Lhasa of Tibet was always my favourite intercontinental destination. I love landing and departing between the Himalayas and visiting the beautiful city with famous traditions.
This 9-hour trip (flight EHM7471) took me from Lhasa (ZULS) to Zurich (LSZH). I flew the flight yesterday (18th) on IVAO.
At Lhasa (ZULS) terminal, planning the flight. Passengers (300 Tibetean monks) have already boarded and doors are shut.
The departure is particularly difficult as the airport is at an altitude of 3500 meters, so air pressure is very low and taking off with a heavy aircraft at MTOW will need a long runway, strong winds and pilot skills.
I managed to take off safely, and now climbing to clear the mountains before me.
Initial climb
Passenger view, chatting with other pilots
Passing FL240
To my left, the highest mountains of Earth
Maybe that is Mt Everest?
Still climbing, slowly leaving Tibet behind
Over Afghanistan
Over Pakistan
This is not the ocean, it's the Caspian Sea
The Caucasus mountains, at the border between Asia and Europe
Caucasus meets the Black Sea
The Black Sea
Over Hungary, traffic on the same airway is TFF601, 2000 feet below
Clouds over the Alps
Starting descent - clouds and heavy turbulence
ATC instructs me to a VOR approach to runway 28 at Zurich
On final, cleared to land
Landed after a 9-hour flight
Parked and shutting down
