Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Harum Scarum - Caribbean Flight Frights

As a group of islands, you’d expect the Caribbean to have some, well... ‘sporting’ landing strips. And so it turns out. There are short runways, runways with cross-winds, runways with cliffs at either end, and runways that inconveniently have a hill in the way, just where you’d want the pilot to line up to land.

We have tested them all and have put together a roll of honour – the Caribbean’s top three scariest landings! And here they are. Enjoy...



1 St Maarten
There’s a rather short approach to this runway, so the beach-goers get a bit of a shock from time to time.

2 St Barths
You worry that as it comes in to land the plane will take the hat of the car drivers on the road below.

3 Culebra, off Puerto Rico
And yes, there’s a hill just where you want the pilot to line up here, so you swing around the hillside.

And before you go, if you would like to read a story about landing on Saba, a bright green pimple of an island whose airstrip is shorter than any self-respecting aircraft carrier, then have a look at Landing on Saba - Not Something for the Sane! which is the fourth video in the above playlist.

4 comments:

  1. I've been to Maho Beach to see those planes land in St. Maarten. Quite a sight! I've also been ON a plane landing in Culebra and it is still the most terrifying landing I've ever had. The heat coming off of those hills causes a LOT of turbulence and a lot of drops and dips even up to the moment you land. Our pilot warned us beforehand, but it was still really freaky!

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  2. Right, well you just have a couple more flights to make and you're the top craziest passenger ever, lol...Maybe you should make a video of you witnessing all these loopy landings!

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  3. HAHA!!!! Oh my!!! Those are great. I'm guessing American Airlines pilots might not make those landings in one piece LOL!

    I'm gonna post a link to this post on my forum, all us Jamaica fanatics would love to see these.

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  4. Hi! Great blog. Definitely the go-to place before I treck around el caribe.

    My fam is from Aguadilla, so I have only been to culebra once, and it was by boat - a nauseating, speed "ferry." So I think I might take the scary landing as opposed to the barf-fest boat. LOL

    Anyway, just passing through to say I follow your blog.

    Feel free to pass by mine:
    http://www.herdeepthoughts.com/


    Best,
    Li
    @LaLicenciada
    @HerDeepThoughts

    ReplyDelete

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