Tourists have conquered the world. There is no place on the planet that has resisted the invasion of the rich Americans, Europeans, Russians, Chinese, South Americans. Of course, to bring these people to every corner of the globe, airports had to be built in rather particular places, let's say. Here are the most dangerous airports in the world.
Saint Marteen, Caribbean
The airport is adjacent to Maho Beach, and the strip of sand is the reference that pilots have before committing to the airstrip. In practice, the aircraft trolleys pass a few meters above the heads of the swimmers. It should be emphasized that it is not a regional airport for small twin-engines, but the Boeing 747s land here, which given the relatively short runway are obliged to anticipate the maneuver, descending even lower. On the beach, a sign warns tourists that the air escaping from aircraft turbines could cause serious harm to their people.
Lukla Airport, Nepal
All expeditions to Everest arrive here, and the landing is a prime example of the thrills and dangers climbers will encounter in the Himalayan region.
The airport is located at a height of 2,850 meters above sea level, is just 527 meters long, is inclined by 12 degrees to facilitate take-off (in one direction) and landing (in the other). The take-off is carried out only on a runway whose head is placed close to a rocky wall, the landing on a runway. Landing on a runway overhanging a high cliff. All this without taking into account the conditions of visibility, snow and ice present most of the year.
Barra, Scotland
The runway of this airport is not close to a beach: it is precisely the beach on which the waves of the North Sea break. Landing aircraft pilots must also consider the tide trend before starting to descend. In fact, at high tide the track is submerged by the sea.
Saba Island, Caribbean
It is the shortest commercial runway in the world, only 400 meters; built on a rocky peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides. Landing here is only possible with small aircraft and with a strong dose of lexotan available to the pilot and passengers.
Madeira, Portugal
Here you land on a viaduct, built in the 70s to lengthen the runway, after a bad accident. Passengers who have had the experience of landing here say they were left with their hearts in their throats to see that the plane ran on a strip of asphalt a few meters wide with a void around it.
Quito, Ecuador
Short landing strip, located at 2,800 meters, in the center of the city, on a plateau surrounded by active volcanoes that force pilots to make a tight turn before positioning themselves on the descent path. All with strong winds and low air pressure due to the altitude, which forces you not to descend too much with speed. Maneuver that would cause loss of lift and stall the aircraft. It is no coincidence that the airport has a history of 9 serious accidents during the landing phase. In 2013 the new international airport of Quito, located in the valley below, relieved the old airport of most of its traffic, but the pilots are not too relieved due to the turbulence that is generated in the valley and the strong fogs that exist. in 80% of the year.
Agatti, India
Privileged stopover to reach many tourist resorts of the Indian Ocean. It is nothing more than a strip of land surrounded by water. When there are monsoons it becomes practically unusable. Well, at least in case of unforeseen events, the sea water has a good temperature.
Sources: Corriere.it
