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Pokhara Airport, Nepal |
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“Ausgangspunkt zum
Annapurna-Massiv” |
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Text: |
Guido Bühlmann |
Pictures: |
Guido Bühlmann |
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In
our third and fourth, final part of our exciting reports from Nepal,
Guido E. Bühlmann tells us about Pokhara Airport, right in the centre of
Nepal. Not one of the most dangerous airports in the world, but the
starting point for many mountaineering tours en route to Lukla, Jomsom
or Manang, right at the foot of the mighty Himalayan massif.
First we
see what was happening at the airport in November 1998 when Guido
visited Pokhara for the first time. Nine years later, in November 2007,
he gives us an impression of what it looks like today. Almost the same,
with the exception that some airlines have disappeared, but some new
airlines have also arrived. |
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1998 |
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Mil Mi-17-1V,
Cosmic Air 9N-ADP (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-AEH (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-AEG (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-? (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Nepal Airlines 9N-ACW (Picture courtesy Guido E.
Bühlmann) |
Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-AEH (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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DHC-6-300 “Twin
Otter”, Nepal Airlines 9N-ABB (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
DHC-6-300 “Twin
Otter”, Lumbini Airways 9N-AEQ (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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Dornier
Do-228-100, Gorkha Airlines 9N-AEO (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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Dornier
Do-228-100, Cosmic Air 9N-AEP (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Beechcraft
Beech-1900D, Buddha Air 9N-AEW (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Pokhara Airport (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Nepal Airlines 9N-AAV (Picture courtesy Guido E.
Bühlmann) |
Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-ADE(Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-ACP (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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Hawker Siddeley
HS-748-501, Super B2, Necon Air 9N-ADE (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)
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About
200 kilometres west of the capital Kathmandu lies the Pokhara Valley in
the central mountainous region of Nepal. A good 900 metres high, it is
around 500 metres lower than the capital. The main attraction of the
main town is Lake Phewa, combined with the incomparable beauty of the
subtropical nature and the view of the almost seven-thousand metre peak
Machapuchare (6,997 metres), which is only 30 kilometres away and has
never been climbed.
The
airfield in Pokhara was only opened in 1958. It was only much later that
the 1,428 metre-long runway was given an asphalt surface. Pokhara is
also the starting point for trekkers and mountaineers to the Annapurna
massif. Many of these mountaineers fly with the Twin Otters and Dorniers
to Jomson and Manang, which are among the most dangerous airfields in
Nepal, indeed in the world.
The
airfield in the immediate vicinity of the city is particularly busy in
the mornings. Flights to Jomson and Manang cannot be operated during the
rest of the day due to the strong winds from and to the highlands.
Not only
scheduled flights but also charter flights to the mountain world of the
Annapurna peaks are the order of the day. Arguably one of the most
beautiful regions on our planet, it shows visitors the incredible size
and natural beauty of the world's highest mountains. |
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2007 |
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DHC-7-102-C, United Nations
(311) C-GVWD (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
DHC-7-102-C, United Nations
(311) C-GVWD (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Mil Mi-8 MTV, United Nations
(302) RA-25433 (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Mil Mi-8 MTV, United Nations
(302) RA-25433 (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHU (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHY (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Beechcraft Beech-1900D, Buddha
Air 9N-AGH (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Beechcraft Beech-1900C-1, Buddha
Air 9N-AGI (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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DHC-7-102-C, United Nations
(311) C-GVWD (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHW (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHV (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHV (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHV (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
BAe Jetstream 41, Yeti Airlines
9N-AHW (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Dornier Do-228-212, Gorkha
Airlines 9N-AHS (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Dornier Do-228-212, Gorkha
Airlines 9N-AHS (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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Dornier Do-228-212, Gorkha
Airlines 9N-AHS (Picture courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann) |
DHC-6-300 Nepal Airlines 9N-ABX (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Dornier
Do-228-212, Sita Airlines 9N-AHA (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Dornier
Do-228-212, Sita Airlines 9N-AHA (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
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Dornier
Do-228-212, Sita Airlines 9N-AHA (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Dornier
Do-228-212, Sita Airlines 9N-AHA (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Pokhara Airport (Picture courtesy
Guido E. Bühlmann) |
Beechcraft
Beech-1900 C-1, Buddha Air 9N-AGL |
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.If you
are an "aviation enthusiast" like I am, but also love the beautiful
nature, then visiting the different regions of Nepal is probably one of
the greatest experiences life can offer you. |
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