Most Dangerous Airports
Eurotripper
Posted on: Sat, 10/05/2008 - 08:37
A low approach over water can always be dramatic, but landing in the mountains adds excitement as well.
From personal experience; I can tell you that Denver (DEN), Colorado Springs, San Diego, Zurich & Hong Kong (Old Airport) can be quite a harrowing experience on approach & landing… Flagstaff too!
Mike@havebeerwilltravel.com
I’ve flown in and out of DEN countless times—what was the problem for you, Sunskin?
The only time I was ever a bit worried was during a snowstorm delay. We must have circled for 45 minutes before finally landing. What a way to come home from spring break.
For me, Washington National (Reagan) is pretty tight; so is Chicago Midway, New York’s LaGuardia and London Northolt (not sure if Northolt is a Civil Airport anymore – I keep seeing it referred to as RAF Northolt).
Yes, thanks for the clarification, Eddie (and it’s good to see you back!)
The time we circled in the snowstorm, we were landing at DEN, the old Stapleton, which is no longer in aviation use.
(But the airport code for the new Denver International Airport is DEN.)
CIL & Eddie; I have had two flights into DEN during fast-developing snow storms. It’s certainly not as consistantly “bouncy” as Colo. Springs. T=Incidentally, Colo Springs is a fun, and picturesque lil airport. One side is all mountains, and they designed it with large, open windows and no obstructions on that side. Also, there is a nice lil play area for toddlers, and, most importantly,,,, a pretty cool Gordon Biersch Brew House! I flew-into the new DEN a few months ago, and it was very snowy, with winds gusting up to 45 mph.
Mike@havebeerwilltravel.com
I can relate, Sunskin. It was a March snowstorm that we dealt with at DEN.
In all the time I lived in Colorado, I never once flew in or out of the Springs, sounds like a nice little airport.
It was early March for me too! It would have been more of a white-knuckler, but we could see the weather was getting hairy when we left ATL (Delta) 4 or 5 hours earlier. The Captain warned us again 2 hrs before approah/landing. Therefore; I relaxed with about 5 lil bottles of red wine… Okay, maybe six – at $5 a pop! She gave me one freebie though…
Mike@havebeerwilltravel.com
Why call it new DEN it’s been open since 1995. The airport is huge and has 6 runways, with the potential to expand out to 12, it you think landing there is hairy then I suggest you never fly into Wellington NZ or any of the stol airports in Norway.
Yessir. I have heard many times that the Scandanavian approaches can be hairy!
Mike@havebeerwilltravel.com
St Martin was pretty hairy. When the planes take off, people line up along the fence and get blown into the water from the jet wash!
Whoa. Talk about close to the water.
Yeah, St Martin was number 1 on the list.
_“Countless photos of large jets flying at 10—20 m/30-60 ft over relaxing tourists at the beach have been dismissed as fakes many times, but are nevertheless real. For this reason as well it has become a favourite for planespotters. Despite the difficulties in approach, there has been no records of major aviation incidents at the airport.” _
Naw any good pilot can land on a clear runway. The only time I white knuckle it is when the conditions are crappy, you ever been in a jumbo jet and you can feel it fishtailing due to ice? Its a weird sensation to feel something so big sliding like that! Of course its not like fish tailing in a car but still a pretty scary.
I just landed and took off from #7 Lukla airport, within the last couple of weeks. It’s scary, but thrilling at the same time!
I have a good friend who flies Airbus A 319’s for United. He told me that Mountainous regions, where ya kind of drop in quickly (Hong Kong), have the worst conditions for landing on seemingly clear days.. Why? Because you are decending a bit faster than a normal (slow) decent, and the cross-winds can change greatly within a matter of 5 to 10 secs.
Mike@havebeerwilltravel.com