Kathmandu, Sept. 5 -- When devastating floods tore through the river basins lying at Rasuwa and Nuwakot last week, reaching the affected areas by air became a challenge of its own.

The landscape had been altered by landslides and flooding, while there was no air traffic control tower to coordinate the dozens of military and civilian helicopters involved in the rescue effort. During the emergency, helicopters had to operate under military supervision from an open area at the Nepal Army's training centre in Trishuli.

The disruption has revived memories among veteran aviation officials and pilots of an airstrip that has been largely forgotten by a younger generation: Langtang airport.

For those who came of age after Nepal's political tran...