Kathmandu a challenge for pilots
The Tribhuvan airport, the only international airport in Kathmandu, has one of the most difficult runways in terms of terrain, and any deviation from the specifically provided procedures would definitely lead to a dangerous situation, say aviation experts.
The airfield is surrounded by huge hills and any pilot who has to fly to Kathmandu from India needs to take special training under an experienced pilot who has familiarity with the airport in the Nepalese capital.
Even in India, there are special airfields like the one in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Leh in Ladakh, Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands where special procedures need be followed.
“If procedures are properly followed, then Kathmandu airport is one airfield where the instrument approach system is very good,” said aviation expert and retired pilot A. Ranganathan, who noted that it was too early to comment on the Kathmandu accident. “Even though reported visibility was 6 km, due to rain and low cloud, the pilot might have thought that he has seen the runway, while it might have just been an illusion,” he surmised.
Noting that there were three air crashes in Nepal in the past year, Mr Ranganathan reiterated that the airfield has good approach system but the pilots should follow procedures properly. In India, pilots are trained specifically to handle such terrains. “During crew resource management classes, we have to mandatorily undergo control flight into terrain (CFIT) course,” said a senior pilot.
“The Kathmandu airfield has claimed a lot of lives. At least half-a-dozen aircraft, including airline category aircraft, have crashed there,” the senior pilot added.
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