Nepal - 2.2.17 Minor Domestic Airport - Rukum Salle

Airport Overview 

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Picture: Arial view of Rukum Salle Airport  

 

Rukum Salle Airport (ICAO: VNSL), also known as Musikot Airport, is an airport serving Musikot Khalanga, a municipality located in the Southern region of Karnali Province of Nepal. It was originally opened in 1994. The airport is one of two airports in Rukum District, the other one being Rukum Chaurjahari Airport. The airport was renovated and the runway blacktopped in 2014 after previously only having a grass/clay runway. The airport resides at an elevation of 5,184 feet (1,580 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway which is 580 metres (1,903 ft) in length and 20 metres width. 

The airport is air-linked with Nepalgunj and Kathmandu. National airline operators provide scheduled flights to Musikot airport from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj.  

The airport operates all around but in the time allocated as, Operation Hours  

  1. Nov to Jan 10:00hr-16:00hr  

  1. Feb to Oct 10:00hr-17:00hr. 

The airport is located adjacently to Nepal Army’s Battalion and also shares the boundary with Nepal Food Corporation-Rukum. It is only 3 km away from the Mid Hill Highway that passes through Rukum. 

Airport Location and Contact 

Country 

Nepal  

Province or District 

Karnali Province, West Rukum 

Nearest Town or City  
with Distance from Airport 

Musikot Bazaar less than 2 KM 

Airport’s Complete Name 

Rukum Salle Airport 

Latitude 

28.63692 

Longitude 

82.44916 

Elevation (ft and m) 

5184 ft (1580 m) 

IATA Code 

RUK 

ICAO Code 

VNSL 

Managing Company or Airport Authority 

Off: 977-88680354 Tower: 977-88680354 Fax: Not Available AFS: VNSLYDYX mailto: 

Email: salle_cao@caanepal.gov.np 

Management Contact Person 

 

NGO and/or UN Presence at Airport? 

No  

Runway(s) 

Runway #1 

Runway Dimensions 

580 m x 20 m (could be extended to 620 M) 

Runway Orientation 

16/34 

Runway Surface 

Bituminous Paved (Asphalt Concrete) Surface 

Runway Condition 

Good.  

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Dornier 228 is the biggest aircraft that is in service among the aircraft like DHC6 Twin Otter, Let L410 Turbolet, Harbin Y-12, and Cessna 208 Caravan, basically most of the single-engine aircraft.   

Airport Infrastructure Details 

Infrastructure  

Passenger / Cargo Security Screening  

Hand held metal detector and manual checking of luggage  

Runway Lighting 

No, Night landing is not possible 

Refueling Capacity 

No  

Ground Handling Services 

Yes with the local airline -manual 

Air Traffic Control  

Yes VFR 

Fire Fighting Equipment  

fire extinguisher only   

Weather Information 

Yes through Observation Tower 

Aircraft Parking Space 

Yes- 3 DHC6 type Aircraft  

Navigation Aids  

NO 

Perimeter Fencing  

Yes, Also Airport shares wall with Nepal Army present at the district 

Windsock  

Yes  

 

 

Fuel Services Charges 

Not Available in this Airport  

 

Price per Litre USD - $ 

Jet A-1 

n/A 

Avgas 

n/A 

 

Royalties / Non Objection Fees (NOFs) 

Link for more detail :  

RUKUM-SALLE-AIRPORT.pdf (caanepal.gov.np) 

Link for ICAO and IATA Code: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Nepal