Airindia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1546 posts, RR: 1 Posted (11 years 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1779 times:
Out of the n number of airports in the world there may be many where the landing approaches are nasty. It may be due to the geographical instances or due to demographic trends.
For eg: the landing approach at the Leh Airport (Leh is the highest airport in the world) is very risky as the ILS approach is not possible. The plane has to turn around a mountain while descending after which the runway is visible. Considering this along with the high altitude weather patterns it takes nerves to manouver a n a/c there.
LMML 14/32 From Malta, joined Jan 2001, 2559 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1595 times:
Yes re-Kai Tak. You will find numerous pictures, and even videos, of dodgy approaches on the internet. The most interesting videos I've seen are the Alitalia MD-11 and the Korean Air Freighter. I have lost the links to these two vids. Maybe someone else can help.
N949WP From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2000, 1437 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1498 times:
While the approach at Kai Tak was tricky, it certainly wouldn't qualify as nasty. I'm sure there are plenty of airports around the world with equally tricky approaches, and others where the price for even the smallest screw-up is crashing. The only difference is that at most of those airports, the biggest plane you're likely to see is a 737; while at Kai Tak, you have 747's roaring by every few minutes.
Wannabe From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1418 times:
I've gotta believe that if you could get good long distance shots from about 500 feet up, 13L at JFK would give some pretty interesting photo's. It's a Kai-Tak type approach in that you are making a right turn from base onto a short final. It's just that, since the terrain around there is all flat, it's hard to get the kind of dramatic photo's Kai-Tak produced.
Ts-ior From Tunisia, joined Oct 2001, 3298 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1358 times:
Nice cote-d'azur is said to be a dangerous airport and this is not because of the relief but because of the STARs and SIDs which are for nose abatement.
GARUDAROD From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 1477 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1320 times:
I dont know if they still are difficult, but LIH, Kauai
you used to fly in over the coast and then make a
quick descending 180 before the mountain to get down
on the runway.
SJD, Los Cabos Mexico you have to make the approach
between 2 mountain peaks, then turn and descend
over the ocean and land between the perimeter of
the ocean one side and the mountains at the other.
Wouldnt necessarily call them nasty, but if your
not expecting the sudden movements they can
certainly get your attention....
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7696 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1199 times:
One particularly nasty landing approach is landing at SAN. That six-story parking structure right at the end of the runway is a collision waiting to happen, in my opinion.
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (11 years 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1145 times:
TGU in Tegucigalpa in Honduras is pretty challenging partly because of the mountains and the short runway.
Airindia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1546 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (11 years 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1056 times:
There is one airport in The Netherlands Antilles i guess where the a/c land a few feet from the beach. That must be really risky. Is it true that the Schipol approach is also a bit chalenging as i guess there are simulators for the pilots to train .
Airindia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1546 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (11 years 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 957 times:
Was the crosswinds at Kai Tak made it challenging or was it the low City scape approach. Tried the approach on the MS Flight Sim on a 737.....crashed on the turn ...
NZ767 From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 1620 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (11 years 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 839 times:
Airindia,
Crosswinds at Kai Tak used to add to the fun but the real deal was that they had to track the IGS (Inertial Guidance System as opposed to ILS) towards the checkerboard located on a hill and then the right turn at around 400 feet to line up with the runway.
Not much room for error.
A320-Addict From Belgium, joined Apr 2001, 250 posts, RR: 7 Reply 17, posted (11 years 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 793 times:
Some very nasty approaches, and runways can be found on many of the Greek Islands.
Islands like Mitilini and Chios have only a runway under 1500m..... There is not much room if you need a minimum of 1200m or 1300m to land , on most of the charterplanes (depending on the weight). Even if you float a little you might be ending up with wet feet, or of the runway. I consider those as most challenging...
Others like Iraklion have a bit of a longer runway but have very limited approach facilities. In Iraklion you make a non precision of-set approach coming over the water, which on short final takes you dangerously close to a mountain ridge. At night the approach is even more challening because of the limited lightening system of the airport.
I do agree most of these destinations have beautiful weather during summer, and often you can make a visual approach, but even in these months they can be very nasty.
A third difficulty is the terrain. Some airports have long runways, equiped with an ILS and full light facilities, but the approach takes you over (very) high terrain.
Some airports in Turkey are very known for this...
Antalya, Dalaman, Izmir... sometimes the approach controller provides you with radar vectors there, but letting you descent way too early, a real hazard for CFIT (Controlled flight into terrain) One mistake could be fatal.
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From Belgium, joined Apr 2001, 250 posts, 
, on most of the charterplanes (depending on the weight). Even if you float a little you might be ending up with wet feet, or of the runway. I consider those as most challenging... 
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