Most difficult approaches
Hey to all you airline pilots out there. Whats is that hardest approach to an airport and why. Weather NOT playing a part though.
Thanx all replies appreciated |
are you asking for type of approach or actual airport name?
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First has to be Katmandu because of terrain, weather and VOR app.(so
many accidents there). Quito is a tough airport too. due to the airport elevation, weather and high terrain. Peshawer in Pakistan is also interesting due to terrain, weather,and the VOR app. Leeds Bradford because of the displaced threshold, very short runway and the Runway slope,( lots of incidents and accidents) |
Samos (LGSM), Greece
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Samos is lethal and should be nuked.
(It might be OK in a 73 but not a 320 with 180 on board). |
Try Gilgit - GIL\OPGT even in a 146
Cheers mcdhu |
Having seen the VOR/DME to 09 at Samos from the pointy end, saying it's bloody impressive is an understatement!
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Some of my own particular favourites to get the heart racing are, in no particular order:
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Some of my favorite airports were
Kai Tak http://images.google.com/images?sour...num=1&ct=title Hold onto your breath... La Paz, Bolivia... Used to set land speed records on departure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Alto...tional_Airport Cuzco, Peru... stay away from the cocao leaves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFGjSgk-Hlk Tegucigalpa, Honduras... also referred to as the "GOOSE". Alot more fun in the 727. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z5HtME9n8 Sure miss those airports |
Salzburg,Innsbruck,Naples,Arrecife on 21,anywhere less than7000ft long in a widebody.
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Chambery is always interesting:eek:. Especially missed approaches, 80/260's, local traffic, 36 approaches, Bad weather, narrow taxiways, HIGH GROUND EVERYWHERE and much more!:\
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s_a_t/1643175330/ |
I see no-one here has been to Papua New Guinea.
All those above are child's-play compared to some of the runways there. Here's one that's a little bit hard - Fane, in the highlands. http://www.billzilla.org/fane.jpg Something like a 12° slope, a small flat area on the top and a ~2,000' drop at the bottom. Then there's Kamuli, which is similar but is bent in the middle. And yes, both these are RPT airports. To land - you have to land uphill and takeoff downhill - you fly level or climb a bit and then flare positively and go to takeoff power to make the top. To takeoff, just add enough powre to start it rolling from the top. :) And yes, there's worse around Asia as well. |
You can land anywhere.....ONCE :}
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Yep, 18-Wheeler has got the right idea. Indeed, so has CiFIcare because, if you don't get it right the first time, the very best result you can hope for is that the aeroplane won't ever make another landing anywhere else. Take a look at these One-way strips used by RPT in PNG :eek: :ok:
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Closer to home for us Europeans is the circle to land on 36 in Calvi which can be a bit daunting. 737-800s were not really made for such an approach but still we made it!
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homebase. means vacation is over.:p
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In the US
KBOS 33R, before the improvements Hilton Head SC New Haven Conn., RWY 14/32 Nite, VIS 15 to KCRW in CRJ200, be careful:= Just a few to make the hair stand up a bit... |
Heho in Myanamar is quite interesting.
Take the 140 radial from Mandalay VOR, SA around 9000ft. At the third ridge descend into the bowl in the hills or if overcast, take the 4th, descend over the lake and nip over the saddle to the south back in to the valley. NDB approach isn't worth even thinking about. Or Bagan.....from Mandalay head for the Irrawady to the North, turn westish and follow the river. At the third island turn south....voila. |
What do you think about these ones.....:)
http://www.aspeterpan.com/ then click on "aviosuperfici and ghiacciai" and choose what do you want to see. have fun Ciao |
Bristol UK on a bad weather day can be a bit challenging.
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CAT B / CAT C airfields
i would assume that most of the strips in PNG are CAT C due to the obvious un orthodox high risk nature of the arrivals and departures, being conducted in unfavourable winds, terrain, devoid of navaids, conditions of the runway, slope, steep gradient for the desent, cloud base, etc etc.
Any of you gents care to explain in detail perhaps the definitons of CAT B and CAT C airfields? tried everything under the sun, googled and so forth and came up dry on this one. maybe some bush pilots current or ex, may fill me in.. thanks guys and fly happy Ace:ok: |
The different categories will be laid out in your ops manual. Extract from ours:-
(a) Category A (unrestricted). An aerodrome which satisfies all of the following requirements: (i) an approved Instrument approach procedure; (ii) at least one runway with no performance limited procedure for take-off and/or landing; (iii) published circling minima not higher than 1000 ft agl; and (iv) night operations capability. (b) Category B. An aerodrome which does not satisfy the Category A requirements or which requires extra considerations such as: (i) non-standard approach aids and/or patterns; or (ii) unusual local weather conditions; or (iii) unusual characteristics or performance limitations; or (iv) any other relevant considerations including obstructions, physical layout, lighting etc. (c) Category B**. There are special needs for a Category B** airfield that fall between the Cat B and C requirements. These are airfields that have terrain, ATC or other environmental considerations such that the company has specified particular requirements, but that does not have to satisfy the recency requirements of a Category C airfield. (d) Category C. An aerodrome that requires additional considerations to a Category B** aerodrome. Category C airfields require the Commander to prove aerodrome competence within the previous 12 month validity period as indicated by a valid Category C airfield certificate. |
In my post.........
circling is not allowed:):):):):) |
maybe just me but the VOR app to 21 in ACE can spoil the previous 4 hours of routine.
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The only A, B, C codes related to aerodromes that I'm aware of are the ICAO codes in Annex 14 and, of course, none of them have any bearing on the sort of strips that you've seen in my photos. But, yes, the broad concept of the "C" code, as explained by kishna is pretty close.
There are recency requirements for pilots operating into places like these and they also need a certain amount of animal cunning to interpret strip conditions prior to landing. This includes a requirement for knowledge of the route, or routes, to and from these aerodromes. There's no "airfield certificate" for these places because the rules here don't require aerodrome certification as a distinction is drawn between aircraft, based on seating capacity. These aerodromes are served by aircraft with seating for up to 19 passengers and this is the cut-off point for certification under our rules. The regulator places the responsibilty on the operator to ensure that the aerodrome is safe for their operations. This requirement has been responsible for operators ceasing services to some of these places. |
nice thread :eek:
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I have done Samos 09 twice on a 757 and didn't think of it as a difficult approach. It's one of the more interesting for sure.
One of the more difficult is probably Nassarsuaq Greenland on a 757. 1800 m Rwy landing with a downslope of -2.7% and the Rwy overrun would put you in the ocean. That was an interesting one as well. |
One of the more difficult is probably Nassarsuaq Greenland on a 757. 1800 m Rwy landing with a downslope of -2.7% and the Rwy overrun would put you in the ocean. That was an interesting one as well. |
Well challenging approaches that i've flown, LOWI, ENAT and Jackson hole WY.
There's probably many more, but my memory aint what it used to be :suspect: |
Are you guys serious about 757 or DC-8s using BGBW or do you mean Sondestrom? BGBW is Cat A and B only. BGBW only has 6004 feet of total runway length.
GF |
I've been to BGBW a few times over the last couple of years and yes, I would agree that it can be challenging. Air Greenland operate a 757 into there and apparently land on both 07 and 25. Minima are published for Cat A, B and C. (Not D).
I would doubt that a DC-8 could get in there though. |
Gilgit OPGT - as mentioned interesting, however Chitral definitely worse - OPCH.
However my "favorite" still is Yakawlang in Afghanistan. 8700 ft gravel, only open during summer, and usually ISA +20....... :} |
NDB A TRUE (GNSS) for CYXP - Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada.
http://airphotos.nrcan.gc.ca/photos1...a31623_030.jpg http://charts.ivao.ca/CAP1/CYXP.pdf |
Maybe not as bad as some, but Juneau and Kodiak can be sporting. Pusan Circle 18R is a pain, but mostly because of company "procedures."
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Are you guys serious about 757 or DC-8s using BGBW or do you mean Sondestrom? BGBW is Cat A and B only. BGBW only has 6004 feet of total runway length On that occasion I was passing through on ferry flights quite frequently. |
Pusan Circle 18R is a pain, but mostly because of company "procedures."
Not to mention the hills. It works to TERPS standards, not PANSOPS. At 2.3 miles, you're just inside the highway. Go outside it and you're in for a whole load of hurt at night - as an Air China 767 found out in 2001 when they didn't appreciate the difference between the circling minima for the two standards! The big problem with PUS 18R is if you're using it, it usually means you have a 30knt plus quartering tailwind which makes the approach a challenge. We have Kathmandhu and Pusan on our network and I'd rather fly into KTM than the Pusan circling approach at night. |
Quote: Are you guys serious about 757 or DC-8s using BGBW or do you mean Sondestrom? BGBW is Cat A and B only. BGBW only has 6004 feet of total runway length Yes, I watched an SK DC-8-63 land at BGBW on more than one occasion back in the eighties - I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Charters from Copenhagen, I think. On that occasion I was passing through on ferry flights quite frequently. twochai is offline Reply BTW, my vote goes to Saba, Lukla and old RWY at GIB:) |
issi noho
maybe just me but the VOR app to 21 in ACE can spoil the previous 4 hours of routine. |
Milford Sound in the South Island of NZ. Here's a pic of someone taking the easy way in via rwy 11.
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/p...jzqf7fkpkw.jpg |
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