Free Republic

Only Eight Pilots Are Qualified to Land on This ‘Terrifying’ Runway There is a small airport in the Himalayan mountains with a 6,500-foot runway and picturesque surroundings. When flying into Paro Airport in Bhutan passengers may be staring in terrified awe of the 18,000-foot mountainous peaks or have their eyes squeezed tightly shut as the pilot weaves through the range. But only eight pilots are qualified to fly into Paro. And up until earlier this year, only one airline serviced the airport. The Daily Mail reports that take off and landing can only take place in daylight hours: The runway...

Tragedy has befallen yet another sherpa at base camp on Columbus resident Bud Allen’s attempt to climb Mount Everest. Allen, a commercial real estate developer, wrote in his online journal post late Monday that two sherpas apparently drank something spiked with a substance, possibly wood alcohol. One of the sherpas apparently has died, while another is reportedly in serious condition. “I can’t understand why they would do that but it is tragic all the same,” Allen wrote. “There has been some speculation that what is an extremely dangerous practice at low altitude could be fatal at 17,500.” Base camp, the...