AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (5 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3377 times:
For me:
SEA
SNA - steep take offs and landings.
DCA - Along the river.
HNL
ANC
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
MSPNWA From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 1565 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (5 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 3348 times:
My votes are U.S. only as well:
DCA - the river visual is outstanding
HNL - the downwind sector along Waikiki/Honolulu/Pearl Harbor is just beautiful.
MDW - skimming houses puts your aircraft speed into a new perspective.
ANC - when it's sunny out, few panoramas have so much to offer.
jetblueguy22 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 2021 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (5 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3333 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
My personal favorites are:
LGA-Just something about coming in over the water that I love. Even as a pilot it freaks me out to see water and then boom runway.
SYD-Only done it a handful of times but it is gorgeous
MSP-Might not be a gorgeous view, but I love the twin cities
Blue
Professor Foltz: You push down on that yolk, the houses get bigger, you pull back on the yolk, the houses get bigger.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 14, posted (5 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3275 times:
I'm highly surprised that you guys don't consider SNA awesome with the steep take-offs!
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
deltaguy767 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 633 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 3123 times:
LGA- On VFR days, great views of Manhattan and the skyline no matter the rwy, but gotta love the Expressway Visual to 31.
DCA- River visual to 19 should be on everyone's bucket list.
LCY- Steep over the Thames and plops you right in the middle of Canary Wharf
AEP- While Buenos Aires doesn't have as many distinguishable landmarks as say NYC or LON, still a fascinating approach right by the docks.
LAS- Last time we did an approach to 25R and circled to land on 19L, had us in tight by the strip, can only imagine what it must look like at night.
Gibraltar- Haven't done it personally, but visited the airport and a colleague flew in once, coming in with great views of the strait and the rock along with the added bonus of cars waiting behind the railroad style gates to cross the runway.
JAC- Breathtaking view of the Tetons on the way in.
SEA- Coming in on 16's gives you a great view of Downtown and of course BFI where you can spot the prototype B747 along with Concorde.
lewis From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3442 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 3122 times:
I did like LGA's approach, a good view of Manhattan and then a steep descent over water and very cool breaking action upon landing. I do like LAX's approach too, it is a very nice tour of LA as the aircraft fly above the city.
Is the glide path angle any different than SNA? Not to my knowledge. The initial takeoff angle on 73Gs these days is something like 18 degrees AFAIK, which really isn't much different than normal. 757s do (or at least used to) do more like 25 degrees. Now that is spectacular.
I like SJC when landing on the 30s. You fly right over downtown San Jose just before touchdown. The entire approach on the SEA-SJC flight is spectacular when sitting on the left side. First you fly down the Marin County coast. Then the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco is just to your right; then flying right over the top of SFO with the resulting Bay views. Then down over the coastal range and loop around back into the Santa Clara valley. The Loop Departure out of SJC is just as spectacular.
shamrock604 From Ireland, joined Sep 2007, 4039 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (5 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2918 times:
Of the ones i've done:
NCE - Touching down right at the waters' edge.
LHR - On the 27's for the views of the City
LCY - on RWY 09 (for same reason as above)
DUB - Approaching from the west, over the south of the city, out over Dublin bay, and into RWY 28
SFO - For the VERY close proximity to other aircraft, and the views
LAX - For endless urban sprawl.
LAS - for the strip views
SIN - For the endless amount of ships visible approaching from the sea
PEN - Because its landing in paradise
SXM - Well, because it's SXM!
Flown EI,FR,RE,EIR,VE,SI,TLA,BA,BE,BD,VX,MON,AF,YS,WX,KL,SK,LH,OK,OS,LX,IB,LTU,HLX,4U,SU,CO,DL,UA,AC,PR,MH,SQ,QF, EY, EK
jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1855 posts, RR: 17 Reply 24, posted (5 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2876 times:
My votes are below. Not surprisingly, you'll see I love urban approaches, or ones that give you an awesome introduction to the place you're visiting:
North America
LGA - a treat basically no matter which runway you come in onn. 22 is the most dull, and it's not even that bad
BOS - left side during approach to the 4s, great views of the city
LAX - it's not particularly hair-raising, but still exciting to come in over such a massive city
MDW - frighteningly close views of Chicago bungalows
SXM - this one speaks for itself
SBH - a controlled dive over the top of a hill, what's not to love?
Europe
LIS - if you're coming from the south or southwest, you're over the city until just before touchdown - great views
LHR - if landing from the east. Western approaches are super dull (Windsor Castle notwithstanding)
MAD - something about the highland landscape around MAD is just quintessentially Spanish; great sense of place
Australasia
SYD - citizens may hate the noise, but landing on the 16s, there is no doubt you're in Australia's capital!
ZQN - unbelievable views of the Southern Alps and a hair-raising corkscrew landing pattern
HND - massive city and water under the plane until the last moment
SHA - you thought Los Angeles was big and bustling?
LPQ - gorgeous mountain scenery and great views of a beautiful little town
BOM - slums, high-rises, beaches, roads choked with traffic. Welcome to India!
South & Central America
MEX - same as the others, you're right over the city and it's a big one. Love that turn onto final right over Reforma.
CGH - nothing like skyscrapers a few hundred feet below the wing
SDU - the airport on a postage stamp. Spiral approach over the water, killer views of the city and a landing that needs a tailhook!
GUA - steep descent over the mountains, the city appears out of nowhere, and you're over it until the last second
Africa & Middle East
CPT - beautiful scenery and an interesting introduction to South African society - townships right under final approach
MQP - mountains all around and a bit of a "surprise" landing, since the airport is on a plateau
LVI or VFA - with some luck and a seat on the correct side, you get a killer view of Victoria Falls
LOWS From Austria, joined Oct 2011, 981 posts, RR: 1 Reply 26, posted (5 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2808 times:
Well, I'm partial, but SZG has some great views, and sometimes I get to see my house if we get routed to the south.
I was in the US for a conference at Uni Pitt, and I ended up flying into PIT and departing from MGW to visit some people who live there. I always like flying into Pitt, especially if you go over the rivers and see the bridges.
MGW was a fun departure, given that it is kind of on the side of a mountain.
Speedbird2012 From UK - England, joined Dec 2012, 5 posts, RR: 0 Reply 28, posted (5 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2798 times:
LHR - Night approach along the Thames. Particularly good at the moment with all the Christmas lights and the Winter Wonderland attraction in Hyde Park
LCY - Personally prefer the departure, but great views of East London and Docklands.
GIB - Some great views of the rock can be had on a clear day
SIN - For the boats and the bays
LAS - The terrain and then the lights of the strip
BGI - Coming in around the bay, past the cruise ships and then into Grantley Adams
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21214 posts, RR: 19 Reply 29, posted (5 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2580 times:
One of the more unique ones that hasn't been mentioned (probably because it's not really a destination) is to 5 at CRW. You come in over the city and the valley and feel like you are about 1000' AGL when you touch down because all of the terrain that you can see is much lower than the airport.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
klm672 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 2340 posts, RR: 3 Reply 30, posted (5 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2550 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 29): One of the more unique ones that hasn't been mentioned (probably because it's not really a destination) is to 5 at CRW. You come in over the city and the valley and feel like you are about 1000' AGL when you touch down because all of the terrain that you can see is much lower than the airport.
I was just going to mention CRW. I was an FA all the times I've flown into CRW, but I hear that from the front office it's a great view.
n729pa From UK - England, joined Jan 2011, 262 posts, RR: 0 Reply 32, posted (5 months 10 hours ago) and read 2477 times:
LHR...view of the city and you get a good impression of the scale of London
SYD...Iconic view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, plus the harbour
AYQ (Ayers Rock/Uluru)....no matter how many times you've seen films/pictures of the Red Centre of Australia, nothing can prepare you for just how red it really is oput there, the soil, the sand dunes etc and plants dotted about, very unique and very unusual.
STO...I found interesting you get to realise how many islands there are in Sweden and lakes etc very interesting
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21460 posts, RR: 24 Reply 33, posted (5 months 4 hours ago) and read 2441 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 29): One of the more unique ones that hasn't been mentioned (probably because it's not really a destination) is to 5 at CRW. You come in over the city and the valley and feel like you are about 1000' AGL when you touch down because all of the terrain that you can see is much lower than the airport.
DanVS From Brazil, joined Jul 2009, 221 posts, RR: 0 Reply 34, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2294 times:
Separated by continents, like jsnww81 put:
North and Central America
JFK - Canarsie approach.
MEX - huge city, a true sea of lights at night.
Europe
LIS - lovely view of the city on approach to runway 03 (the most used rwy).
CDG - if coming from the south and depending on the runway in use, you might see most of Paris passing underneath you.
South America
IPC - one of the most remote places on earth (if not the most)!
CGH - when approaching runway 17R, you have the impression you'll crash on the buildings below (take a left seat).
SDU - basically an aircraft carrier, the shortest runways 738s operate (1.323 m/ 4,340 ft). The approach to runway 20 is nice, but landing on 02 is magnificent (not different from Kai Tak, the Sugar Loaf playing the role of the checkerboard).
VIX - landing on runway 05, you have a full view of the city on your right-hand side.
AEP - nice view of Buenos Aires if you're on the correct side of the airplane.
Africa
CPT - beautiful scenery (Table Mountain).
CAI - weather permitting, you can see the pyramids!
LVI or VFA - Victoria Falls
Australasia
ZQN - wonderful scenery (Alps and lake).
canadianpylon From Canada, joined May 2003, 273 posts, RR: 0 Reply 35, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2143 times:
My list is pretty North America-based, but it is where I've done most of my flying:
YXX - Navigating the mountains before touching down on a shorter runway. YLW is similar. YVR is up there as well.
YTZ - Landing besides the Downtown Toronto waterfront and CN tower. WOW!
LAS (at night) - When I went, we landed using the 'Stratosphere' approarch. Simply amazing with all of the lights of the Strip!
Always looking for the longest route with the most transfers.
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6270 posts, RR: 23 Reply 37, posted (4 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1874 times:
Just experienced my first LCY approach, and it didn't disappoint - very cool how quickly you go from bursting through the clouds to wheels being planted on the runway.
UA787DEN From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 291 posts, RR: 0 Reply 38, posted (4 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1871 times:
HNL, LGA, NCE, and BOS have fun OMG only 50 feet up and still above water approaches.
LGA-NYC
BOS-islands, ocean, city, lighthouse
SXM-nuff said
DCA-19 visual
DEN-on clear winter days, when you can see the snowy Rockies, downtown Denver and you approach past the fuel farm.
ANC-amazing on clear days.
These two aren't the most amazing, I just like the approach for some reason
SAN-when you are lower than the hill and near the Pacific.
CLT- if you come in at the right place you have nice city views, airport glimpses, and land past the museum.
SYD-rwy 16s
blueflyer From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3119 posts, RR: 1 Reply 40, posted (4 months 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1617 times:
LAS at night.
ANC at sunset.
LCY anytime.
ITM anytime as well. I flew in only a handful of times (when it was still the Osaka airport) and every time, the approach was pretty straight in but remarkable by how close the last buildings are (were?) to the threshold. I would always swear we'd tear off someone's roof, or at the very least their aerial, on the way down...
PHX787 From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4938 posts, RR: 15 Reply 42, posted (4 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1490 times:
Coming into PHX is really nice, especially when you're on the A side of the plane. If you're landing to the west, you pass right by ASU and Tempe Town Lake and the Mill Avenue district. A really nice photo op! Coming into the east, you fly right next to downtown, at a height lower than the Chase Tower! Also you can see the Baseball Stadium too. When coming in for a landing to the east, you fly right around Camelback and you can see all the swanky resorts in Scottsdale too.
Sponsor Message: 
From UK - England, joined Oct 2011, 3 posts, 
From Iceland, joined Jun 2011, 691 posts, 
From Greenland, joined Jun 2004, 8473 posts, 
From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4837 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 189 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Jun 2012, 183 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Oct 2011, 262 posts, 
From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2667 posts, 
From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3442 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Sep 2007, 4039 posts, 
From Finland, joined Mar 2007, 52 posts, 
From Austria, joined Oct 2011, 981 posts, 
From Brazil, joined Jul 2009, 221 posts, 
From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6270 posts, 
From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4938 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
