The test flight is scheduled to be conducted at Sukilumba Airport situated at Ilam by the end of 2074. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) will be conducting test flight along with technical testing of the airport.
According to the Chief of the airport Mr. Puspa Neupane, the earthwork has reached the last phase at the airport. He said that the test flight would be carried out by Chaitra after the level test is completed.
The test flight will be carried out without the graveling of the runway. Till now, 90 per cent of work has been completed.
This year, the 700 m long and 60 m width runway was contracted at a cost of Rs10million. The drainage management till Maikhola is going on at a cost of around 8 million. 8 cascade and drain is being constructed to minimize the risk of flood from Maikhola. Although the construction of drainage is due the deadline, the work will be carried out by Jestha in the place of risk.
Design for the terminal building has been started. the process of blacktopping of the runway will also be started soon. Land acquisition work was done in the initiative of the local body and residents for the construction of the airport as the airport will spread over in three hundred 26 ropani areas.
Earlier, at the cost of Rs70 million, the upgrading of the runway was completed along with the construction of drainage management and road. The construction of runway and terminal building will be carried out after the successful test flight.
Design for the terminal building has started. According to source , the process of blacktopping will be done soon. Land acquisition work was done in the initiative of the local body and social workforce for the construction of the airport which spreads to 3 hundred 325 ropani area. After the construction of this airport, the travel for locals of the far eastern mountainous region will be easy.
The airport will serve the locals of the far eastern mountainous region along with the travelers to the hilly districts of Eastern Nepal and the tourist destinations of Darjeeling and Sikkim in India.
