LUA, Lukla Airport, Nepal

LUA, Lukla Airport, Nepal

Lukla Airport or Tenzing – Hillary Airport, is the closest Airport to Everest and Everest Base Camp. Lukla Airport is located in the town of Lukla, in Khumbu Pasanglhamu, Solukhumbu District, Province No. 1 of Nepal.

IATA:                      LUA

ICAO:                      VNLK

Owner:                   Government of Nepal

Operator:               Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal

Serves:                   Lukla, Nepal

Hub:                       Air Dynasty

Time Zone:             NST (UTC+05:45)

Elevation AMSL:      9,337 ft / 2,846 m

Coordinates            27°41′16″N 086°43′53″E

The airport is popular because it is considered the starting point for treks towards Mount Everest Base Camp. There are daily flights between Lukla and Kathmandu during daylight hours in good weather. Although the flying distance is short, rain commonly occurs in Lukla while the sun is shining brightly in Kathmandu.

High winds, cloud cover, and changing visibility often mean flights can be delayed or the airport closed. The airport is contained within a chain-link fence and for security is patrolled by the Nepali armed police or civil police around the clock. Lukla Airport 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. They must have completed at least 100 short-takeoff-and-landing flights (STOL) and have one year of STOL experience in Nepal and have completed ten missions into Lukla with a certified instructor pilot before they can land at the airport. Sadly, however, there have been 10 crashes.

The airport was built in 1964 under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary, who originally intended to build the airport on flat farmlands. However, local farmers did not want to give up their land, so the airport was built at its current position. Hillary bought the land from local Sherpas for US$2,650 and involved them in building the facilities. 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. The runway was not paved until 2001.

In January 2008, the airport was renamed in honor 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. The people of Lukla and the area, Sherpa peoples, were directly involved in constructing the airport. 

With short runway with its length of 527m, difficulty in the landing of the planes and even take-offs occur.The trek from Lukla (9,200 feet) to Mount Everest Base Camp (17,500 feet) is approximately 38.5 miles (62 kilometers) one-way.

Facilities:

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. The airport's elevation is 9,334 ft (2,845 m). 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 north-east, changing to a south-west 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 south-west winds that create crosswind and/or tailwinds. Consequently, flights are usually scheduled for the early morning. Sudden loss of visibility preventing planes from landing under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) will result in the immediate closure of the airport with no warning. Although the airport is available throughout the year, visibility problems close the airport 50% of the time during the monsoon season with a 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 for this airport.

Tenzing–Hillary Airport is frequently referred to as the most dangerous airport in the world. 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 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…

Wifi: Wifi Service has been faciliated by Nepal Telecom (NTC) for free through SSID NT Wifi in the Airport Terminal Building and also via NT ADSL for low price throughout Lukla.

Mobile Network: All the Mobile Network Services including 2G/3G/4G have been provided by NTC and Ncell in Lukla.

Bank / ATM / Money Exchange Services: In Lukla, Banks such as Rastriya Banijaya Bank, Siddharth Bank, Kumari Bank,etc have been providing Banking, ATM as well as Money Exchange Facilities.

Namche Bazaar: Namche Bazaar is a town in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu District of Province No. 1 of north-eastern Nepal. It is located within the Khumbu area at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) at its low point, populating the sides of a hill. Most Sherpa who are in the tourism business are from the Namche area. Namche is the main trading center and hub for the Khumbu region with many Nepalese officials, a police check, post, a bank, and even a beauty salon.

Everest View: 

Situated within the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park in Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel offers a 360 degree view of the awe inspiring peaks. With a view of Mt. Everest from every room, visitors can immerse in this mesmerizing scene in luxury.

Opened in 1971, Hotel Everest View has been listed on the Guinness Book of World Records (2004) as the Highest Placed Hotel in the world at 13000ft. Featured in numerous guide books and having received media coverage, the resort has become a destination in its own right.

Hotel Everest View epitomizes the adventurous spirit of the Himalayas. It is a perfect place from which to explore the nearby villages and enjoy the beautiful landscape filled with evergreen fir trees, shrubs and rhododendron forests. Our dedicated staff will provide you with excellent service and delicious cuisine to make your stay an unforgettable experience.

Gokyo Ri:

Gokyo Ri is a 5,357 m (17,575 ft)-high peak in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas. It is located on the west side of the Ngozumpa glacier, which is the largest glacier in Nepal and reputed to be the largest in the whole Himalayas. Gokyo (4,750 m, 15,583 ft above sea level), at the base of Gokyo Ri, is a small hamlet of a few stone houses and one of the highest settlements in the world. From the summit of Gokyo Ri it is possible to see four 8,000-metre peaks: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. The Gokyo Lakes are in the area. The Gokyo trek is a fairly popular trekking route. The route itself ends at Gokyo Ri, and trekkers typically turn around at this point and retrace their steps back to the trailhead. There is an alternative mountaineering route that begins near the southern tip of Ngozumpa Glacier and just south of Taujun Lake. This alternative route leads east over the Cho La, a pass at 5,420 m (17,782 ft), where it meets with the main Everest Base Camp trek. It is usually visited during the circuit trek of Everest Base Camp with 3 Passes trek. It is slightly off route while visiting Everest base camps (Nepal side) but thousands of backpackers still visit it for the Gokyo Lakes beauty. There is another higher summit just north of where the main Gokyo trek route ends. It stands at an altitude of 5,483 m (17,989 ft) above sea level.

SHERPAS

Origination: The word “Sherpa” literally means “people from the east.” They are believed to be from the Everest Region or even further east into Tibet and Mongolia. Tengboche (a popular stop along the Everest Base Camp Trek) is actually the oldest Sherpa village in Nepal.

Language: Sherpa’s traditionally speak Sherpa, although today most speak Nepali and English as well. Sherpa is actually a mix of Tibetan dialects; however most Tibetans would not be able to understand it.

Religion: Sherpa people are Buddhist. Specifically, they follow Tibetan Buddhism. If you find yourself in the Everest Region, you can visit beautiful monasteries, admire the mani walls, and listen to the sounds of Om Padme Mani Hum playing.

Known for: It’s no surprise that Sherpas are famous for their mountaineering skills. When westerners began to explore the Himalayas, they would ask locals to help them navigate the treacherous landscape. The Sherpa people lived in the Himalayas and could navigate the mountains easily. Because they live at a high altitude, they are also acclimated to the lack of oxygen. Because of their unique skill set and the monetary promises, they became famous as mountain guides. Most people will recognize the name Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who became famous as the first man to summit Everest besides Sir Edmund Hillary. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first female Sherpa to summit Everest which is the highest mountain in the world.

Cuisine: 

Thukpa, also known as Sherpa stew, is a thick noodle soup that has either meat or egg and vegetables. The “noodles” remind me more of savory dumplings. It’s often a little spicy and very hearty. It’s considered a winter delicacy in the Himalayas.

Alu Ko Roti, also known as a potato pancake, is another popular Sherpa food. The pancake is made from potato, eggs, and flour. It’s often served to welcome guests. Usually, it’s served with a green onion sauce and some spicy chili.

Thenthuk is often called pulled noodle soup. It’s similar to Thukpa however the noodles are different. Thunthuk can best be compared to chicken noodle soup in America, however you can order it with different meats, and it has more vegetables. It’s also usually a bit on the spicy side.

Su Chiya also known as butter tea is one of the famous hot drink. It is prepared by cooking milk, tea leaves, salt and butter together.

 

Source: caanepal, google wikipedia