Lukla Airport

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Lukla Airport

IATA: LUA - ICAO: VNLK
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		N/A
Serves		Lukla
Elevation AMSL		9,380 ft (2,860 m)
Coordinates		27°41′13″N, 86°43′47″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
06/24	1,500	475	Asphalt

Lukla Airport (IATA: LUA, ICAO: VNLK) is a small airport in the Town of Lukla in eastern Nepal.

The airport is quite popular as Lukla is the place where most people start their trek to climb Mount Everest.

There are frequent daily flights (i.e. no night service) between Lukla and Kathmandu, weather permitting. Although the flying distance is short, it can easily be raining in Lukla and while the sun is shining brightly in Kathmandu, or vice versa. The airport's siren blasts the mountain air to inform personnel of incoming aircraft. The paved tarmac is only accessible to helicopters and small fixed wing short takeoff and land (STOL) aircraft such as Twin Otters. There is about a 700-metre (2,000 ft.) angled drop at the end of the runway to the valley far below. The airport is contained within a chain linked fence and patrolled by the Nepalese army or police around the clock.

When leaving on an outgoing flight, arrive well ahead of the listed departure time — at least two hours. The airlines can usually find others eager to fill seats of late arrivers. Before entering the pre-boarding area, checked luggage will be inspected by hand. The next line is for checking carry-on baggage and a brief body pat-down search. All lighters, matches and loose batteries will be confiscated during this baggage check. If carrying a headlamp, keep the battery inside and pack any spares in checked luggage.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew sometimes is kept in effect:

Keep headlamps pointed at the ground while outside tents or lodges. The army/police are very wary of moving lights.
Do not leave the campsite or you will likely be challenged by the army or police.

1 Airlines and Destinations
2 Incidents and accidents
3 Miscellanea
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Airlines and Destinations

Royal Nepal Airlines (Kathmandu)
Yeti Airlines (Kathmandu)

[edit] Incidents and accidents

15 October 1973 - Royal Nepal Airlines De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 (9N-ABG) was damaged beyond repair at Lukla Airport. The three crew and three passengers were unhurt. ^[1]
9 June 1991 - Royal Nepal Airlines De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 (9N-ABA), after a flight from Kathmandu, crashed on landing at Lukla Airport following an unstabilized approach in bad weather. All three crew and 14 passengers were killed. ^[2]
25 May 2004 - A Yeti Airlines De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 (9N-AFD), on a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, crashed in heavy cloud into Lamjura hill while on approach to Lukla Airport. The Nepalese accident investigation committee concluded that the captain provided inaccurate information to the Area Control Centre on his position. All three crew members were killed. There were no passengers on board. ^[3]
1 October 2004 - Sita Air Dornier 228 suffered a nose gear collapse on landing and slid, coming to rest blocking the single runway at Lukla Airport. As a result the airport was closed for two days. ^[4]
30 June 2005 - A Dornier Do 228 aircraft of Gorkha Airlines was attempting to land at Lukla Airport when it skidded off the runway. There were only minor injuries to the nine passengers and three crew members. The aircraft was reportedly withdrawn from use and written off after the accident. ^[5] ^[6]

[edit] Miscellanea

Although admittedly high by most standards, Lukla Airport's 9,380 ft (2,860 m) altitude is significantly below the world's highest. El Alto International Airport in Bolivia is 13,325 ft (4,061 m) high, and Chamdo Bangda Airport in Tibet is a "breathtaking" 14,219 ft (4,334 m) above sea level.