Avalanche fears over unauthorised Everest helicopter flights

 Everest Base Camp is open for business and vital for tourism 

 

Helicopter firms are carrying out unauthorised sightseeing flights over the upper reaches of Mount Everest, Nepalese officials say.

Sherpas have expressed concerns that vibrations caused by the helicopters could trigger avalanches.

Tourist flights are not allowed to places above Base Camp which is at an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,600ft).

But helicopter companies say they only overfly sights like the Khumbu Icefall and their flights are allowed.

There had been no expedition on Everest for the past two years because of a series of disasters.

Sixteen Sherpas died on their way to Camp One in an icefall in 2014. At least 18 climbers died at Base Camp after a major earthquake triggered a huge avalanche last year.

After the 2014 disaster, authorities moved the climbing route to the middle of the Khumbu Icefall.

It is a treacherous section that mountaineers must cross on their way up to the summit of Everest.

Climbing season

Sherpas are currently transporting expedition equipment to higher camps for the current climbing season.

"The sightseeing helicopters are hovering above the Khumbu Icefall and making things difficult for us," said Pasang Kaji Sherpa, a mountain guide with a military expedition team now on Everest.

 

Porters and sherpas have been carrying loads in preparation for an attempt to reach Everest

"We worry that the vibrations caused by helicopters can crack ice blocks and snow packs on mountains overlooking the Khumbu Icefall.

"There is a deep-seated fear among Sherpa porters that they may be hit by avalanches this year as well and these helicopters are increasing fears," Pasang Kaji Sherpa added.

After the BBC started to investigate whether sightseeing helicopters were permitted to fly to places like the Khumbu Icefall, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) issued a circular to all airlines warning them not to conduct such flights.

"We have made it clear in the circular that sightseeing flights are simply not allowed in places higher than the base camp," said Rajan Pokhrel, Deputy Director General of CAAN.

"Only rescue flights during emergencies are allowed in those areas and sometimes we allow special projects like skydiving when recommended by other government authorities."

Mr Pokhrel said his office had also heard the Sherpas' concerns.

Airline defence

However, airline officials say there is no such danger.

"We fly 2,340 feet from above the ground and maintain at least 1km distance from the mountains so there is no way the vibration can cause avalanche," said Pabitra Karki, chairman of Airlines Operators Association Nepal (AOAN).

"We use the French-made Ecureil helicopters for sightseeing which are very light and we carry two to three passengers in each flight."

AOAN officials say there are around half a dozen sightseeing flights per week during the climbing season.

But other sources at Base Camp said such flights were becoming more frequent.

 

Helicopters like this one are used for sightseeing tours of Everest

About 20 helicopters are operated by six companies in Nepal but only a handful of pilots are qualified to fly to high altitudes.

Alarm and concern

"For Sherpa climbers, especially those carrying equipment for expedition teams, helicopters flying overhead in higher areas is a mentally torturous experience," says Phurba Namgyal Sherpa, general secretary of Nepal National Mountain Guides Association.

"The fragile snow and ice conditions could be disturbed at any time by the rotors of helicopters and that could spell disaster for us.

"This is an issue we have been discussing for quite some time now but we are not sure where to lodge the complaint."

Scaling Mount Everest is the dream of many climbers who are prepared to pay a lot of money to reach the summit

 

Many climbers dream of scaling Mount Everest and pay a lot of money to reach the summit

Aviation experts say part of the problem is how such flights are policed by the authorities.

Officials from CAAN admitted they were not on the ground to monitor such flights but relied on other government agencies based there.

"Just because we are not there does not mean we don't get to know what happens up there," Mr Pokhrel cautioned.

In addition, the Department of Tourism has allowed helicopters to transport ropes and other gear up to Camp One to fix the route, after expedition operators complained that the earthquake had made the Khumbu Icefall more difficult to cross.

"We fear that such a concession may be misused for more sightseeing and other commercial purposes and increase the risk of avalanche in the region," said Phurba Namgyal Sherpa.