On the contrary, in case of good weather, the flight to Lukla is thrilling and enthralling. The inconsistent weather and the falling fog on the short runway increases the chances of crashing. Abrupt closure of the airport is quite common due to the loss of visibility under the Visibility Flight Rules (VFR). The pilots perform take-off and landing visually as there is no navigation equipment. There have been several mishaps at Lukla airport in the past, owing to the short runway, fluctuating weather, and uneven topography. Evidently, Kathmandu to Lukla flights take off early in the mornings, only when the sky is clear. Handling of an airplane in airport at high altitude like Luka pose threats owing to the low air pressure. Clouds can build up very quickly thereby making the visibility very low. The weather here can deteriorate in matter of minutes. Moreover, there’s no advanced equipment such as radar systems and air navigation at Lukla airport. Flight cancelations are frequent incidences, usually during bad weather settings. What seems challenging about Lukla airport is the unpredictable weather conditions. Trekking route to Everest base camp starts from Lukla. The asphalt runway is only 527m (1,729ft.) long and 20m (65ft.) wide with 12 degrees slope from north to south. The strip sits on a mountainside at an altitude of 2,800m (9,186ft.). These facts make it unique from the rest of the world’s airports. Meanwhile, Nepal’s infamous airport at Lukla has many interesting facts and history. And the reason is its location and short runway. The entire adventure travelers know this fact. Luka airport is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. There is no doubt that this is a very small, yet a busy airport. The airport actually came into operation in September 1971 only. To honor Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Sherpa, the airport got its name. And the reason is very obvious to all of us. Lukla airport got the name of Tenzing Hillary Airport in the year 2008.
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