Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/12/03

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Subject: [Leica] Paro Airport landing Bhutan
From: kcarney1 at cox.net (Ken Carney)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 18:46:58 -0600
References: <mailman.271.1384619307.1214.lug@leica-users.org> <wehr1m0020AFV7C01ehwQu>

Excellent photos, more soon I hope.  Flying an Airbus VFR sounds really
exciting.

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+kcarney1=cox.net at leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+kcarney1=cox.net at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of 
H&ECummer
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 8:42 AM
To: lug at leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] Paro Airport landing Bhutan


 
Esther and I are just back from a fascinating week visiting Bhutan - the
mountain kingdom nestled between India, China (Tibet) and Nepal - and famous
for measuring its Gross National Happiness  (GNH) rather than the usual
Gross Domestic Product. Also it is a no smoking country - that's right
country!
 
Sharing this visit with you I want to start with the Paro Airport - located
in the Western end of Bhutan. Travel and Leisure in 2009 named it the most
dangerous airport in the world for landings. The 6500 foot runway is at
7,300 feet elevation and Paro is surrounded by mountain peaks up to 18,000
feet high. The zig zag landing approach down the valleys - with severe cross
winds - means that only day time visual landings are allowed. No instrument
landings and certainly no night flights. Initally only 8 pilots (2009) were
certified to fly into Paro - but I am sure there are more now.
 
Flying to Paro from Bangkok Druk Air stops at the Indian airport of Bagdogra
to off load pilgrims and to fuel up - there being no jet fuel at Paro. This
pretty well empties the plane and allows passengers to crowd on to the left
side in order to get a full view of the Himalayas in the 20 minute flight
from Bagdogra to Paro.
 
We got a good seat:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/DistantHimalayasW.jpg.
html
 
http://tinyurl.com/l6xcm6h
 
More Mountain views
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/HimaMtn1w.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/kqukaes
 
Yet another view
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/HimaMtn3w.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/oq97lsy
 
A third view - this time of Jhomolhari (24,000 ft) The Dalai Lama fled Tibet
through the Chumbi valley on the western side of Jhomolhari -  considered a
sacred mountain by both Tibetan and Bhutanese Buddhists.
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/JhomolhariW.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/n8t2h4y
 
Our goal - the Paro Airport runway - far away deep in the valley:
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/ParoAirportfmairW.jpg.
html
 
http://tinyurl.com/kmpfyo9
 
Another view of the runway:
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/Parorunwayw.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/m4jo3xc
 
The Druk Air Airbus 319 coming in for its approach
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/DrukAir1w.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/l9n2ah2
 
Closer and turning
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/Druk2w.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/km4tlpr
 
Lining up for the runway
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/Druk3w.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/knsyfl8
 
Touch down!
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/Druk4w.jpg.html
 
http://tinyurl.com/lp25xxv
 
The Airbus on the ground.
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Bhutan/DrukAirbus319w.jpg.htm
l
 
http://tinyurl.com/kwnsuc3
 
Please look large. C& C always welcome. More pictures to come (of course)
 
Nice to be back,
 
Howard
 
 
 
 

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