Vote for your favourite airport approach
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: London
Last year Sion (LSGS) won PrivateFly's most scenic airport approach from the flight deck. BBC Coverage Daily Mail.
Here is the short list for this year: 2011 Favourite Airport Approaches
Do you agree with this, or have we missed out your favourite airport approach?
Also what do you think makes an airport approach special for a pilot? Is it just the scenery, or does a technically challenging landing make an airport a more special entry in your log book?
Here is the short list for this year: 2011 Favourite Airport Approaches
Do you agree with this, or have we missed out your favourite airport approach?
Also what do you think makes an airport approach special for a pilot? Is it just the scenery, or does a technically challenging landing make an airport a more special entry in your log book?
Last edited by PrivateFly; 25th October 2011 at 21:06.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 27
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From: London
Last year we kept voting within the private jet community. This year we have opened it up to everyone. The idea is to celebrate and try to bring back the glamour of flying; especially to less known airports.
My favourite still has to be London City. No landing is ever the same at LCY and the views across London are second to none.
My favourite still has to be London City. No landing is ever the same at LCY and the views across London are second to none.
Gnome de PPRuNe



Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Best one I've observed from the cockpit is Catalina Island - cliff off both ends and, as I recall, a bit of a hump in the middle which can lead to some heavy braking as evidenced by some skid marks! Excellent landing by my mate and apparently the first time he had ever flown a low wing aircraft (an Archer). Having three porkers in the aircraft with him probably helped deal with the ground effect!
Also sat in the jump seat of a GB 737 quite a few years ago for a landing at Gib - nice tour around the rock and Algeciras Harbour courtesy of a GCA approach, before lining up on an impossibly short looking strip of concrete - we were comfortably at taxy speed by the road of course!
Also sat in the jump seat of a GB 737 quite a few years ago for a landing at Gib - nice tour around the rock and Algeciras Harbour courtesy of a GCA approach, before lining up on an impossibly short looking strip of concrete - we were comfortably at taxy speed by the road of course!

Joined: Nov 2000
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From: on the beach
Kai Tak without a shadow of a doubt.
Having been very fortunate in years past to ride the jump seat, this was without question the most special experience. Imagine low cloud, gusting wind and driving rain; add in the occasional views of the houses below and the 90 degree right hand bank to final.
Magical
Having been very fortunate in years past to ride the jump seat, this was without question the most special experience. Imagine low cloud, gusting wind and driving rain; add in the occasional views of the houses below and the 90 degree right hand bank to final.
Magical
Avoid imitations



Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Kai Tak without a shadow of a doubt.
Having been very fortunate in years past to ride the jump seat, this was without question the most special experience. Imagine low cloud, gusting wind and driving rain; add in the occasional views of the houses below and the 90 degree right hand bank to final.
Magical
Having been very fortunate in years past to ride the jump seat, this was without question the most special experience. Imagine low cloud, gusting wind and driving rain; add in the occasional views of the houses below and the 90 degree right hand bank to final.
Magical
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,777
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Last year Sion (LSGS) won PrivateFly's most scenic airport approach from the flight deck. BBC Coverage Daily Mail.
I like going to Olbia also, though that is more because of the "scenery" in dark blue pencil skirts in the FBO.

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,278
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From: Chedburgh, Bury St.Edmunds
I'm with Capetonian. Cape Town on two delightful occasions in glorious weather. Best view I have had from any airliner, except possibly Concorde at 55,000 feet, but that wasn't an approach.

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 93
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From: Ireland
This is strictly from an SLF aspect, but my vote is the approach to 03 at Lisbon: right over the heart of the city, and over the Tagus (25 April) bridge. I once lived under the approcah at about 3mn from the threshold: fond memories whether as a ground-based looker-on, or in a window seat trying to spot our apartment balcony.




Never knew whether you were going to finish up in the sea, hanging from a washing line or Arrivals.