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10 Scenic Airport Landings
Budget Travel ^ | 12/14/2010 | Kristin Luna

Posted on 12/16/2010 2:56:36 PM PST by loreldan

Everyone knows views are best from above. That's why we asked pilots and flight attendants who've racked up millions of sky miles to locate the world's most beautiful approaches. You'll definitely want a window seat on these flights.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten (see photo 1 of 2) Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the most infamous—and photographed—in the world because its runway starts on a peninsula just hundreds of feet off St. Maarten's shore. "The airport is framed by the beautiful water to the right and front, and the hills that rise in the background," says Captain Bob Raleigh, the Miami chief pilot for American Airlines. He got his start flying fighter aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps and has been with American since 1986. Landing in St. Maarten stands out to Raleigh not only because it's visually stunning, but because zooming in low over the sand gives passengers a uniquely friendly welcome. "People stand on Maho Beach and wave as you pass over them—very closely and quickly."


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Travel
KEYWORDS: airport; beautiful; travel
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1 posted on 12/16/2010 2:56:43 PM PST by loreldan
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To: loreldan

Gibralter Airport definitely should be on the list.


2 posted on 12/16/2010 2:58:01 PM PST by loreldan (I'm shocked)
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To: loreldan

Bermuda is nice...


3 posted on 12/16/2010 2:59:39 PM PST by Wings-n-Wind (The main things are the plain things!)
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To: loreldan

I always liked Don Muang, which has a golf course immediately beside the runway and taxi way. The new airport is same old thing as most airports.


4 posted on 12/16/2010 3:04:53 PM PST by JimSEA
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To: JimSEA

That is in Bangkok - sorry.


5 posted on 12/16/2010 3:06:10 PM PST by JimSEA
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To: JimSEA

One of my dream destinations :)


6 posted on 12/16/2010 3:06:58 PM PST by loreldan (I'm shocked)
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To: loreldan
Scenic?
 
Well, umm. Sure.
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
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7 posted on 12/16/2010 3:08:53 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (Yes, as a matter of fact, what you do in your bedroom IS my business.)
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To: loreldan

Been to most of those airports and love the approach but the ride in into McCall, Idaho on a private jet and the approach over a lake, in the valley with woods and meadows is just stunning, with the mountains on either side.

Especially when your approach is over the lake at 500 feet and you can see people fishing from their two man boats and hearing the computer say 500 feet! 500 feet!

Just beautiful.


8 posted on 12/16/2010 3:09:55 PM PST by Vendome
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To: loreldan

The approach into Rio’s in-town airport is breathtaking. The problems start after you land.


9 posted on 12/16/2010 3:10:56 PM PST by katana (Actually, there IS something wrong with that)
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To: loreldan

San Diego inbound from the east may not be scenic, but sure is intimidating to watch the buildings ABOVE you on both sides of the aircraft...definite pucker factor...


10 posted on 12/16/2010 3:12:15 PM PST by NorCoGOP (OBAMA: Living proof that hope is not a plan.)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: loreldan

The Coast Guard Air Station in Astoria Oregon is kind of pretty...it’s right where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific.


12 posted on 12/16/2010 3:12:50 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: NorCoGOP
Nothing could top the ol' Kai Tak airport for pucker factor.

Nothing like appraoching the airstrip while looking into apartment windows and seeing people sitting watching TV.

It would be only a slight exaggeration to claim to be able to read the subtitles on the programs they had on.

13 posted on 12/16/2010 3:15:47 PM PST by skeeter
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To: loreldan

Although it is the least used landing path, Laguardia up the Hudson,with the Statue of Liberty on the left.


14 posted on 12/16/2010 3:16:23 PM PST by JohnLongIsland (time to get out of ny)
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To: loreldan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z5HtME9n8
Tegucigalpa, Honduras Toncontin airport landing


15 posted on 12/16/2010 3:17:29 PM PST by Slicksadick (Go out on a limb........Its where the fruit is.)
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To: loreldan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z5HtME9n8
Tegucigalpa, Honduras Toncontin airport landing


16 posted on 12/16/2010 3:17:44 PM PST by Slicksadick (Go out on a limb........Its where the fruit is.)
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Diving in sitting in the back 1/2 of a cargo jet is always, well, quite a ride.


17 posted on 12/16/2010 3:18:46 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto.)
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To: JohnLongIsland

I hear landing ON the Hudson in full view of Manhatten is pretty scenic too :)


18 posted on 12/16/2010 3:22:17 PM PST by loreldan (I'm shocked)
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To: JohnLongIsland

My only time to use that approach in over 30 years of flying into LGA was the first Monday after 9/11 that flights were allowed in to LGA.

We could look almost directly down into the Ground Zero crater. VERY sobering and sorrowing.


19 posted on 12/16/2010 3:23:32 PM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: loreldan

I like to fly in to Venice Municipal, KVNC. Usually fly out over the water of the gulf for final and there are great restaurants all over. You can wal to the beach.
Beautiful with golf along side and a family of Bald Eagles that use a radar tower yearly for their nest.


20 posted on 12/16/2010 3:24:22 PM PST by Joe Boucher ((FUBO))
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