Every Aircraft: Disappear few minutes in “Pokhara – Jomsom” route flight.
After takeoff from Pokhara Airport, 6 – 7 minutes disconnection with towers and disappear in sky, 4-5 minutes thereafter land on Mustang – this is the regular nature for “Pokhara to Jomsom” route flight. About 20 minute’s flying route – Pokhara and Jomsom two towers have been monitoring the aircrafts. When the aircraft touches the sky of Ghorepani from Pokhara’s sky, the condition of the aircraft and the passengers, neither Pokhara tower knows nor Jomosom. It is all upon the pilots of the aircraft.
The aviation experts believe this route is extremely dangerous on its behavior and in count of recent four years records “Pokhara- Jomsom” air route, three aircrafts has met with an accidents. The Airport Manager Yogendranath Kuwar said, “The air routes in Nepal is very terrible, talking about the Pokhara-Jomsom – it’s the critical one. He added, “The wind flowing from all fours directions can anytime create uncomfortable problems to the aircrafts”.
According to the Kuwar “After aircraft takeoff from Pokhara Airport tills the Ghorepani, it is under the control of Pokhara tower, and after the jomsom tower takes the control. However, it has been always unusual case in this route, as it takes 10 minutes to reach the sky of Ghorepani from Pokhara and ending of 4-5 minutes aircraft gets back in touch with jomsom , being lost for around 6 – 7 minutes on sky in between Ghorepani to Tatopani. This air zone is also named as Buffer zone.
“The aircraft may meet with an accident at buffer zone” as per the kuwar. “Moreover the frequent weather change in a very short time can add more problems to cause mishap.,” he said. Pokhara – Jomsom is in range of 51 nautical miles, whereas Pokhara to Ghorepani is in range of 16 nautical miles. Aircraft has always been in absolute no contact in the path flown between Ghorepani to Tataopani, after it reaches on the sky of Tatopani the aircraft gets back in contact with towers. To fly for 7 minutes in buffer zone being contactless, it is the challenging and risky job.
As per the Jomsom Airport Air Traffic Controller Surya Bahadur Kc “the aircraft after crossing the sky of Ghorepani, we have always been in praying until it gets back in contact with our tower.” Jomsom airport itself is not the problem, we have airport with “two –way Approach (Both side – landing and takeoff) even” on –way Approach (One sided – takeoff and landing) airport seems secured. Therefore, the Jomsom airport is very much safe for takeoff and landing but the problem is on air route to fly here.
According to the KC ” in Pokhara-Jomsom route flight, the pilot can only take the decision whether to or not to go after crossing the Ghoprepani sky.” Rapid weather fluctuation, no contact with any towers could be the reason for Wednesday Tara Air 9N-HH accident.”
Airlines Accident Date and Victims records:
May 14, 2012 – Agni Air (15 people killed)
May 16, 2013 – Nepal Airlines (no causalities)
Feb 24, 2016 Wednesday – Tara Air – 9N-AHH (23 persons were killed)
