Most challenging Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla
By Viping Maverick
Aviation is the art and science of flying heavier-than-air aircraft. 120 years ago today, no one could have imagined flying higher than birds. The first powered flight in history lasted just 12 seconds, traveled 120 feet. Even the modern-day Boeing 747 wing span is 224 feet. From events like that to flying across oceans in a single refuel, landing in Antarctica and recently landing an aircraft in the helipad of Burj Al Arab, world aviation is improving exponentially. Pilots, engineers, mechanics, airport staff and everyone involved making aviation beautiful.
But aviation in Nepal still runs questionably. Nepali aviation is considered dangerous both by Nepali and outsiders. But why is that the case? Is it due to Nepal being Terraneous? Are the pilots and engineers not as skilled as they need to be? Are the aircraft ill-maintained? Or maybe the planes that Nepali airlines operate are very old! Netizens arise many questions like these on their own platform. The pilots and engineers in Nepal are up to date with the global standard. Many Nepali pilots are flying in different airlines all around the globe. CAAN keep a record of all aircraft registered in Nepal about their maintenance and flying history, which later they have to present everything in an ICAO audit to keep their global image at its best. Aircraft have their age and they became old as well but they don’t get knackered, as they are maintained and serviced, periodically.
Navigating flights through the high mountain peaks of the Himalayas, where Nepal is nestled, can be challenging, even for more experienced pilots. Many Nepali isolated communities have limited access to basic social services, including health and education. Aviation in Nepal was never a luxury. While a functioning road network is in place, land travel can also be risky, as landslides on narrow and winding mountain roads are frequent. The country has no seaports, trains, inland rivers or waterways transport. Varying weather conditions like snow, monsoon rains, strong winds and higher density altitudes, bring additional flight risks to domestic passengers alike. Delays or cancellations due to inclement weather are frequent in remote airports. Civil Aviation Nepal is establishing a more conducive policy environment, a more efficient institutional setup, as well as upgraded airport infrastructure and technology to improve air transport operation and maintenance.
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