The Scariest Airports to Fly Into

[wings7]

Anyone have the pleasure to land at anyone of these and survive? [X(]
http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/th ... Le#image=1

Patrick

[terje439]

Only JFK which I did not find very terrifying, not sure why that is on the list.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: terje439

Only JFK which I did not find very terrifying, not sure why that is on the list.

It is explained. Didn't you read it?

JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Believe it or not, one of the world's busiest airports is also home to one of the most nerve-racking runways. The approach JFK's runway 13L gives pilots little room for mistakes—the waters of Jamaica Bay surround the runaway and the airport's required circular flight pattern affords only five miles of visibility for incoming planes. But the views of the city as you land—totally worth the momentary scare.

[rhondabrwn]

Going to look these up in MS Flight Simulator X and give them a try!

My scariest airport isn't on the list... it was a routine descent into Chicago O'Hare when our Boeing 737 got routed into the slipstream of the 747 Jumbo landing in front of us.

Suddenly the plane was rocking violently, rolling to the right, then back to the left, then back to the right (harder and deeper), then back to the left, even harder and we were nearly vertical. The engines were roaring at full power and we fell off to the left out of that near vertical bank, probably about 150 feet off the ground, and then, miraculously pulled level and gained altitude. The pilot came on and apologized for the "inconvenience" and said very professionally that we were going around for another approach in hopes that Air Traffic Control could get it right this time!

No one screamed through the entire episode... we just held on for dear life and gave the pilot of big round of applause for saving our lives My company had nearly half their senior staff on board that plane... it was serious enough that the rule went in to effect that no more than 4 company people could ever be booked onto the same flight in the future.

Makes a good story.

2nd story... Indianapolis International... landing in the middle of a heavy snowstorm with violent cross winds. As we crossed over the fence the plane was rocking violently... and instead of landing we continued to fly down the runway at full speed and still rocking with an altitude of maybe 20 feet. I watched the terminal go by as we were still in the air (my children were there and watching), and then about half way down the runway, there was a momentary calm... the plane stabilized and instantly dropped smoothly onto the runway... engines roaring to break our speed. It was actually one of the gentlest touchdowns I have experienced on a plane and under the worst conditions. Another huge round of applause for the pilot who probably saved our collective asses.

Makes me wonder how many "close calls" there are every day that don't make the news?

[Gilmer]

I have flown into Princess Juliana on Sint Maarten. I did not find it particularly scary on the flight in, but I have been down on the beach when they were coming in and that puts it in a little perspective.

I've flown into Newark's airport, and part of the reason that whole triumvirate of airports, I think JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark's is that they are all so close to one another and all are very, very busy. When I flew in and out of Newark a delay could run into several hours at the time because the schedules were so tight. (seemed like it anyway). I flew into Newark about 8 months before 9/11/2001 and you could change planes on the fly very easily before 9/11. I got there early on a Friday and was scheduled to fly at 12 PM. They got me on to a 7:00 AM flight with no fuss and I was home in my house at the time I was originally scheduled to board. Nice.

[SeaMonkey]

With HG on St.Maarten, no big deal. Now there is a little puddle jumper called Windward Air that makes runs throughout the Carib. Flying to St.Eustatius on business a few times had me touching down in a place called San Saba, very short runway and of course the planes have those overhead wings for the very steep landings.

Mountains up close and very personal, especially when you observe the wreckage of a like flying aircraft at the end of the runway. What do you do? What can you do! Swallow!

[echidna_slith]

I have flown into Tenzing-Hillary at Lukla and it isn't the drop off that is the scary bit; it's the stone wall at the other end when you are coming into land that puts the wind up you.

I've also flown into Paro and when they make the last minute turn to line up with the runway you cannot help think that the wing tip is going to hit the ground and send the plane cartwheeling up the runway.