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Leg 18 - Tribhuvan INTL (VNKT) - Biratnagar (VNVT)


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After previous ATWC mishaps with the Twin Otter i had decided to pack up my bags and move to Nepal for the ultimate Twin Otter education experience, flying the darned thing in to Lukla.

 

 

When the route for ATWC SiX was drawn up I naturally decided to have it pass by Nepal to get a chance to show my fellow pilots what I've learned.

 

My current empolyer, Nepal Airways, had graciusly set me up with a flight plan for the day that would take me from Kathmandu to Biratnagar so I could deliver the baton to Pete for the next leg.

 

The plan was to drop of a plane full of climbers heading up to Everest at Lukla, and pick up two persons that were visiting the area to try and set up a new business venture aimed at the noumerous amount of people heading for Everest every year.

 

My feelings towards the second part of the flight were mixed at first, I was affraid it was yet another westerner trying to make a buck (or plenty of bucks) using the Sherpas as low cost workers, but after talking to some of them the previous days it sounded like this one was different. He signed deals with a few of them granting a more than generous pay check as well as good health benefits. His questions regarding the setup of the business was also more inclined to listen to the input from the Sherpas on how to make things as safe as possible for both the guides and the climbers.

 

I got out to the airport early in the morning, after collecting the Baton over dinner with Kieran. The weather was far from good wiht rain pouring down, and a low overcast cloud cover. The reports from Lukla was better, but the weather still meant I wouldn't be taking the scenic route through the valleys. Instead we'd have to climb up and head over the peaks before descending into the valley as we got closer to Lukla.

01%20-%20Early%20morning%20in%20katmandu

 

With the passengers boarded and all their bags stowed away in the cargo hold I started to power up my Otter.

02%20-%20Working%20through%20the%20check

 

Everything looking normal we got pushed back and were ready to head out.

03%20-%20Pushed%20back%20and%20ready%20t

 

The rain kept pounding the wind screen as we taxied out to the active

04%20-%20Taxiing%20out.jpg

 

Take off went with out incidents and we were soon climbing in to the cloud cover. Knowing the area I wasn't to concerned with the lack of visibility. We had plenty of room to climb up to about 17.000 feet for our cruise.

05%20-%20Murky%20conditions.jpg

 

The coulds were all around us as we kept heading up

06%20-%20Clouds%20everywhere.jpg

 

When I looked back up after trying to keep an eye out the side window for the ground I realized I had missed to turn on one part of the de-icing equipment. Ice were slowly forming blocking my forward view. Leaning over to the right side of the flight deck I flipped the swith and turned on the wind screen heaters.

07%20-%20Oops%20is%20that%20ice.jpg

 

As we drew closer to Lukla the conditions were improving, but were still far from good. At this point the tower at Lukla got on the horn and informed me of a slight change to my plans.

 

The South African business man, along with his female adviser, was stuck up in Syngboche a couple of miles north of Lukla. The helicopter transporting them down from the base camp had been called away on a more important mission, and had to ditch them up there. So they had asked if I could pick them up there after unloading the climbers.

 

I squared things of with OPs and got a green light to change the plans. Apperantly they had been in touch with the businessman, and he had agreed to paying a hefty extra fee for the service..

08%20-%20conditions%20improving.jpg

 

Somewhere up there is Everest, the goal for all those climbers tucked up in the cabin. 

09%20-%20Everest%20should%20be%20up%20th

 

We got closer and descended into the valley where Lukla is situated. Still some clouds around, but using some familiar visual cues, like that river below me, I confidently headed up the valley. 

10%20-%20If%20I%20just%20follow%20that%2

 

and soon I had Lukla in view, although slighty obscured by clouds

11%20-%20Lukla%20in%20the%20clouds.jpg

 

The Twin Otter configured for landing, sporting full flaps

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On the ground for a quick turn around. 

13%20-%20Quick%20turnaround.jpg

 

While the climbers disembarked and unloaded their gear we waited on the small apron at Lukla.

14%20-%20Good%20thing%20theres%20just%20

 

Within minutes we were ready to go again.

15%20-%20Ready%20to%20go%20again.jpg

 

Climbing out from Lukla heading north. 

16%20-%20Turning%20north.jpg

 

With just 8 nm to our new destination, and the fact that Syngboche is located 3.000 feet higher than Lukla, meant that we needed to push the engines slightly to get up high enough. Keeping a close eye on my engine temperatures, don't want to repeat that engine failure I suffered in the Canaries during the last ATWC.

17%20-%20Dont%20overheat%20that%20engine

 

As the airstrip comes into view I start to doubt if it was a wise decision to agree to this diversion

18%20-%20Syngboche%20in%20view.jpg

 

50 feet to go before I'm down.

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Safe on the ground, but these remains shows that this isn't an easy airstrip to get into.

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As I taxi up to the "Terminal" I spotted my passengers waiting for me. I couldn't belive my eyes. The female advisor was Sharon (!), I guess this explains her recent lack of apperances in the ATWC. But looking at the business man I was really surprised. My mind started wandering to previous ATWC flights. Flash backs of an A400M in South Africa and Connies and Catalinas in South East Asia was flashing before my eyes. It was AL(!)

21%20-%20Loading%20up%20with%20engines%2

 

I decided to not give my self away just yet, and popped the back door open sneaking back to the flight deck before they could spot me. Let's see if I can play a little trick on them (assuming they don't know this flight doubles as an ATWC leg.

 

Surveying the rasing terrain I decide it's best to head back out in the opposite direction I came in.

22%20-%20Best%20go%20out%20the%20other%2

 

With my passengers strapped in their seats I started spooling up the engines before releasing the parking brake. I assume we need all the power we can cram out of them to get out from this bumpy, muddy strip.

23%20-%20Gunning%20the%20engines.jpg

 

Take-off was pushing it a bit, it was more heading over the edge, and dive for speed!!

24%20-%20And%20away%20we%20go.jpg

 

Established on a southern course, and climbing to enable us to turn east we pass over Lukla.

25%20-%20Passing%20Lukla.jpg

 

Once we passed the peaks I engaged the autopilot, and headed towards our en route waypoint, the TTR NDB at Tumlingtar. Now let's see if we can get a reaction from the lovely couple in the back. I connected my iPhone to the sound system and started playing Paul Simon's "You can call me Al" over the intercom. I heard some surprised reactions from the cabin and proceeded with inviting Al to join me on the flight deck.

26%20-%20Lower%20ground.jpg

 

"Welcome to ATWC flight 6-18" I said as he came up behind me.

 

His suprise when he saw me in the captains seat felt genuine, and as he sat down in the co-pilot seat he motioned to Sharon to come join us too. She seemed as surprised as Al to see me, and gave me a warm hug and a peck on my bald spot..

27%20-%20Higher%20ground.jpg

 

We started catching up on what we had been doing since our last meeting, and soon approached Tumlingtar where we would head south towards our destination.

28%20-%20Tumlingtar%20-%20time%20to%20tu

 

After passing Tumlingtar we started a shallow descent towards the destination. Al told me of his new plan for "luxurious" trips to Everest. He and Sharon was very pleased with how things were looking up at base camp, and were considering sorting out accommodations at both Lukla and Syngboche. They are now heading to Biratnagar to survey a location for a retreat where their potential costumers can prepare for the climb, and relax afterwards.

29%20-%20Starting%20a%20slow%20descent.j

 

The route from here on in looks simple enough, so we continue with our idle chatter for a while.

30%20-%20Should%20be%20an%20easy%20ride%

 

As we get down lower we encounter some turbulence, so Sharon is forced to return to her seat in the cabin. Al will stay with me on the flight deck for the remainder of the flight though.. he's hard to remove from a pilots seat once his bacon is seated.

31%20-%20A%20bit%20of%20turbulence%20roc

 

Clouds and rain return as we proceed towards the airport.

32%20-%20Still%20some%20clouds%20above%2

 

We've got the VOR dialed in, and a road to follow, so those low clouds shouldn't be an issue.

33%20-%20and%20ahead%20of%20us.jpg

 

Suddenly Al calls out "Runway in sight". We turn to a downwind leg and start preparing for the landing.

34%20-%20Runway%20in%20sight.jpg

 

Turning to finals more or less configured for landing

35%20-%20Turning%20to%20finals.jpg

 

Established on finals with no winds to mess things up. So the fact that we are a tad high shouldn't be to hard to deal with

36%20-%20Established.jpg

 

Touch down

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We turn on to the grass besides the runway and park up at the refueling stations. With every thing turned off we unload what little baggage the two business partners had with them and I wave them goodbye as they catch a taxi to their next location.

38%20-%20Unloading%20my%20pax.jpg

 

The view to the north from the tower sure doesn't give much away on the high terrain not to far away.

39%20-%20Where%20is%20that%20high%20grou

 

Now to find a nice place to bunk down and await the arrival of Pete to hand over the Baton. 

 

Addons used

FS Global 2010 Mesh

FTX Global

FTX Global Vectors

Scenery Tech Asia Landclass

Aerosoft Lukla X

Aerosoft Twin Otter Extended

REX 4 Texture Direct

Active Sky Next

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he had agreed to paying a hefty extra fee for the service.

 

That's my boy, you learn well Grasshopper!

Great PIREP boss, that landing at Lukla seemed a bit too easy but I suppose you have had a lot of practice at tricky fields and we have all learnt from Brian's mistakes  :D

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@Dai: thanks mate..

@Kieran: Ehm, I don't know if it was uneventful to be honest.. Let's just say there's a reason I didn't include any actual pictures of my landing at Lukla ;)

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> "...a reason I didn't include any actual pictures of my landing..."

 

Understood, Micke. Modesty may perhaps be an alien concept to some members of the team, but it's refreshing to find that it's still alive and well with others.   ^_^

 

Many thanks for a lively and interesting account, and your great pics!

 

Cheers,

 

bruce

a.k.a. brian747

 

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