Operating aircraft at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) involves a distinct mix of obstacles, making it one of the most difficult airports in the world for pilots. It’s no surprise that the area is one of the most heavily tracked on Flightradar24. The airport’s location, high elevation, variable weather, and infrastructure limitations all add to the operational complexity. Let’s take a closer look at some of these issues.
1. Geographical Location and Topography
Kathmandu Airport is located in a valley encircled by the high hills of the Himalaya. The airport is located at an elevation of 4,390 feet above sea level, and its approach path is limited by mountain topography. Pilots must fly through small passageways, leaving little room for error. The steep descent to land adds another level of challenge, necessitating precise control and vast experience.
2. High Altitude
The high elevation of the KTM airport limits overall engine performance, affects aircraft control, and needs longer takeoff and landing runways. This is one of the reasons KTM has a 3,074-meter (10,085-foot) runway. Because the air is thinner at high altitudes, aircraft engines produce less thrust and generate less lift, making takeoff and landing more difficult. Given the lower performance, pilots must carefully assess their approach speeds and landing distances.
Turboprop and jet aircraft behave differently in such situations. Turboprop engines are often built to run efficiently in a wider range of temperatures and altitude. They can operate better in hot and high circumstances since the turbine’s power drives the propeller directly, rather than relying exclusively on jet exhaust for thrust.
It is worth noting that the location has some of the highest minimum safe altitudes (MSAs) in the world, which creates additional complications in the case of a pressurization failure. In such a situation, passengers should immediately don oxygen masks and drop to 10,000 feet or the MSA (whichever is lower), as the level of oxygen at that height allows them to breathe safely. It would be hard to do so because the topography in the region is frequently higher than 15,000 feet in elevation. This is why Nepal has very low levels of overflight traffic and is one of the map’s gaps.
3. Unpredictable Weather
Weather conditions in Kathmandu can change quickly and unexpectedly. Fog typically causes limited visibility at the airport, especially during the winter months. Wind patterns can also vary unexpectedly, causing turbulence and crosswinds that make landing even more dangerous. Additionally, monsoon rains can cause water to accumulate on the runway, increasing the risk of hydroplaning.
During more severe weather, airplanes are frequently forced to fly holding patterns south of the airport while waiting for weather conditions to improve to within acceptable limits. This location was chosen because of the relatively flat landscape compared to the mountainous circumstances closest to the airport.
4. Limited Infrastructure
Tribhuvan International Airport is Nepal’s only international airport, with little infrastructure to manage the growing volume of aviation travel. The single runway, which must allow both takeoffs and landings, can easily get congested, causing delays. The Kathmandu airport does have a number of instrument approaches to accommodate arriving aircraft. Currently available methods include RNP, LOC DME, and VOR. These approaches include tight and sophisticated missed approach procedures that keep aircraft clear of nearby terrain in the case of a go-around.
5. Human Factors
Operating in such an environment necessitates highly trained and experienced pilots. Even experienced pilots endure stress owing to the combination of high altitude, difficult approaches, and unexpected weather, which can impair decision-making under duress.
Kathmandu Airport is one of the most difficult airports in the world to fly in, requiring tremendous expertise, training, and alertness from crews and air traffic controllers to maintain safe operations.