Everest guides raise fears over low flying helicopter tours
Saturday, 02 May, 2016
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A year after the devastating Nepal earthquake climbers are back on Mount Everest, but not everyone is happy.
Sherpas have voiced concerns of potential avalanches due to unregulated sightseeing helicopter tours above the world’s highest peak.
Tourist flights are banned from flying above Base Camp which is 5,364 metres above sea level.
Sherpa guides say vibrations from helicopter rotor blades can cause avalanches.
Helicopter flights fly above the Khumbu Icefall which is now part of an amended climbing route.
"The sightseeing helicopters are hovering above the Khumbu Icefall and making things difficult for us," Pasang Kaji Sherpa told the BBC.
"There is a deep-seated fear among Sherpa porters that they may be hit by avalanches this year and these helicopters are increasing fears."
"We have made it clear that sightseeing flights are simply not allowed in places higher than the base camp," said Rajan Pokhrel, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
"Only rescue flights during emergencies are allowed in those areas and sometimes we allow special projects like skydiving when recommended by other government authorities."
The flight operators follow say they follow all necessary safety precautions.
"We fly 2,340 feet from above the ground and maintain at least 1 km distance from the mountains so there is no way the vibration can cause an avalanche," said Pabitra Karki, chairman of airlines operators association Nepal.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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