Since a lot of attention is suddenly being put on the inexperienced pilot who flew into the ground at San Francisco's airport this past week, I have to ponder what it must have been like flying into this place:
Hong Kong's Kai Tak airport-and why it was shut down.
Big brass ones had to be required to fly those approaches...and they didn't have near the nice electronic systems that pilots rely on today. (Or in the case of the San Fran pilot, fail to rely on.)
Some must-see pics at that link above.
Flew in and out of Kai Tak many times in 1986-1988 when I worked in Beijing. It was an incredible experience.
ReplyDeleteFlew in their a couple of times while stationed in Okinawa (on airlines). First time was in the center of a 747 and the folks on the sides had the shades down. No big deal! Second time, I was on the window, when I looked UP to see into an apartment and watch them watching TV was a bit more exciting!
ReplyDeleteI would not want to be a passenger flying into that airport
ReplyDeleteJust an observation; the VASI was operating at SFO when the Asiana 777 was approaching the runway.
ReplyDeleteYou have to wonder if some airline pilots can even fly VFR.
Never wanted to fly in to Hong Kong, although I did watch one or two 747s lumbering through the highrises while on leave in Hong Kong back in '96. A friend did send me a link to a video of some of the world's windiest landings once...the day before my wife and I flew out to Portland for vacation, and landed in the tail-end of a wind-storm that rocked 130mph straight-line winds, flattened all the birch on various mountainsides (think: Mt. St. Helens explosion, or the Tunguska Incident), and left a significant portion of the coastline without power or gas for a week or more. Yeah. It was the bumpiest landing I'd ever been in, and I made sure to mention that to him when I got back.
ReplyDeleteI went in their one time as a pilot when I was just a pup. Was very thankful for the "Playtex 3G bra"
ReplyDeletePass. I'm a nervous enough passenger.
ReplyDeleteAnd National Airport makes me nervous...
ReplyDeleteWent in there in 75, in the tail end of a monsoon, #4 in the bag with a chips light, and turning INTO the bad engine at the checkerboard. The bus drivers EARNED their pay that night (and the embassy wanted us to go somewhere else since we hadn't filed a PPR)!
ReplyDeleteScary airfield. Palermo Sicily is another thrill ride. Surrounded by mountains. Basically, you dive at 45 degrees level off 2 inches above the runway and enjoy your landing.
ReplyDeleteHere's a flight-deck video of landing at Bhutan. Love the "final".
ReplyDeleteThe narrator appears a tad nervous, but both drivers look as cool as cukecumbers.
Full Screen best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsZqN-uEgQU&list=FLopiATB60qC2CeJtgmas4cw&index=56