Yet again, an aircraft crashed on the runway of Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, killing 19 people including the aircrew. Last year, Nepal witnessed its worst crash since 1992, killing 167 people, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane tried to land in Kathmandu and in May too, 22 people died in a similar incident. While Nepal is known for its beautiful mountains and landscape, similar factors have given the Tribhuvan airport the reputation of being one of the most difficult airports in the world to navigate. Here's what you should know about the airport and its unique geographical terrain:
1) Surrounded by Himalayas
TIA's location is the Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal, which is embraced by the Himalayan mountain range on all sides. The Himalayas are located many kilometres away, but their proximity affects the local weather conditions regarding wind directions and intensity. The wind from the Himalayas can create turbulence and sudden weather changes in the area, which influence the aircraft's smooth landing or takeoff.
2) A single runway
TIA only has a single runway and thus, there is minimum flexibility to manage air traffic. Its length is also shorter than that of other international airports. TIA's airport is just around 3,000 metres, while other similar airports have around 3,500 metre-long runways. The runway location is also at a higher altitude, which means it will take a longer time to take off and land.
3) Pilot skill requirements
Only pilots with advanced skills are generally assigned to TIA planes. They should be proficient at high altitude operations, weather assessment, TIA-specific instrument approach, precision navigation, obstacle clearance, and other regulatory compliance requirements.
