10 Most Extreme Airports on the History Channel

[Joe]

This aired earlier in the week and I DVR'ed it, but only found out about it a half hour before airtime, or I'd have posted about it then. Anyway, here they are (many will be familiar).

10. Lindburgh Field @ San Diego en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindbergh_Field

9. Funchal @ Madeira, Portugal en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira_Airport

8. Eagle County @ Vail, CO en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_County_Airport

7. Courcheval @ Courcheval ski area, France en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courchevel_Airport

6. Kai Tak @ Hong Kong (closed)(Checkerboard approach) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Tak_Airport

5. Gibralter @ Gibralter territory en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibralter_Airport

4. Princess Julianna @ St. Maarten en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Julianna_International_Airport

3. Gustaf III @ St. Barth's en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustaf_III_Airport

2. Toncontin @ Tegucigalpa, Honduras en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toncont%C3%ADn_International_Airport

1. Tenzing-Hillary @ Lukla, Nepal en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lukla_Airport

[louross]

I'd have to say that apparently the History Channel doesn't know much about "exreme airports". Courchevel and Lukla, okay. But what's extreme about the others? A beach at the end of the runway at St. Marteen? Extreme maybe for the beach folks, but nothing for the pilots. Checkerboard Approach, hasn't existed for years, ever since the airport was shut down.
Vail???. Tell me is extreme about that one. Aspen is more "extreme", and I wouldn't even call it extreme- interesting for the pax, but only if they are sitting on the right side during final. KTEX (Telluride is maybe extreme, but only if you are landing and the wx is minimums). Flew many a flight into Aspen, Vail, and some flights into many others in the Colo Rockies. Nice views. San Diego??? etc, etc, etc.

[Joe]

I was surprised they chose St. Maarten because it was ONLY because of the beachcombers in the jetblast, though I have to admit that's a tad impressive given 747's go in and out of there. I would have definitely chosen Saba's Juancho E. Yrausquin instead.

They chose Lindburgh because it's the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the world and thus one of the most congested(?) and it's near the center of town with a tall parking garage on one end. They probably could have found better.

I was glad they picked Kai Tak because the cherckerboard was legendary and it was good to hear about it-- and so what if it's been closed a while-- it's the HISTORY channel, no?

[Tom Goodrick]

I saw that show. I could not believe Lindberg made the list. I thought St Maarten's was a joke. It's only extreme for the girls in bikinis. The show made a good case for Toncontin in Honduras. Funchal was another one they made a fair case for. That one has tough visual cues.

[Allen Peterson]

Well, interesting that you mention Toncontin. Flight #6 on the WR 2010 is from Poptun, Guatemala (MGPP) to Teguciagalpa, Honduras - Toncontin (MHTG). And if I got the flight situation file right, it will be a dusk - at best - landing. I'm about 30 minutes out, I'll save the flight again just before I start the circling approach. Wish me luck.

[louross]

Show us the photos, Allen.
lr.

[Allen Peterson]

Well, I made it, not the best landing, got a littlt low and slow on approach. Had to make a pretty steep descent to get down from 7600' to 3249'. My time was 136 minutes, should have been 132 minutes. I won't know about the fuel usage until the scores are posted. And I got a little busy on the circling, didn't take any screen shots.

30 minutes out of MHTG



Getting lined up



Starting down from 6700'



Approach



Ready to flare



Rolling out



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