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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe World's 5 Craziest Airport Runways
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hoppercom/the-worlds-5-craziest-airport-runways_b_6802002.htmlThat moment when the landing gear begins to rumble, the pilot signals for the cabin crew to strap in, and the fuselage of the plane begins to drop between the clouds towards the glowing runways in the distance, is arguably one of the most nerve-wracking of flying overall. But when that runway is perched high betwixt precipitous mountains, nestled just meters away from a rolling ocean, or strewn out across a busy roadway, then it's a whole different ball game and even the most experienced travelers will find themselves perched on the edge of their seats!
Check out this list of the world's most nail-biting, hair-raising, heart-thumping and crazy airport runways, which range from soaring strips on the edge of Mount Everest, to terrifying tarmacs on the Caribbean isles. Sometimes, getting there is part of the adventure. Hopper did some research to find the world's craziest airport runways, and you may be surprised by where they are!
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Capt.Rocky300
(1,005 posts)Long runways and no terrain close to the airport. Other than gusty winds now and then it is pretty straight forward. It has been 5 years since I was there so maybe something has changed?
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)and they had to build the taxiway around it?
Capt.Rocky300
(1,005 posts)than a safety issue.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)I've used that airport dozens of times. I've never seen them taxiing around a housing development.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)The runway my flights always use is the A runway so I wouldn't have noticed the other runway.
Ryano42
(1,577 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)Pilots basically had to do aerial acrobatics with a 747 full of passengers.
Capt.Rocky300
(1,005 posts)it was a fun approach to fly in decent weather. Not sure passengers felt the same way.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Shoot a huge plane between the mountains and then pray for an actual landing as you dropped the bird out of the sky like a bag of wet cement to hit the runway. Never flew into it though.
panader0
(25,816 posts)I had flown quite a bit by then, but that one was scary. I did like the Tiger Balm Gardens though.
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)Except maybe the Gibraltar airport.
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)Initech
(100,103 posts)Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)Take off:
&feature=relatedand landing:
2naSalit
(86,781 posts)I think that experience would certainly cure me of flying.
At least for takeoff there seem to be a situation where there could be rotors (updraft) at the edge to help with lift once you run out of tarmac.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)phylny
(8,387 posts)at LGA
Capt.Rocky300
(1,005 posts)is a mystery. A non-precision approach over downtown filled with high rise buildings to a shortened runway (displaced threshold) so the airplanes can clear the parking garage. It truly is crazy. At least the GPS approach has reduced the risk somewhat.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)I've landed at GA airports at night that only had runway lights and nothing else. No PAPI/VASI, and no approach of any kind. I landed at one that had no lights on the taxiway, so getting back to the runway after refueling was a pretty good trick. I tend to avoid those these days, regardless of how cheap the fuel is. Now my requirement for landing at night is a precision approach (which for me means an ILS) and/or a PAPI/VASI.
2naSalit
(86,781 posts)Lindbergh a lot back in the 70s. I also never liked being at the corner of PCH and Laural Street unless it was after curfew.
Did they turn Convair into a parking lot? I remember one night when it was too foggy to land and we made three attempts only to realize that we were about to set down on top of the Convair complex each time. the pilot finally bailed and we ended up in Phoenix late at night, had to wait for over and hour for a voucher for a cheap room where I vibrated for an hour before I had to get up and get shuttled back to the airport, put on a different airline and finally made it home that afternoon. Meanwhile the folks at Lindbergh told our friends and relatives waiting for our arrival that they sent us to LAX. My ride was going to drive up there to get me but I'm glad they didn't. I was coming in from BOS and it was an all day journey with a tech delay in PIT... it was a very long day in transit. Ugh!
I heard that pilots once had a little inside contest to see who could leave rubber closest to the intersection at PCH and Laural Street.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)brooklynite
(94,729 posts)....may not be an easy airport to visit the beach at...