10 terrifying airports you really don’t want to land at
Don’t you love that feeling of arriving at an airport,
heading straight to the Duty Free and then moseying on over to the bar
for a glass of well-deserved pre-holiday bubbly?
Well after you’ve taken a look at these horrifying runways, you’ll
probably never want to fly away on an exotic adventure again without
first checking out the airport on Google Images.
It’s a wonder how some of these hideous runways are even legal. Prepare to have your insides petrified by these scary airports…
1. Sea Ice Runway, Antarctica
The thing that’s so casual about this runway is that it’s entirely
made of ice, which means that too much pressure – such as perhaps the
weight of an airplane – could cause it to crack. Not just that, but
surely it must be icy and slippery? Pilots are advised to try not to
sink more than 10 inches into the ice. Must be a fun game when you’re
controlling a plane going really fast.
2. Maketane Air Strip, Africa
What’s more exciting than a short runway followed by a deathly drop?
Pretty much nothing. This air strip in Lesotho means pilots have to drop
off the edge of the cliff and then fly. Oh and just in case that wasn’t
enough of a challenge, there are some nice high mountains straight
afterwards.
3. Barra, Scotland
On the plus side, this tear-inducing airport has been voted the most
stunning landing spot. Which means that just as you think you might be
about to die, you’ll see a really pretty part of the world. So what
makes this airport, which was voted the world’s scariest in a survey of
1000 pilots, so scary? It doubles up as a beach. Planes can only land
when the tide is out. Right.
4. Princess Juliana Airport, Caribbean
Isn’t it annoying when you’re trying to relax on the beach and
someone shakes their towel and you get sand in your eye? Well spare a
thought for beachgoers on the island of Saint Martin who have planes
basically landing on their heads…
5. Congonhas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
You know what’s awkward? Having a major airport just five miles from a
city centre. Sao Paulo’s Congonhas airport was built just before a
rapid growth development, meaning there are plenty of high rises in
close proximity to the runway. It’s basically like a pilot’s very own
version of Flappy Bird.
6. Courchevel, France
Nestled 1,722 feet up in the Alps is this charming airport, which
boasts a short, uphill runway. Not only that, but at the end of said
short, uphill runway is a drop. Just a big drop into nothingness. Pilots
need plenty of training to land here, so we hear, and we should hope so
judging by all the blizzards and ice that help make it just that little
bit trickier to land…
7. Funchal, Madeira
You know what’s fun? Placing an airport runway precariously on the
edge of an island because you’ve run out of room everywhere else. That’s
what appears to have happened over in Madeira, because their runway
is seemingly being held up by stilts. Enjoy landing there…
8. Tenzing-Hillary, Nepal
This tiny airport is nestled on the top of a mountain, and has a very
casual 9,000 feet plunge at the end of its runway. Oh, and in case that
wasn’t bad enough, it’s only a tenth of the length of a standard
runway.
9. Saba Island Airport, Caribbean
This beautiful honeymoon destination has one fault… the airport
runway. It’s one of the shortest in the world, is surrounded by sea at
both ends and boasts treacherous mountains on one side. Dreamy.
10. Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong
This airport closed in 1998 – cue round of applause. It was ranked
the world’s sixth most terrifying airport thanks to the mountains and
skyscrapers located to the north of the runway. Just take a look at the
photo. Terrifying.
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