout the year, visibility problems close the airport 50% of the time during the monsoon season, with the consequent cancellation of 50% of flights. Due to the terrain and the low possibility of a safe go-around for a missed approach, there are no go-around procedures.[10][11][12]

Tenzing–Hillary Airport has been referred to as the most dangerous airport in the world.[3] Arriving and departing aircraft must use a single runway (06 for landing and 24 for takeoff). There is a low prospect of a successful go-around on a short final approach due to the terrain. There is high terrain immediately beyond the northern end of the runway and a steeply angled drop at the southern end of the runway into the valley below.

Due to the difficulties of successfully landing at the airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal sets high standards, according to which only experienced pilots, who have completed at least 100 short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) missions, have over one year of STOL experience in Nepal, and have completed ten flights into Lukla with a certified instructor pilot, are allowed to land at the airport.[13][14]

In October 2018 plans to expand the terminal and runway were published.[15] The construction of five new helipads was planned to be completed by the end of July 2021.[16]

Airlines and destinations

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As of October 2024 fixed wing flights continue to fly directly from KTM; though less frequently than in the past.

 
Tara Air Dornier 228 at Tenzing–Hillary Airport
AirlinesDestinations
Sita Air Kathmandu,[17] Manthali[18]
Summit Air Kathmandu, Manthali[18][19]
Tara Air Kathmandu,[20] Manthali[18]
Charter: Phaplu

The helicopter operator Air Dynasty offers helicopter operations out of its hub at Lukla Airport.[21]

Statistics

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Passenger numbers

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Annual passenger traffic at LUA airport. See Wikidata query.
Passengers[22][23][24][25][26]
2003 70,959
2004   71,422
2005   53,943
2006   61,992
2007   80,733
2008   92,172
2009   88,881
2010   92,011
2011   93,292
2012   97,394
2013   85,179
2014   87,490
2015   81,174
2016   119,801
2017   146,879
2018   124,929
2019   129,508

Accidents and incidents

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Memorial for the Yeti Airlines Flight 103 crash on 8 October 2008
  • On 15 October 1973, a Royal Nepal Airlines DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 (registration 9N-ABG) was damaged beyond repair on landing. The three crew and three passengers were unhurt.[27]
  • On 9 June 1991, a Nepal Airlines DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 (registration 9N-ABA) from Kathmandu crashed at the airport while attempting to land following an unstabilized approach in bad weather. The three crew and fourteen passengers escaped with injuries.[28]
  • On 26 September 1992, a Royal Air Nepal Harbin Yunshuji Y-12-II (registered 9N-ACI) faltered during takeoff and was damaged beyond repair. All twelve passengers and two crew survived.[29]
  • On 25 May 2004, while on approach to the airport, a Yeti Airlines DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 (registration 9N-AFD) from Kathmandu crashed into Lamjura Hill in heavy clouds. No passengers were on board; all three crew members were killed. The Nepalese accident investigation committee concluded that the captain provided inaccurate information about his position to the Area Control Centre.[30]
  • On 1 October 2004, on landing at the airport, a Sita Air Dornier 228 suffered a collapse of its nose gear and slid along the runway, blocking it once it had come to rest. The airport was closed for two days.[31]
  • On 30 June 2005, a Gorkha Airlines Dornier 228 skidded off the runway while attempting to land. The nine passengers and three crew suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was reportedly withdrawn from service and written off after the accident.[32][33]
  • On 8 October 2008, Yeti Airlines Flight 103, a DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 (registration 9N-AFE) crashed on final approach and caught fire, killing eighteen passengers and crew. The aircraft's captain was the only survivor. Video of the incident showed inclement weather at the time of the incident.[34]
  • On 12 October 2010, a Sita Air Dornier 228 (registration 9N-AHB) lost braking control and struck the wall-end of the runway during landing. All passengers and crew escaped injury; the aircraft's nose was damaged.[35]
  • On 26 September 2013, an Air Dynasty helicopter (registration 9N-AEX) crashed when the rear rotor touched the barbed wire of the compound wall at the airport. All three passengers and the captain survived.[36]
  • On 27 May 2017, Summit Air Flight 409, performing a freight flight on a Let L-410 from Kathmandu to Lukla (Nepal) with three crew, was on final approach to Lukla's runway 06 at about 14:04L (08:19Z) with poor visibility when the aircraft lost altitude and touched a tree short of the runway before contacting ground about 3 metres/10 feet below the runway level. The aircraft slid down the slope before coming to a rest about 200 metres below the runway level. The captain was killed and the first officer, Shrijan Manandhar, died in hospital almost eight hours later. The third crew member received injuries and was evacuated to Kathmandu the following day after the weather had cleared.[37][38][39]
  • On 14 April 2019, at 9:10 am a Summit Air Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft, registration 9N-AMH, with no passengers on board veered right and departed the runway on take-off from Lukla Airport and struck a Manang Air Eurocopter AS 350B3e helicopter registration 9N-ALC on the helipad 30 to 50 metres from the runway, destroying both the plane and the helicopter. A second helicopter, Shree Airlines Eurocopter AS 350 registered 9N-ALK, sustained little or no damage. The three reported fatalities were the co-pilot of the plane, a police officer on airport security duty who died in the crash and a second police officer who was critically injured and airlifted to Kathmandu, where he died in hospital. Among the four reported injured include the pilot of the plane and a Manang Air helicopter pilot, who were injured and flown to a hospital in Kathmandu, where they were reported to be out of danger.[40][41][42][43]
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A panoramic photograph of Lukla Airport and its surroundings.
  •  
    Twin Otter approaching the airport
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    Twin Otter on the apron
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    Twin Otters on the airfield
  •  
    H125 Écureuil on the airfield
  •  
    Apron

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "National Airports Plan – Current Situation and Diagnostic" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b Airport information for Lukla, Nepal – Tenzing–Hillary Airport (VNLK / LUA) at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. ^ a b c "Most Extreme Airports". History Specials. Season 1. Episode 104. The History Channel. 26 August 2010.
  4. ^ Vivaan, Bhatt. "Sky's Edge Challenge: Lukla Airport - Where Adventure Takes Flight to Everest". Nepal Database. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Army to guard vital installations". THE KATHMANDU POST. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ^ Ibišbegović, Denis; Vesić, Zoran; Dikić, Nenad (2012). Inspirisani trenutkom: put za Everest bazni kamp. Belgrade: Nenad Dikić. pp. 49–50. ISBN 9788691549107. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Nepal quake tough test for 'world's most dangerous airport'". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  8. ^ Drescher, Cynthia (12 April 2016). "This Is the World's Most Dangerous Airport". CN Traveler. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Nepal to name Everest airport after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay". International Herald Tribune. 15 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  10. ^ "National Airports Plan – Current Situation and Diagnostic, Draft" (PDF). Civil Aviation Nepal. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, September 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  11. ^ Walters, Rikki (4 January 2019). "More than luck in Lukla". Nepali Times. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  12. ^ Dangol, Mukesh (22 July 2017). "No go-around". The Katmandu Post. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Flight Operations Requirements Aeroplane (Appendix 9)" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  14. ^ Hradecky, Simon. "Incident: Nepal Airlines DHC6 at Solukhumbu on Apr 19th 2010, hard landing". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  15. ^ Shrestha, Biju (28 October 2018). "New Helipad to be constructed at Lukla airport". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Lukla Airport: New helipad to inaugurate by the end of July". Aviation Nepal. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Flight Schedule". Sita Air. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  18. ^ a b c "Regular flight started from Ramechhap to Lukla". República. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Flight Schedule". Summit Air. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Flight Schedule". Tara Air. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Air dynasty operating service from three bases around the country". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Civil Aviation Report 2009-2010" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Civil Aviation Report 2011–2012" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Civil Aviation Report 2017" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Civil Aviation Report Annual 2018" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  26. ^ "CAAN Report 2019–2020" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  27. ^ Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 November 2006.
  28. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 9N-ABA Lukla Airport (LUA)". Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  29. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Harbin Yunshuji Y-12-II 9N-ACI Lukla Airport (LUA)". Aviation-safety.net. 26 September 1992. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  30. ^ Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 November 2006.
  31. ^ "Lukla airport still closed". Nepali Times. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Only minor injuries in Gorkha Airlines, Nepal crash". Airline Industry Information. 30 June 2005. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  33. ^ Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 November 2006.
  34. ^ "Tourists die in Nepal air crash". BBC. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  35. ^ Air Crash Observer "Air Crash Observer: News". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.. Retrieved 15 December 2010
  36. ^ "Chopper crashes in Lukla, minor injuries". Nepalnews.com. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  37. ^ Hradecky, Simon (27 May 2017). "Accident: Summit L410 at Lukla on May 27th 2017, contacted trees and impacted ground before runway". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  38. ^ Pokhrel, Rajan (28 May 2017). "Lukla air crash toll reaches 2 as co-pilot dies for want of treatment". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  39. ^ Kelly, Michael (29 May 2017). "Kiwi 'heroes' in dramatic Mt Everest rescue after cargo plane slams into mountain". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  40. ^ Pokhrel, Rajan (14 April 2019). "Three killed, four injured in Lukla crash". The Himalayan Times. No. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  41. ^ Prasain, Sangam (14 April 2019). "At least three killed in Summit Air plane crash at Lukla airport". The Kathmandu Post. No. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  42. ^ "Lukla plane–chopper collision kills 3". Nepali Times. No. 14 April 2019. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  43. ^ "Developing story". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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  Media related to Lukla Airport at Wikimedia Commons

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