Everest Base Camp - An interesting airport

[JessicaTam]

So what was the lounge like?...

I expect the entry requirements are pretty steep.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Vi O'Walker]

I can't imagine landing on un-paved landing strip in Lukla. It is usual practice in South Pacific islands, but there are no such high mountains there.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I can't imagine landing on un-paved landing strip in Lukla. It is usual practice in South Pacific islands, but there are no such high mountains there.

Yes on the last point. Flights are often cancelled or delayed when it is cloudy. As our guide said at the time, if it is cloudy they don't flight as the clouds have rocks in them!!!!

 

[futaris]

Everest flight crashes in Kathmandu, killing all on board

 

[Foreigner]

Very sad. Apparent bird strike after take off.

 

[acoolbreeze]

I'm flying to Lukla next week...kinda of excited and apprehensive at the same time lol.

 

[Major]

Not good...more detail here

Crash: Sita D228 at Kathmandu on Sep 28th 2012, bird strike

 

[markis10]

Not good...more detail here

Crash: Sita D228 at Kathmandu on Sep 28th 2012, bird strike

The 228 was a former NSCA bird - VH_NSH VH-NSH(2) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[docjames]

Wow, that's just terrible. RIP.