If you are familiar with trekking in Khumbu region including famous treks like Everest Base Camp Trek, then you must have heard about Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla also known as Lukla Airport. This domestic airport in Lukla serves as the starting point of various treks in the Khumbu region and marks it as an essential hub for tourism in the Himalayas.
About Lukla Tenzing Hillary Airport
Tenzing-Hillary Airport is a small yet busy airport and altiport which has an asphalt runway of 527 meters (1,729 feet) and just 30 meters (98 feet) width. It is a government-owned airport operated by CAAN ( Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal) with an elevation of 2,845 meters (9,337 feet). The ideal time of flight is between 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.This airport is patrolled by the Armed Police Force Nepal and Nepal Army to maintain safety and security around the area for smooth operations. The flights are operated under Aerodrome Flight information service.
Due to the strange location and the built of the airport, Lukla Airport has gained worldwide fame as the most thrilling airport in the world. A program called Most Extreme Airports rated Lukla Airport The most dangerous airport in the world for more than 20 years in 2010. Despite this fact, Tenzing-Hillary Airport operates more than 50 flights, take offs and landings every single day during peak trekking seasons. But keep in mind, the flight cancellations here are frequent occurrences given the unpredictable weather in the area.
The size of the runway and the airport's infrastructure limits the number of flights it can operate at a time and standard of facilities it can provide. Therefore the airport is only capable of providing basic facilities including a small terminal, a few shops and cafes.
Usually, flights to Lukla take off from Kathmandu airport but to reduce traffic congestion in peak trekking seasons, flights are diverted to Ramechhap Airport. Otherwise you can directly get a flight to look left from Kathmandu. The flight typically takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Tenzing Hillary Airport has made things easier for both the visitors and the locals of Everest region.
Let's get into more details…….
The history of Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport
According to the history of mountaineering in Nepal, early mountaineers had to take a longer journey to reach Everest from Kathmandu because the only medium to reach there was the land route. It used to take multiple weeks to supply goods into the Khumbu region with this same long route. The lack of efficient supply of goods made life on the Himalayas challenging and a struggle for the locals. So they kept on surviving by putting their life on edge with little to no facilities.
Not until the First ever successful summit of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and his companion / guide Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953. Hillary was truly touched by the life of Sherpas and yet how hospitable they are. So he decided that it was his responsibility to pay back to the people who played a significant role in his successful quest.
Hillary provided them with basic facilities like school and hospital but he was aware that it is not going to be enough in order to make the daily lives of local people in the Khunbu region easier. After the long journey that he had to make from the Terai area to the capital of the country and experiencing the hardships of the locals he was determined to change their lives for the better. He came up with an idea to build an airport that would make everything he imagined possible.
In 1964, under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary to facilitate transportation for his Himalayan trust, the airport was finally built, which now we call Lukla Airport. Later in 2008, the airport was renamed as Tenzing-Hillary Airport in honor of both Tenzing and Hillary to mark their contribution in the airport and conquering the summit of Mount Everest after their death. Hillary died in the same year i.e. 2008 almost two decades after the death of Tenzing Norgay. Hillary couldn't have imagined that one day his efforts would be so significant to thousands of trekkers and mountaineers.
Initially, Hillary wanted to build the airport on flat farmland but since the amount of land was limited the farmers did not want to give up their land for something as unheard and unseen as an airport. So finally, he decided to construct on high narrow land between the mountains and successfully paved in 2001.
Geography of Tenzing-Hillary Airport
The location of Tenzing Hillary Airport is Lukla in Khumbu region, Solukhumbu District, Province No.1, in Nepal. It is situated at an altitude of 2,860 meters (9,383 feet) high above sea level. The coordinates are approximately 27.6868° N and 86.7294° E. The distance is roughly 138 kilometers/86 miles away from the Northeast of Kathmandu.
The geography of the Lukla region is marked by steep slopes and dense forests of rhododendrons and pines. This town is located at the border of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site widely known for its diverse wildlife including elusive Snow Leopard and Himalayan Tahr.
Why are there more accidents at Lukla Airport in Nepal?
Lukla airport is known for its challenging weather conditions which significantly impact flying operations. Unpredictable and often rapidly changing weather conditions including fog, strong winds, and cloud cover is a common occurrence making flights in and out of the airport highly risky.
To minimize the casualties from these risks, flights are usually planned for early morning when the conditions are more stable. Since the airport lacks advanced navigation systems such as radar, The pilots must depend entirely on visual flight rules (VFR) for take off and landing. So when the visibility deteriorates, flight operations are closed without any announcements. If you were wondering why flight cancellations are a common occurrence in Lukla airport, well this is the reason!
On top of that, the high altitude of the airport increases the layer of difficulty as low air pressure complicates handling of aircraft. Flight cancellations are more often during monsoon seasons due to the poor visibility and unpredictable weather conditions it brings in Lukla.
These are the prime factors that make Lukla airport prone to accidents.
Some common causes of accidents at Lukla Airport
Weather Dependency:
The unpredictable weather significantly impacts visibility and aircraft handling which can become unstable and hazardous resulting in accidents. So following the safety protocol in check flights can sometimes be delayed for more than 2 days.
Challenging runway / Capacity Issues:
Since the airport is situated at a challenging location the absence of a proper runway is clear. The short and slope runway along with high terrain on one end and a steep drop on the other, where small mistakes can lead to accidents.
Highly skilled pilots are the ones making this airport function safely and professionally for all these years.
Human errors:
In addition to above, since pilots play a significant role in the effective operation of these flights with little room for error, safety and security can never be 100% sure on flights.
Pilots heavily rely on visual flight rules without any assistance of advanced navigation systems which invites more errors. The chances of a successful and safe flight highly depends upon the pilot’s skill and situational awareness while handling the aircraft.
Some of the significant accidents in Lukla Airport with heavy casualties:
Yeti airlines crash (October 8th, 2008):
A Twin Otter of Yeti airlines crashed when making the attempt to land in poor visibility. Upon the impact of the crash the aircraft caught fire resulting in the deaths of 18 of the 19 people on board. The pilot was the only survivor of the crash.
Summit air crash (May 27th, 2017):
An L-410 Turbolet of Summit Air (former Goma Air) crashed when making an attempt to land in foggy weather conditions with deteriorated visibility. During the attempt, the aircraft struck trees, killing both pilots and injuring one passenger.
Summit Air accident (April 14th, 2019):
An aircraft from Summit Air veered off the runway during a take off and collided with two helicopters parked nearby the area. The casualties resulted in the death of 3 people including the co-pilot and two security personnel working on the ground.
What airlines operate flights to Lukla?
- Summit Air
- Tara Air
- Sita Air
- Simrik Air
- Nepal Air
Why is Lukla Airport famous?
Here are some of the reasons why Lukla Airport a.k.a Tenzing Hillary Airport is famous:
“World's most dangerous airport”
In 2010, Lukla was featured on the history channel’s “Most Extreme Airports” and they ranked it as the world's most dangerous airport for over 20 years.
“A Gateway to Everest Base Camp”
Tenzing Hillary Airport serves as the initial point for Everest Base Camp trek. Every year, thousands of triggers and climbers pass through Lukla en route to reach Everest Base camp.
“And unforgettable experience”
Adventurers from all over the world have described their flight into Lukla as one of the most adrenaline-rushing highlights of treks like Gokyo Lake Treks and EBC Treks.
Unique picturesque Mountain view
The close proximity to the mountains, narrow approach path with a steep incline and its very short runway is what makes the Lukla airport look unique and famous.
What are the safety standards for Lukla airport?
Given the situation of Tenzing Hillary Airport, the efforts to minimize those risks are continuously made by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and has set certain conditions, standards and rules to be followed strictly in order to make the successful take off and landings.
Flights are only able to operate during early mornings when the skies are bright and clear and close from mid to late mornings when the strong south-west winds create crosswinds or tailwinds, to avoid any risks or damage.
According to CAAN, pilots who have completed at least 100 short takeoffs and landing (STOL) missions, over 1 year of STOL experience in Nepal and have successfully completed 10 flights into Lukla with a professional instructor pilot are eligible to land at the airport.
Technically, The asphalt runway has a gradient of 11.7% with a 12% incline so planes slow down when landing and gain speed quickly during take off easily. The infrastructure of the airport is designed to accommodate flights even in a given challenging surrounding as the runway starts at a lower elevation and ends at a higher one which aids the unique and challenging nature of the airport.
Is it safe to fly to Lukla?
After reading all the facts and challenges it is no surprise that you wonder “Is it really okay to fly to Lukla?” and the answer is Yes! Considering all the risky factors and challenges at Lukla Airport along with past records of accidents, there have been significant efforts made to minimize and manage these risks.
In today's context, it is not as dangerous as you might be expecting as many airlines like Tara airlines, Sita Air, and Summit Air operate flights to Lukla and almost all of them are considered safe. Over the years, CAAN has made significant changes that have led to increase the quality of security and safety of flights in Lukla.
The changing weather still remains an intimidating challenge here other than that flying there isn't considered dangerous anymore. Considering this only helicopters and small propeller planes can operate from Lukla.
Despite the challenges and thrill, places like Lukla offer a real adventure and give us an amazing experience of a lifetime.
How do you get to Lukla without flying?
If you want to get to Lukla without flying, the alternative way would be from Jiri to everest base camp trek, Phaplu or Salleri. However, this might consume a lot of your time and energy but if you want to avoid flying at all cost and not take risks flying in unpredictable weather then you should definitely consider setting aside an extra 1 week.
Is it flying that you are really afraid of or the regular flights that operate into Lukla?
If you're just trying to avoid taking commercial or regular flights then you have an option to take helicopter for EBC trek services. There are several private helicopter operators who offer services between Kathmandu and Lukla especially during peak seasons or flight cancellations.
However it is a more expensive alternative but the flexibility and reliability that comes with it is definitely worth it in the given adverse conditions.
Want to know more about Lukla Airport? Here are some more facts:
- Before the construction of Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, the only way to Lukla from Kathmandu was by road to Jiri and then hike Lukla in about 5 days
- The airport was constructed in 1964 however the operations did not start until 1971. The black-top paving on the remarkable runway began only in 2001.
- Considering the altitude and geographical location even besides its short runway makes Lukla Airport one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
- When the local farmers did not give up their flat farmlands to Hillary to build Lukla Airport, he decided to buy the land from local Sherpas for $2,650 and this is where the Tenzing Hillary Airport exactly is now.
- The weather at Lukla is so unpredictable that sometimes boarded travelers need to get off from the plane even if it's before the last minute of taking off.
- The creation of Lukla airport is credited to Sir Edmund Hillary and not the Nepalese government even though it is handled by the Nepalese government now.
- Lukla Airport lacks a modern air navigation system or radar and instead pilots depend on radio communication to guide their landings and takeoffs.
Final Thoughts,
Despite the challenges and life threatening risks at the location along with the history of unfortunate events, Tenzing HIllary Airport remains one of the most beautiful and exciting airports in the world. If you're headed for Everest Base camp trek or Gokyo Ri Trek you will definitely be faced by Lukla Airport as your main entry point.
Travelers are bound to take Lukla flights unless they decide to take a different route with longer durations. The Lukla airport is so much more than just a gateway to the Everest region. People need to realize that it holds a great symbol of resilience, adventure, history and human determination.
The ongoing efforts to maintain its safety and operational standards made it a crucial lifeline for locals and trekkers alike. The Himalayan region was able to develop to today's condition only because of the Tenzing Hillary Airport- It is the backbone of locals in the Khumbu region and mountaineering as well.
The geography and unpredictable weather of Lukla definitely lives up to the reputation Tenzing Hillary Airport has earned as the most dangerous airport in the world.
What do you think about Tenzing Hillary Airport?
Do you think it's worth flying?
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Safe Travels !
