The Paro International Airport from Bhutan is one of the most challenging in the world because of the extreme height. Only about 50 pilots have been approved for landing at this airport. The King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand (72) is not prevented from having a state visit fly to Bhutan.
To familiarize himself with the airport, he spent three days in the simulator and two more at a military airport. He is a trained pilot and has a permit for Boeing 737. By his side his wife was Queen Suthida (46) as a co-pilot. She also has a license for this plane and used to work as a fighter pilot in the rank of a general in the Thai army.
They also had support in the challenging flight of a pilot from the Bhutan’s Drukair, who kept an eye on the royal couple. As the “Bild” reported online on Thursday, the airport has no technical tools, which is why pilots must always fly manually and on sight. Special training is needed for this. These have completed around 50 pilots worldwide.
Couple flew back again
The king’s state visit was only special for this reason. At the same time it was also her first official visit to the throne in 2016. At the airport, the two were picked up by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (46) and Queen Jetsun Pema (34).
The state visit lasted four days. Then the Thai royal couple flew home with the Boeing and safely through the mountains of the Himalayas. The flight lasted almost four hours.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
