Lukla Pilot - Q and A

If you know anything about flying, there is a good chance you've heard of Lukla, Nepal.
I am very fortunate to have been one of the few certified to fly amongst the massive mountains of the Himalayas. Even more so to have flown into Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest.
Today I answer some of the questions you have asked, as well as give a brief overview of how I came to live in Nepal, and my thoughts on flying into such a well-known airport.
A special thanks to Petr Podroužek for allowing me to use some of his footage. He has been to Lukla many times and done what I never found the time to- took some great videos. His channel is here: / @petr-podrouzek Check it out if you'd like to see some more Lukla action.

[@Ashvegas27]

Fellow Kiwi here! Just discovered your channel after attempting the Lukla landing challenge on flight sim haha. Love your videos and your obvious passion and dedication to aviation. I’d definitely enjoy watching some more videos on other Nepal airstrips, fascinating stuff 👌🏻

[@charlesyoungblood1402]

Thanks so much for all that you do !

[@baritamihana2968]

Absolutely love to see more flying in Nepal and environs

[@jjouney]

This was so interesting! Thank you for sharing your insight on such a fascinating place.

[@michaelblomfield1504]

Gidday Jimbo, another beaut video mate! You've such a relaxed way behind the camera, and in telling your story. Definitely bring on some more.

[@srednivashtar5432]

Really enjoyed this, and your other vids too. Thanks for taking the time to share what you do, Jimbo. Fascinating.

[@JimboBurgess]

My pleasure! 👍

[@nathanwycoff4627]

Jimbo so glad to see another video from you man

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers, plenty more to come!

[@drumsandstix128]

Enjoyed watching this Jimbo, thank you! I would certainly appreciate viewing some more landing strips in Nepal when you get around too it.

[@Chikyel]

Thank you very much for your broadcast. I paused your video, taking notes of the route information you provided about Kathmandu-> Luckla-> Kathmandu to reproduce it in MSFS. I'have been several times in Nepal, but I never had the opportunity to take that flight.

[@JimboBurgess]

Thanks, I'm going to see if I can do a full flight. Just need to remember the route 😆

[@FlybyFabio]

Great channel, superb flying, exemplary flying skills, and yes, more Nepal please!

[@Rahhhhhnman]

Thanks Jimbo, such an interesting place. I would love to see anything you have on Nepal, but really just enjoy anything you post period.

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers 🍻 Good to know, I have plenty more videos of Nepal to share 👍

[@400fletch6]

Thanks for the interesting video, always like the way you do them.

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers, Fletch 🍻

[@freedomforever6718]

Excellent video. Great visuals and information. Thank you.

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers 🍻

[@dodyparto8031]

Hi Jimbo, absolutely enjoyed this video, very informative, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience, cheers.

[@ShortField]

Enjoyable as always Jimbo, thanks for putting this together, I've certainly learnt alot more about you and Lukla. Cheers

[@JimboBurgess]

Thanks, appreciate it 🍻

[@kvk1]

Love that 2012 picture Jimbo. Classic. Thanks for the vid.

[@JimboBurgess]

10 years ago, boy how time flies 😄

[@brycemonk3414]

Great video mate, definitely keen to see other approaches. Keep up the good work!

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers Bryce. Hope the flying's going well 🚀

[@brycemonk3414]

Absolutely loving it! Although I was imagining the Lukla approach in the Cardinal… no thanks!

[@bryanbadger6841]

G'day mate. Loved the Q+A. Explains a lot to a non pilot. Was subbed to one of Susi Air Bush pilots for a while. Flying in and out of jungle strips around New Guinea etc. Pretty gnarly areas to land and take off, I reckon. In answer to your question. Yes love to see more of your experiences around Lukla and any other airfields in the Nepal region, that you've flown in to. Thank you for taking the time to upload. And for sharing. Atb from Canterbury.

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers Bryan 🍻 Yes, PNG certainly has some gnarly looking strips, great there are people out there documenting it for us all to enjoy! Cheers

[@brianarcher9727]

My only grip is you don't do enough uploads. Really love your vids mate.

[@JimboBurgess]

Haha yeah I can only get faster (and hopefully better) at posting videos, I hope! Thanks for your kind words 🍻

[@dylan_huntnz]

Dude what you’ve got going here is awesome. I work as an apron assistant at NZNE and would love to see you fly into north shore sometime in the future

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers 🍻

[@tuck123kw9034]

Great video. Very informative. I've watched the pilots fly for Suzie Air in West Papua and they land on similar strips. Very skillful.

[@AviationBlenheim]

Awesome video thanks for sharing!!! have a great day!!

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers 🍻

[@AviationBlenheim]

@@JimboBurgess 🍺

[@petr-podrouzek]

Great job my friend !!!! Big thanks :-) :-)

[@JimboBurgess]

Thanks Petr, I appreciate your help with this video. I hope to meet you up there one day 👍🍻

[@ianallen1948]

Very interesting!

[@adrianwilliams763]

Brilliant

[@baritamihana2968]

Yes

[@auspilot6119]

Hey Jimbo, I can’t remember how I stumbled on your channel a while back but sure glad I did. You’re a natural in front of the camera. Can you do a similar QA on ZQN flying? I flew there a few times in the aero club C172 some years ago but it seems they’re not so big on GA these days…? Much love from over the ditch! -pete

[@JimboBurgess]

Thanks Pete, appreciate the kind words 👍 It's been a while since I was last in ZQN, I'll do some digging and see if what I know has any relevance to today. Thanks for your message 😎

[@eliaswhoflias3744]

Respect

[@petersmith8134]

Fellow Kiwi Pilot here. NZ must be one of the few countries in the world where you can experience mountain flying and terrible weather giving you the skill required for Lukla, PNG, Indo etc. I am so happy I learnt to fly there as Pilots from USA, England and even Australia wouldn't last a week. ( Oooohh, so nasty but true).

[@madelinescafe8573]

Awesome video...If you get stuck at the airport due to the weather, where do you stay?

[@Flywithhamdan]

Awesome experience, would love to do what you do

[@JimboBurgess]

I need to have a go on the flight sim version, apparently the graphics quality is amazing. If you cant be there in real life this is the next best thing 😁

[@Flywithhamdan]

@@JimboBurgess hey jimbo , I got accepted into the new zealand diploma in general aviation program at the international aviation academy of New Zealand. Will be coming over in 3 months ,can't wait to get all that kiwi experience❤, really looking forward to it.

[@JimboBurgess]

Congrats and goodluck! I look forward to sharing the NZ skies with you 😎

[@viktor.egelund]

11:20. Come on, the biggest operator at Lukla, Tara Air, has Twin Otters that are over 40 years old.

[@JimboBurgess]

This is a rule introduced by CAAN about aircraft being brought into Nepal 🇳🇵👍

[@RobMcGinley81]

More Nepal vids please Jimbo!

[@JimboBurgess]

You bet! 😎

[@grahampeters6609]

Hi Jimbo is Lukla where Sir Edd's wife & daughter perished? love your Top Dressing vids I was bought up on a farm in Eastern Southland and always spent time with pilots and loader drivers but that was a life time ago. Cheers Graham

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers Graham. They crashed on take off in Kathmandu. Very sad. That's a great area to grow up 👍

[@ozskipper]

Man you need to go back and walk those trails.. Even if its only to Namche.. Its another world when youre actually just walking along.. I spent two of the most peaceful days of my life just hanging around Phakding alone.

[@JimboBurgess]

Yeah I think another trip might be on the cards. I'm kicking myself now for not doing all those treks when I was there 🙃

[@ozskipper]

@@JimboBurgess Yeh. I ended up in Nepal on a whim (air asia special price from Aus). Had no idea about what I would end up doing. But did a part of that base camp trek walk and loved it. I Just wish I had gone further now.

[@chrisbrownie]

More mspaint art with Jimbo please. But also more Nepal. And more flying. Just more please.

[@JimboBurgess]

Haha, you bet! 😁

[@paulsalvestrin7253]

G'day Jimbo. Didn't see the question asked so what are the average costs for passengers or freight to fly into Lukla, also where do the flights mostly originate from? Cheers mate and keep the videos and Facebook post going it's great stuff.

[@JimboBurgess]

That's a very good question. One I couldn't tell ya, I never had to pay for a ticket so never looked. I do know, if you have a working visa you get a discount on flights, and if you have a Nepali passport you get a bigger discount 👍

[@sandysutherland2182]

A bit like a well made NZ ag strip!

[@Marc1973Dez]

Is there any VID from your plane from outside. ?? what plane is that??

[@JimboBurgess]

I haven't got any myself. Maybe sometime in the future though 🤔

[@kiwi6444]

Where did you get that Dromy model?

[@JimboBurgess]

It was a gift from when I worked in China 👍

[@kiwikeith7633]

And here was me thinking all AG pilots get hypoxia above 200" AGL

[@JimboBurgess]

😂

[@StianNorwaylive]

are the any good bars or disco in this place where you can have a good beer?

[@johnhagen31]

At 2:20 you say "pronounciation" - which you pronounced wrong! It's "pronunciation" in whatever version of Enclish you like!