Arrival Kathmandu

[smhusain_1]

There are only a handful of airlines operating scheduled flights to Kathmandu, situated in a valley amidst towering mountains on the flanks and the formidable Himalayas blocking escape beyond.

I had the opportunity to fly as captain for our airline to Tribhuvan International Airport on a number of occasions and every time it was breathtaking experience. In the summer with the Monsoon season affecting the Indian subcontinent, the task gets a little complicated as there is severe weather to contend along with the Indian Air Traffic Control, who is not always in tune with descent requirements of high speed jet aircraft.

So inevitably, we ended up at the Sierra radio beacon, some eighteen nautical miles from the airport for an instrument let down; you are descending in a racetrack holding pattern in the midst of terrain and thunderclouds you better not think about at that time. After lining up with the inbound magnetic course (VOR radial) leading into the final approach, it is a step descent. In other words the aircraft cannot go lower in that particular mileage segment from the VOR* (runway) than allocated on the instrument arrival chart.

* VHF Omni Range (VOR) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) are co-located at the runway

Our airline lost an Airbus A-300 here in the descent profile on the approach in clouds when the crew erred in the obstacle clearance height and the aircraft hit the crest of a mountain. Some pilots have refused to fly to this airport citing legal requirements to be met in case of an engine failure on takeoff, but for any aircraft it is a challenging environment, and more so with the heavier ones.

Note: This write up is based in the early eighties.

[raihans]

another interesting read; will be glad to read some more about KTM flights, every flight to KTM is challenging for the operating crew.

[saadm80]

Now adays KTM Has Straight in Approach........... But honestly speaking, Step in Approach, was more fun....

[raihans]

Now adays KTM Has Straight in Approach........... But honestly speaking, Step in Approach, was more fun....

thanks for the infor, is it possible to share the latest chart for the KTM approach?

[Zulfiqar]

Always interesting to read.

Jeppesen Chart... old one i guess
http://www.flightsim.com/main/howto/katm/jepp.htm

Turn left! turn left, keep turning left! Landing at Khatmandu


Qatar airways arriving with PIA A310 on parking bay

[H Khan]

PIA B-777-240ER and which airlines A-310?

[Zulfiqar]

^^
yes it is a 772! thanks.