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Is this the world's scariest airport?
It's the only airport where you can go straight from the plane to the ski slopes within, oh I don't know, a few dozen yards. Known as the Courcheveler Altiport (yes, that's right, they're so hardcore they don't call themselves an airport), the altiport is right in the middle, or shall we say the top, of the French Alps.The entire runaway is a mere 1,700 feet and has a 18% steepness gradient. No surprise that it's one of the must-land airports for any cocky pilot. And believe it or not, you can fly in from just about anywhere, including London (see this pilot's recount of his journey).
The best part about flying here is not only do you get to experience the landing (video here) and takeoff, the skiing's pretty good too, with some of the hardest black diamonds in the world.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Arc|Angel Jan 27th 2008 10:38AM
Was that the airstrip used in the start of the recent James Bond films (Where they had the arms bazaar and bond stole a mig?)
Patricia Jan 28th 2008 8:41PM
Flying into Medford, Oregon is quite scary as a resuly of frightening turbulence as the plane flies between mountains! Rumor has it that the seat belts are notched at the safest tightness. LOL At least that's tale my husband & his brother told me when we flew into Medford......they were right!
sue Jan 28th 2008 8:55PM
My vote is for LaGuardia..The runway is so short that when you take off the angle feels like you are taking off in a rocket ship..Straight Up... Very cool!!!
Web Jan 28th 2008 9:41PM
Midway Airport in Chicago is in the city...int the city. The end of the runways are homes and streets'
Lou Jan 28th 2008 9:42PM
1. Catapult take-off at John Wayne (Orange County CA)
2. Drop-like-a-rock landing at Lindburgh Field (San Diego CA)
3. Approach sideways through sky-scrapers Hong Kong.
JACK Jan 28th 2008 11:10PM
I AGREE WITH THE WRITER THAT THE OLD HONG KONG AIRPORT WAS AND MAYBE STILL IS, IF USED.
COMING IN BETWEEN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS WAS SCARY. I RECALL ONE APPROACH DURING RAIN AND A HIGH CROSS WIND, ROCKING THE L-1011 AND FOLLOWED BY A HARD LANDING.
CATHY PACIFIC HAS GREAT PILOTS.
Brooks Wilkinson Jan 28th 2008 9:56PM
WHY DON'T YOU GIVE THE NAMES OF THE AIRPORTS WITH THE PICTURES?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brandon Jan 28th 2008 11:20PM
The first couple of pictures are of the runway in St. Barts (The one with the plane, etc). I've been there and the planes fly just 30 feet over your head as they come in over the gap between two mountains. I believe the next grouping of pictures are of the airport in Saba, another carribean island. There is a winding road down the mountain to a strip that ends off the cliff and into the ocean. I am not sure of the photo with the runway bridge, but I believe the one with the lone runway on its own island maybe in Hong Kong. Lastly, there is another great runway experience. If you are ever in St. Maarten, visit the airport when the Air France 747 takes off. Better yet, visit the beach at the end of the runway. The 747 has to take off toward the mountains and needs as much speed as it can get to take off and get up quickly, so the pilots put the plane at the end of the runway just feet from a small road and beach, and lay on the throttle. It reminds me of the movie "Pushing Tin"... borderline dangerous. Here is the link to a KLM 747 landing over the same beach:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.prisonplanet.com/images/may2006/220506klm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forum.myspace.com/index.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dmessageboard.viewThread%26entryID%3D3286672%26adTopicID%3D16%26categoryID%3D69%26IsSticky%3D0%26Mytoken%3D185EC249-C4AA-45FF-9D8F1096B10D53AC90493637&h=298&w=440&sz=101&hl=en&start=10&um=1&tbnid=E5CiEUFe0qsjdM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSt.%2BMaarten%2B747%2Btakeoff%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
Brandon Jan 28th 2008 11:30PM
Alright, maybe not feet from the beach, but its still a rush. Here is video of the take-off:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aviationexplorer.com/st_maarten_airport_sign.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aviationexplorer.com/747_takeoff_st_maarten_sxm.htm&h=258&w=340&sz=24&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=vdyzFGzC4Y6ChM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSt.%2BMaarten%2B747%2Btakeoff%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
Tommy Jan 29th 2008 12:15AM
When PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) flew into Lake Tahoe...on a hot August mid-day in a 727 fully loaded, it was a joy to behold that man could tame this beast.
Jack Jan 29th 2008 1:09AM
If you want hair raising excitement while landing, try Dillingham Airfield an uncontrolled field on Hawai'i's Fabled North Shore during winter months. Uncontrolled, State owned, and the State think they are an FAA tower which they are not and many pilots ignore them for a straight in approach rather than pattern. It has a displaced threshold reserved for Tourist Op Glider landings and which use the entire runway for takeoff, and the far end is a warning zone for 3 Tourist Op Companies parachute jumping landings on one side (plus of course the takeoff of their carrier birds. Not to mention a usually vicious trade wind 20 to 40 degree cross wind to the runway on landing, gusts to 40 MPH and a brutal windshear at about 100 feet or so. (Variable of course!). Cute place to practice "touch and goes" on a busy week end! Ah-looooh- ha! ROR!
Dixie Jan 29th 2008 1:30AM
Flying into Vegas is fun because you literally fly right between the mountains and they look close but flying into Boston's Logan Airport is not so much scary as it is freaky. As you are landing, you are over the bay. Look out your window and the water looks like it's about 10 feet below the plane LOL! It's an optical illusion but the very first time I landed there years ago, I was half expecting to hear the landing gear SPLASH! Landings are always interesting and God bless these pilots for getting us to our destinations safely!
s.m. Jan 29th 2008 2:41AM
Actually the world's scariest airport is right here in the U.S. and it is alo the worst . . for just about everything. It is Philadelphia International. They are guraenteed to lose yur luggae, gurenteed to lose your reservation, will be at least 30 minutes late getting to the gate (even though you landed on time), will be at least 30 minutes late taking off (even though they boarded on time), are guraenteed to treat yiu like scum, and are guarnteed to have food that will poison you!!!
Sandra Jan 29th 2008 2:59AM
I once flew into an 'airport' in Botswana which consisted of a dirt track and a guy leaning on a jeep waiting for us. It was an unforgettable experience.
Steve Jan 29th 2008 3:25AM
I always thought that the Kona, Hawaii (Big Island) airport was scary,, especially when it comes to landings. As start of landing runway is at point where island meets water, you get feeling you may LAND on water. Furthermore,, you get feeling you might be landing on the MOON, when you nothing but desolate-looking volcanic-rock,,, all over the place. Thing is,, this scene is very MIS-Leading of what the whole island is all about (considering all the lush green rain forests, waterfalls, prestine beaches,, etc.,,,throughout the island).
drew Jan 29th 2008 3:53AM
The worst I saw was in Placencia,Belize. The airport there is a dirt lot,about the size of a little league baseball field,surrounded by mangroves and cocnut trees. The 'terminal' is a 20 yr old single-wide trailer...and the pilot,ticket agent,and baggage handler are all the same guy.
As for John Wayne...gotta love those noise restrictions!
Chris Jan 29th 2008 3:57AM
Santa Catalina Island, west of Orange County out in the Pacific, has an airport that sits at the top of an oceanside cliff and it's scary. The wind is pretty strong flying in and if you don't get enough elevation coming in, your plane can fly into the side of the cliff. Most of the planes that land bounce because of the short runway and the unorthodox landing.
Susan Jan 29th 2008 4:38AM
Charleston, WV is a scarey one! Runway is on the edge of a mountain peak...
pat Jan 29th 2008 11:32AM
I agree with #9, why don't you give the name of the airports
Kenny Jan 29th 2008 3:53PM
Sitka, Alaska. Very short runway, ocean at both ends.737 going sideways upon my landing in the snow and ice. The people that fly for Air Alaska are among the best in the world.