Paro Airport is the only international airport of the four airports in Bhutan. The airport is located just over 3 nautical miles (6 km) from Paro in a deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chhu. With surrounding mountain peaks as high as 18,000 feet (5,500 meters), it is considered one of the world’s most challenging airports. Less than 20 pilots are certified to land at the airport. Flights operated in Paro are allowed under visual meteorological weather conditions only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise till sunset.
Paro Airport was built in 1968 initially for the Indian Armed Forces for helicopter operations and later for the Bhutanese government operating Dornier 228-200. It was the only airport in Bhutan until 2011. The single paved runway 15-33 was lengthened several times, being nowadays 1,964 meters (6,445 feet) long and is at an altitude of 7,332 feet (2,235 meters) from the main sea level. Bhutan Airlines and Druk Air have scheduled flights from Paro to India, Nepal, and Thailand. They operate with Airbus A319-100 and ATR 42-600 aircraft.
Paro Airport, ICAO: VQPR, is available highly-detailed in the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard, Deluxe, and Premium Deluxe Editions.
