Knot-in-your-throat airports to land at.....

[marmar]

I flew into Chicago-Midway a couple of weeks ago, and I've declared it to be my least favorite place to land. It's surrounded by a neighborhood, and the pilot has to slam on the brakes/thrust reversers extra hard after touching down on one of those short runways.




I also despise touching down at New York LaGuardia and Washington National. And the scenery at Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten is wonderful, but it's also not for the faint of heart.

[Initech]

1. Nothing tops Funchal, Portugal.

The elevated columns make it one of the most difficult landings in the world.

[HopeHoops]

21. I don't know. Botany Bay looks worse to me.

[GoneOffShore]

40. You've hit the bullseye with Funchal!

Landed there with heart in mouth. Of course, TAP flies into there and I wasn't happy with the state of the equipment.

And the pilot hit the reverse thrusters almost as soon as the wheels hit. Brakes on almost immediately after.

Take-off was also fun. Backed the plane up to the extreme end almost off the runway - engines to max (or what seemed to be - the plane was shaking) Brakes on, brakes off - then ZOOM!

[Codeine]

43. For some perspective regarding those columns

they are around 230 feet high, which is in the area of fifteen stories.

[Initech]

46. Holy crap! I had no idea they were that big.

[Codeine]

48. Some staggering images here.

[pa28]

2. How about Tegucigalpa Honduras?

One of those airports where no planes land. Only pilots.

[barbtries]

49. WOW

from this thread i'm learning all the places i don't have to visit when my ship comes in and i go traveling the world!

[mysuzuki2]

3. There's always Logan airport in Boston.

not to mention the Zurich airport.

[riverwalker]

4. Paro, Bhutan

but the good part is you usually sit next to a monk, so not to worry.

[JCMach1]

18. Along the same lines: Kathmandu Tribhuban

[Gabi Hayes]

56. is that the one where they take their time cleaning up the

crashes that happen there all the time....just pieces of planes all over the sides of the runway

can't remember where it was, but I think it was this one....it was on some PBS special and they were trying to fly out....pretty sure it was in the Himalayas/Karakoram someplace

Lulka, nepal....only one kind of plane lands there, and some helicopters

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/1/22/163551/923/travel/World%27s+Most+Dangerous+Airports%3A+Lukla+Airport%2C+Nepal%2C+LUA





''When you take off, you go DOWNHILL, and then the runway just disappears into the valley down below. If you don't get enough speed, you drop until you get lift and then hopefully get back up again.''



lots of cool vids at Lukla here:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Takeoff+from+Lukla&oq=Takeoff+from+Lukla&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=291781l291781l0l294015l1l1l0l0l0l0l156l156l0.1l1l0

[JCMach1]

59. No, Kathmandu is fairly clean...

It's coming over the high mountains and dropping quickly down into the valley that makes it scary. Also, the mountains like to hide during monsoon season.

[barbtries]

50. gnarly

i love pilots now.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. Avalon, Catalina

the runway is built on a small hill so you can't see the end, plus it's up above the beach off these large bluffs about five hundred feet high and the cross winds are wicked. So if you fly off the end and lose poer , you're going straight into the drink.

[HuckleB]

6. Do jets land there?

[Major Nikon]

15. Yes, occassionally

However, the runway is only 3,000' long, so you're not going to get a big jet in there. According to Flightaware, one of these landed there a week ago:

[av8rdave]

66. When I was on the 737, we flew the -700 into Key West

A lot longer runway than aforementioned at 4800' but it looked short on final.

The -700, though, when lightweight, could fly a pretty slow final, and I was often surprised at how little runway we sometimes used going in there. Of course, we were restricted to day and dry. Throw in some moisture and winds and I'm sure it could get sporty in a hurry.

[Major Nikon]

14. I plan on landing at that airport someday

I've flown to California a couple of times, but haven't had time to make it over to Catalina. I'll eventually get there.

[cbayer]

33. Agree. It's frightening just watching the come in.

The good news is that there is really nothing else up there.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. They don't use it any more, but back in the day, the airport in Hong Kong wasn't for sissies!

[rrneck]

8. I could swear

I could see what was on people's televisions in those Kowloon City high rises after dark.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I think you probably could!

[Mopar151]

11. A n airline co-pilot I knew

Told me that it's the alternate approach that's real scary!

You fly at a target painted on the side of a mountain, turn to miss the mountain, and you're on final.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Oh shit, that is scary...

I'm really glad they built the new airport.

[Turbineguy]

23. That was an exciting one.

The big drop and sharp turn and then you are flying between apartment houses, people on balconies doing laundry and bathing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Indeed!

And coming as it did, after many, many hours in the air, and we were soooo tired........

Not fun.

[Turbineguy]

35. United (in the late 80's) used to have a direct flight Seattle-Hong Kong

It was a stubby old 747 with extra fuel tanks and spare flight crew accommodations.

[grasswire]

10. Butte. Ugh.

I agree with you about Midway.

And IIRC I didn't like San Diego too well either.

But I have no problem at all with Washington National.

[Major Nikon]

16. I've landed at that one also

I was actually trying to get to Seattle and got as far as Salmon, Idaho, but there was severe icing conditions over the continental divide and no way to go under it so I diverted back to Butte. Butte was the nearest location where I could get a rental car and drive the rest of the way.

It was a pretty neat airport. I remember on the approach seeing the mountain half stripped away from mining. It was kind of interesting getting out of there as well. The guy that owned the FBO gave me some tips on how to navigate some of the passes through the mountains.

[Gormy Cuss]

31. A second on San Diego being a bit scary.

I don't like seeing high rises off the wing.

San Francisco (SFO) is a bit spooky when they're bringing in two planes at the same time on parallel runways. It's a "Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?" moment.

[Major Nikon]

13. I flew into Chicago Midway back in October and found the runways to be quite long

They put me on runway 22L and it's over a mile long. With my plane I can land, never touch the brakes, and still come to a complete stop with plenty of the runway left at Midway. However with a little plane ATC generally wants you on the ground and off the runway ASAP because they almost always have another flight right behind you going twice as fast and catching up quickly.

It was a fairly interesting approach to the airport. They had me fly an instrument approach to runway 31C, so I was approaching the airport from the southeast. When I was fairly close, they had me circle around to runway 22L and land from the northeast. I'm pretty sure they did this because with a relatively slow approach speed, they are able to better sequence the faster traffic by waiting until they have a nice big hole to work me in on the southwest runway.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

37. Those runways are damn short

if you're in a transport-category aircraft. Sitting up front, watching that blast fence looming toward you... MDW should not be a Part 139 airport - they should limit it to general aviation/corporate flying. It's just too small.

[Major Nikon]

44. They have crushable concrete on the overruns now

Not likely anything is going to make it past that. There's already been a few aircraft that have proved those systems work.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

54. It's called EMAS, and it does work,

except if you get your plane stuck in the EMAS there's hell to pay getting it out. You can't just taxi out of it. Better to have runways that aren't so damn short that there's a likelihood you're going to need the EMAS.

Airlines calculate takeoff weights to consider runway lengths to ensure they have a "balanced field" - in other words, if you have to do an RTO (normally before 80 kts, up to 100 kts under certain fairly dire circumstances) you aren't so heavy that you can't stop by the end of the runway (without going into the overrun). But stuff happens. Brakes fail; runway conditions can change; or if your approach is unstable and you land long - there you are, off the runway, in the weeds or in the EMAS. MDW's runways are legal, but there's little room for error.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. Skiathos, Greece

"The runway is characterised as 'short and narrow'." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiathos_Island_National_Airport

Only 5,341ft long (about 2/3rds of St. Maarten's), with sea at both ends. If the wind changes direction a bit, the pilots have to abort and come from the other direction:

For takeoff, the procedure is to fill up with just enough fuel to get to the mainland (because the fuel required to get to, say, the UK, would mean your acceleration is too slow). Sit at one end of the runway with the brakes full on, wind the jets all the way up to full power, and only then let go of the brakes. Once you're in the air, you can start preparing to land on the mainland about 100 miles away.

[barbtries]

52. wow again.

the guy taking the video started shaking he was afraid the jet was just going to keep coming until he was run over. and greece is on my list, way high on my list of places to go before i die...

[hobbit709]

19. Here's some more

Gibraltar, with a road coming across the runway.

Lukla in Nepal-Mountain at one end, drop off at the other
Tenzing-Hillary Airport was originally called Lukla Airport, but was renamed to honor the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest: Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. This airport, located in Lukla, Nepal, serves those wishing to climb Mount Everest as well as those wishing to explore the Everest region.

The airport's paved asphalt runway is only accessible to helicopters and small, fixed-wing, short-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, such as the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter or Dornier Do 228. Tara Air also operates two Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter aircraft, that visit Lukla on a charter basis. The single runway is 1,500 feet (460 m) long, 65 feet (20 m) wide and has a 12% gradient. The elevation of the airport is 9,100 feet (2,800 m).

Aircraft can only use runway 06 for landings and runway 24 for takeoffs. Due to the terrain, there is no prospect of a successful go-around on short final. There is high terrain immediately after the northern end of the runway and a steeply angled drop, of about 2,000 feet (610 m) at the southern end of the runway, into the valley below.

[HopeHoops]

20. National is freaky. You come in so close to the water that you think you'll land in it.

The planes touch down about 2mm past the edge of the runway and barely have time to stop. It's even more dramatic because of the height restrictions in DC - you feel like the plane is mowing lawns. Night landings are even weirder.

[MineralMan]

22. Samsun, Turkey

The runway is not flat. It has a pronounced rise to halfway down the runway, and then goes downhill the rest of the way. Short runway, too. Not for the faint of heart.

[Wait Wut]

25. I almost always end up flying into Midway.

Once in a snow storm, once in a thunderstorm. Both times the pilot got an ovation. I honestly believe they should get one even on sunny days with no wind. They need to use Harrier jets.

[Initech]

26. St. Bart:

[greatauntoftriplets]

27. Saba in the West Indies.

[MicaelS]

28. History Channel video Most Extreme Airports

It's a 2 hour show that is on from time to time.

Next showing is on History Channel H2 is Wednesday 01/25/2012 at 11am and 5pm CST.

http://shop.history.com/most-extreme-airports-dvd/detail.php?p=292556

I've watched it a couple of time, and it is scary as hell. Especially the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong.

Here's a an edited You Tube version of the show that someone has added MS Flight Sim video to.

[Brigid]

60. I've seen that show.

That's where I've heard about several of the airports mentioned in this thread.

[WilliamPitt]

29. San Diego

You can wave to people in the office buildings on approach.

San Francisco is a windfest.

Logan is always an adventure.

Atlanta is the worst...because you land at gate A00000000001, and your connecting flight (count on it) is departing from gate ZZZZ999999999999 in 23 minutes. It's a perfectly safe place as far as flying goes. The nightmare begins once you're on the ground.

[pink-o]

36. Was waiting for the first person to mention San Diego!

As for SFO, that is my office, and has been since 1989! I work as groundstaff for a major airline, and worse than the wind is the fog or rain! Stupid idiots built the runways too close together, and they can't be expanded without destroying the ecosystem in San Francisco Bay. So every time there's limited visibility (and it's NEVER foggy in San Francisco!)

Air Traffic Control closes a runway and the inbound planes all bottleneck. You'd think in the 21st century humans could solve a structural problem like this, but as usual, money and politics interfere and turn things stupid.

My advice to all: book your flights out of Oakland or San Jose in Winter/Summer. (albeit, it's been 70 degrees here for the past 3 weeks, so no delays! But that's not normal at all.)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

67. Fly into Oakland; it's much closer to downtown San Francisco.

Take the subway (BART) to San Francisco. Much easier than the actual San Francisco airport.

You're welcome!!

[barbtries]

53. atlanta is my favorite airport

it's like a great big art gallery! and they have trains to get you to your flight. i really like that airport.

[av8rdave]

64. I can't stand Atlanta...

Was based there for 6 years, so I got tired of it. Unfortunately, have to pass through there today.

[ScreamingMeemie]

65. A little old Texas lady told me once,"The road to Hell is through Atlanta Hartsfield"...

She was right, and so are you.

[Major Nikon]

30. Kezer Air Ranch (61TE)

This is a paved runway that's 2400' long by 20' wide. The length is not really a problem, other than there's a 60' tree on the north end that you have to miss. The runway is so narrow that it looks like a sidewalk from the air. With my plane the best technique is to come in with full flaps and a bit of power. Once you're clear of the tree, you pull the throttle to idle, and aim for the first 1/3rd of the runway. If you miss the first 1/3rd, you throw the coals to it, pull the flaps, and go around to try it again.

I've never landed on it, but a friend has an 1100' turf runway that's in a little valley surrounded by trees. My plane would never be able to make it in or out. He has a Super Cub, and on his approach his wheels are just inches above the hill that slopes down to the runway. You can see all kinds of marks on the grass where his wheels have scraped the hill.

[cliffordu]

32. The landing strip on St.Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

No photo............

[av8rdave]

63. St Thomas isn't bad when the weather is good

Which is most of the time there.

[Arugula Latte]

34. Juneau -- The pilot warned us that it would seem like we were going to hit the mountain

but not to worry.

[randr]

38. Aspen, Colorado

Narrow valley at 9000 feet, corkscrew descent onto cross wind blown runway.
Yeehaw!

[Lasher]

39. Yeager Airport in Charleston, WV

Last edited Sat Jan 14, 2012, 11:48 PM - Edit history (1)

When you're coming in for a landing, you're looking down at all the trees, thinking you've got about 5 minutes before touchdown. That's when you land. The airport is built on the top of mountains, you see.



Some of us affectionately refer to it as the Carrier Charleston. But not to worry about the short runways. I have learned from experience that the pilots can put your nose on the seatback in front of you if they want to, just with brakes and backing up the engines.





Edit: One of the 10 scariest airports in the world, according to this Boston Globe article:

http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/10scariestairports?pg=7

[Old and In the Way]

41. Carabassett Valley (Sugarloaf), Maine B21

Did a couple of touch and go's at this field. Very intense! Cross winds and located in a bowl. I was flying a Cessna 172 and would never have attempted without a flight instructor in the right seat. Learned a lot about cross wind pilotage that day...

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[Major Nikon]

45. Looks like fun

A buddy and I landed at Gardiner, Montana just to see if we could. That was a fun airport.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/29S

[NV Whino]

42. Nobody's mentioned Burbank

Skim the mountains and drop (and I mean drop) immediately onto a very short runway. Takeoff is equally exciting.

Probably not as hair raising as some mentioned above, but I'd put it on the list.

[Withywindle]

58. Roanoke, VA is scary for similar reasons.

Roanoke is in a round valley surrounded by mountains on all sides, and when you're descending, there is no way for it to NOT look like you're going to hit one.








Also, it has this sculpture, which to me is evocative of twisted wreckage in flames.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

61. Southwest Airlines had a little problem at Burbank:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1455

[Taverner]

47. LAX, DEN, JFK and ORD

[trof]

51. Nobody mentioned Kai Tak? The 'old' Hong airport?

On probably the worst day of my life I was riding jumpseat in the cockpit of a 747 when we dragged an engine pod in a ferocious crosswind landing(?)
No...it was a somewhat controlled crash.

[ironflange]

55. Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport

Nothing wrong with the airport, actually, but if you land there it means you're now in Cleveland.

[bluesbassman]

57. The Angwin-Parrett Field Airport

About halfway between St. Helena and Calistoga at about 1800ft elevation. about 300ft of runway so not too bad for a small plane, but they way you approach looks like you'll be flying off the mountain if you miss.

[av8rdave]

62. I've flown the 737 in and out of St Maarten many times

Its not as bad as it looks when you're doing the flying. There's a little bar on the beach right at the west end of the runway where you can watch the takeoffs and landings. They have outdoor speakers that broadcast the tower frequency. I would always admonish the people hanging on the fence there to be careful before taking off.

LaGuardia I'll be landing at this evening. I don't mind it, though it feels small when you're flying larger equipment (757 tonight).

Santa Ana, Ca, isn't one of my favorites, mostly because of the very close proximity to the general aviation runway.

Quito, Equador can be a challenge when it's night and/or weather. For some reason, it's been both most of the times I've gone there. You land late at night, in the pouring rain. The next morning, you step out of the hotel, look around, and say to yourself, "wow.". The takeoff is also sporting. You're already almost at 10,000 feet while on the ground, and the airport is surrounded by high terrain. Still worth going....it's a great city.

[oneshooter]

68. Not really an airport per se, but scary looking as hell.

Oneshooter