Crazy Airports

[habernac]

LOL. Yep, we're getting mooned.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Is it just me or is the closest person to us in the picture buck naked?

Haha! First thing I noticed too!!

[Muta]

I'd say a fighter jet landing on an aircraft carrier would arguably be the hardest landing to accomplish.

[mykalberta]

The KL SXM landing seems very low, I wonder why approaches from the other end arent preformed, I dont remeber a mountain or any terrain on the other side of the airport the last time I was there and the winds dont look overly bad to force an approach from that end.

I may be wrong, the 5 days in Martinique were very unforgettable

MYK

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The KL SXM landing seems very low, I wonder why approaches from the other end arent preformed, I dont remeber a mountain or any terrain on the other side of the airport the last time I was there and the winds dont look overly bad to force an approach from that end.

I may be wrong, the 5 days in Martinique were very unforgettable

MYK

There is a large cliff behind runway 27 (the other direction) and there are no instrument landing systems for guidance on that end.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by habernac

LOL. Yep, we're getting mooned.

Time to adjust your monitor, she's wearing a bikini

[Maritime Q-Scout]

She is wearing a bikini, but I did a double take for sure.

Also, isn't the best landing to come in over water? Aren't there less variables, and more space to move when landing? I could very well be mistaken, but I thought that was the theory behind putting airports relatively close to water (it was also one of the arguments for the space launching station in Cape Breton, the shuttles can decend over water causing less disruption/noise for people, then land just off the water).

Also while it looks close, I can't imagine there ever being a real problem of a plane landing. If you're flying a 747 for a major airline and can't land it on the runway you shouldn't be flying.

[SteveToms]

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0809669/M/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0381518/M/

That's why the land over water

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Also, isn't the best landing to come in over water? Aren't there less variables, and more space to move when landing?

Usually it's because the airport is within a city and landing in the other direction would bring planes over populated areas when on approach. What it really boils down to is noise. However, like the St. Maarten airport, some airports are built near the water just so they can have an approach that's feasible. If they placed it in the middle of the island, both runway approaches would probably not be capable of any large body aircraft.

Better to have one really good instrument approach and a so-so one than having two so-so approaches.

[Smyth's Skate]

How about Male', Maldives. Great place to be a tourist, crappy place to work.

[Smyth's Skate]

How about Lukla in Nepal. Airstrip elevation is 9200'.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LCQVLw_4brY

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rq_S_vAsiuo

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Smyth's Skate

How about Male', Maldives. Great place to be a tourist, crappy place to work.

I remember looking at this place on Google Earth and seeing how the island was barely big enough to host an airstrip. IIRC, the highest point in elevation in the Maldives is like 1 or 2 metres. I wouldn't expect there to be much left of this country in 100 years.

[icarus]

Some other modest airports:

Palmyra Atoll:


Baker Island:


Johnston Atoll:

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Smyth's Skate

How about Lukla in Nepal. Airstrip elevation is 9200'.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LCQVLw_4brY

That one looks pretty tough to me, and in an amazing setting.

[Smyth's Skate]

Originally Posted by icarus

I remember looking at this place on Google Earth and seeing how the island was barely big enough to host an airstrip. IIRC, the highest point in elevation in the Maldives is like 1 or 2 metres. I wouldn't expect there to be much left of this country in 100 years.

The first time I went to work in the Maldives, I rode the jump seat on a Singapore Airlines A310 and believe me, I was sure that there was not enough room for us to land. The captain assured me he would do his best to keep the plane out of the water. That made me feel a ton better!

[Smyth's Skate]

Originally Posted by icarus

That one looks pretty tough to me, and in an amazing setting.

Yep, pretty as all get out, but lots of incidents happen there.

[Smyth's Skate]

Originally Posted by icarus

I remember looking at this place on Google Earth and seeing how the island was barely big enough to host an airstrip. IIRC, the highest point in elevation in the Maldives is like 1 or 2 metres. I wouldn't expect there to be much left of this country in 100 years.

Here is our setup in the Maldives

[MRCboicgy]

Here's one that Suomo over at the Oilfans pointed out to me. Pasto Colombia

He says that he did this one not realizing he would be landing on what is a shaved off mountain As a passenger only being able to see out the side, takeoffs and landings were rather scary. Basically there is no room for error on either end of the runway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0H8D3XLG6I

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Smyth's Skate

Who needs a stinkin' airport!

Here is the company I work for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8wmZ6hhpg8

Is this the vid of the Otter landing with almost zero ground roll? If so, could you repost it please?

Thanks,
Scott

[Flames in 07]

I don't have any links but when landing in San Diego it feel like you need to lift your feet up to avoid the buildings.