A few of those appear to have a high pucker factor.
Since I travel to Honduras fairly regularly, I know folks who fly to Tegucigalpa, Honduras although I’ve never done it myself. To a man, they claim it’s one of the most gut wrenching experiences they’ve ever had flying, at least under normal circumstances. All of us frequent flyer types know those huge drops and such in storms, but apparently the landing at Tegucigalpa is a not-soon-forgotten event.
I flew into Tegucigalpa recently and a woman next to me was praying during the entire approach.
Interesting article, thanks! I’ve been to St Maarten maybe 20 times (worked on a cruise ship) but as you might imagine...never by plane!
Being in the NYC area, I’m surprised to see JFK Airport on this list. I’ve had two airline pilots tell me that LaGuardia Airport is the worst place for them to fly . . . mainly because they say the runway that extends out into Flushing Bay is too short.
Matekane looks quite exciting.
I always try to get a flight out of BWI even though Reagan National would be more convenient for business travel. I just don’t like the steep approach/departure. I never liked practicing steep turns when I was learning to fly a 4-seater and I certainly don’t like them when I’m flying commercial. There’s a lot to be said for nice, gradual ascents and descents as far as I’m concerned.
Very cool post. Thanks.
Several years ago I flew with a missionary pilot friend from a village in Equador. The runway was about 1500 feet long, and the plane was overloaded by about 100 lbs. Our wheels barely cleared the ground as we reached the end of the runway and a 4,000 foot shear drop-off. We dropped about 500-600 ft before we had enough airspeed to climb. I was praying all the way, and Steve was grinning.
Someday, I have promised myself that I will go to St. Maarten, and I will lie on Maho Beach and watch the jumbos scream in over my head. It’s plane geek paradise...in paradise.
A few they didn’t mention on there, and I don’t have pictures for them but you can Google them to see how crazy they are:
St. Barts (TFFJ)
Courcheval, France (on the side of a mountain)
Lukla, Nepal (high in the Himalayas)
}:-)4
You come over the bridge on final, then over the water to land on 1900 ft. Trees, wind, a hill to your East, man you have to earn it.
Another harrowing field is Baguio Airport, Luzon Island of the Philippines. Located in the center of a major mountain caldera. The surrounding valley is formed like a bowl with a ragged 8,000 foot rim usually fringed with cummulus clouds. The 4,500’ runway is on high ground with clifts at each end with a low mid-field. The runway is not flat.
During rainy season, this field was especially fun and similar to FCLPs (field carrier landing practices).
Oddly enough, I’ve landed at 4 of these - Reagan, JFK, St. Maarten and Honduras. The US Air Force has some runways that are much scarier. Auxiliary Field #3 at Eglin AFB, FL and the main runway at Anderson AFB, GU come to mind immediately.
ping
Wow!
Been to Williamson once as PIC.
A nearby GA airport in KY sits in a valley so narrow that it is a one-way airport. Only listened to the unicom chatter while passing nearby. Seemed like the “pattern” was away from the runway, above the hills. Maybe a Freeper can comment on the local customs there.