Everest Base Camp - An interesting airport

[markis10]

One of the more unusual airports in the world.

Choosing between trekking the Annapurna circuit and Everest Base Camp, I'd chosen Annapurna following a Lukla Airport conversation with my international pilot sibling. It involved words including "suicide", "firebomb" and ended with, "wear natural, non-flammable clothing. Like hemp." The advice came from a place of love and I dutifully headed for western Nepal.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/travel/activity/active/up-up-and-afraid-20120907-25i7n.html#ixzz2680nzeeC

 

[UP4014]

The building at the end of the runway would be a planespotters dream. In PNG it would have a big tree there.

Matt

 

[SDMACK]

I stayed/was trapped at the building at the end of the runway, the Shangri-La Lodge! I did the Everest Base Camp trek last October and had no issues flying into Lukla, was amazing scenery from KTM-LUA... on our return into Lukla however the weather had turned and we were stuck for 4 days, fogged in with no flights in or out (Sorry BAM1748, no plane spotting there!).
In the end we had to trek downhill for a further couple of hours before a relief helicopter flight got us to a local strip low enough to get a Yeti Air back to KTM. Unforgettable trip!

 

[Mattg]

I stayed/was trapped at the building at the end of the runway, the Shangri-La Lodge! I did the Everest Base Camp trek last October and had no issues flying into Lukla, was amazing scenery from KTM-LUA... on our return into Lukla however the weather had turned and we were stuck for 4 days, fogged in with no flights in or out (Sorry BAM1748, no plane spotting there!).
In the end we had to trek downhill for a further couple of hours before a relief helicopter flight got us to a local strip low enough to get a Yeti Air back to KTM. Unforgettable trip!

Sounds like an amazing adventure! I might need to put that on my bucket list

 

[Vi O'Walker]

At least it is paved now.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

At least it is paved now.

Pretty sure when I flew out on it a quarter of a century ago it was wasn't. It was quite uneven and bumpy.

Was quite memorable as the field is on quite a steep slope!!!

Back then you boarded your STOL plane...they revved the **** out of the engines with chocked wheels, and then you were off wth a slinghsot effect when they removed them and let go the brakes!!!

The planes did not so much take off and climb, but rather with the grade became airborne and then just kept going over the end of the airfield which was a cliff and then you were off above the valley floor well below!!!!!!!!!

I would have been nervous, but watching flights the day prior the planes all took an amazingly short length to become airborne. Certainly I was nervous whenIi first looked at the field, with it's slope, un-eveness, and two crashed planes at one end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SDMACK]

I think they paved it about a decade ago? Certainly was one thing I was thankful for!
Was a little disappointed I didn't get the experience of flying out of Lukla, even though the nerves were more shaky about leaving than arriving. However the grass strip we ended up at for our exit flight was memorable enough! Just glad it wasn't our metal that had to be push started!

 

[UP4014]

Some airports I just don't need to visit I've decided.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yet even there, the Sherpas complain about fluro vests..

 

[markis10]

Yet even there, the Sherpas complain about fluro vests..

They do make very good Buddist prayer flags though, especially for the victory over obstacles one:

 

[wandering_fred]

I'll just say that I'm glad I decided to visit Everest Base Camp on the Tibet side. Transportation to the camp is 4wd...
Absolutely no runway issues. Alas permits and visas would now be much more difficult (and expensive).

PS. Advance base camp was(is?) apparently possible with an additional 10-12 days hiking up to 21000'

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Mollycram]

I've flown both in and out of Lukla airport and it is definitely one where you have your fingers crossed for both take off and landing! But the flight to get to Lukla is incredible....you are in a seemingly tiny aircraft flying through an incredibly large and beautiful mountain range. A fantastic experience....

 

[Foreigner]

I'll just say that I'm glad I decided to visit Everest Base Camp on the Tibet side. Transportation to the camp is 4wd...
Absolutely no runway issues. Alas permits and visas would now be much more difficult (and expensive).

PS. Advance base camp was(is?) apparently possible with an additional 10-12 days hiking up to 21000'

Happy wandering

Fred

I'd love to do ABC.

Several decent clips on YouTube about Lukla takeoffs and landings.

 

[alieninperth]

Is this the same airport from the Bond film?

Tomorrow Never Dies rescore - White Knight - YouTube

 

[markis10]

Is this the same airport from the Bond film?

Tomorrow Never Dies rescore - White Knight - YouTube

No, that was filmed at a french airport

Peyresourde Balestas Airport @ OurAirports

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stxLrpAUlRw
[/URL]

 

[alieninperth]

OK, thanks markis10

 

[Foreigner]

Timely thread started by markis10. This link from today's SMH:

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/active/up-up-and-afraid-20120907-25i7n.html

 

[simongr]

In the clip I am not sure that the reassurance that there have been only three fatal crashes is that reassuring.

Something I would love to do though.

 

[markis10]

Timely thread started by markis10. This link from today's SMH:

World's scariest airport | Lukla Airport, Nepal |Up, up and afraid

Nah, its just fairfax treating its Sydney customers to an article they featured in Melbourne the previous week!

 

[scaredeycat]

So what was the lounge like?...