The Most Difficult Airport to Land at, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the airport you think is the most difficult!
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:23
Pilots worldwide face various challenges when landing at different airports, which can vary due to factors like weather conditions, runway length, and geographic location. A ranking of the most difficult airports to land at can provide flyers, enthusiasts, and professionals with insights into these unique challenges. This information may be particularly helpful for pilot training and preparation as well as for travelers who wish to learn more about the complexities of the flights they may encounter.
By participating in the voting process, users contribute to a broader understanding of what constitutes a difficult airport landing zone from multiple perspectives. This communal input helps in building a comprehensive list that is reflective of the experiences and expert opinions of global users. Engaging in this process also allows participants to see how others view the same situations, enriching their own understanding and appreciation of aviation.
What Is the Most Difficult Airport to Land at?
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178votesThis airport is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, making it one of the most challenging airports to land at. The approach is through the mountains, and pilots need to navigate through narrow valleys and steep terrain.Paro International Airport is located in the Paro valley of Bhutan, surrounded by tall mountains and situated at an elevation of 7,332 feet (2,235 meters) above sea level. It is renowned as one of the most challenging airports in the world for pilots to land due to its tricky approach and demanding terrain.
- Elevation: 7,332 feet (2,235 meters)
- Runway Length: 6,396 feet (1,950 meters)
- Runway Orientation: 15-33 (north-south direction)
- Terrain: Surrounded by tall mountains
- Approach Type: Visual approach
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215votes
Reinhard Kraasch · CC BY-SA 4.0Lukla Airport, Nepal
Nepal GovernmentLukla airport is situated atop a mountain and is surrounded by steep terrain. The runway is short and narrow, and the approach is through the mountains, making it one of the most dangerous airports in the world.Lukla Airport, Nepal, also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is often regarded as one of the most dangerous and difficult airports in the world. It is situated in the Khumbu region of Nepal and serves as the gateway to the Everest region for trekkers and climbers.- Location: Lukla, Khumbu region, Nepal
- Elevation: 2,845 meters (9,334 feet)
- Runway Length: 527 meters (1,729 feet)
- Runway Gradient: 12% uphill gradient
- Runway Surface: Asphalt with multiple cracks
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320votes
Toncontín International Airport, Honduras
Honduran GovernmentThis airport is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, and the runway is short, making it challenging for pilots to land. The airport has been the site of several accidents, and it is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world.Toncontín International Airport, located in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is widely considered one of the most challenging airports to land at. It is located amidst mountainous terrain, making it difficult for pilots to approach and maneuver during landing. The airport is known for its short runway, which requires precise piloting skills to safely land and take off. Due to its challenging nature, only a limited number of pilots are certified to land at Toncontín International Airport.- Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- Runway length: 7,150 feet (2,180 meters)
- Elevation: 3,294 feet (1,004 meters)
- Approach: Visual approach required
- Runway slope: 12.8% gradient
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417votes
Hugues Mitton (hugovoyages) · CC BY-SA 2.5Courchevel Altiport, France
French GovernmentThis airport is situated atop a mountain and has a short runway that slopes downwards, making it one of the most challenging airports to land at. The airport is used mainly by private jets and helicopters.Courchevel Altiport is a small airport located in the French Alps, near the town of Courchevel. It is renowned for being one of the most dangerous and challenging airports to land at due to its short runway and steep gradient. The airport is primarily used by skiers visiting the popular ski resort of Courchevel during the winter season.- Elevation: 1,970 meters (6,463 feet)
- Runway Length: 537 meters (1,762 feet)
- Runway Gradient: 18.6%
- Runway Surface: Asphalt
- Approach: Visual approach only
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518votes
Jarvin - Jarle Vines · CC BY-SA 3.0Madeira Airport, Portugal
Jorge FerreiraMadeira airport is situated on a cliff, and the runway was extended over the sea, making it one of the most challenging airports to land at. The airport has been the site of several accidents, and pilots need to have special training to land there.Madeira Airport, also known as Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, is located on the Portuguese island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its challenging landing due to its runway extension over the ocean, making it one of the most difficult airports to land at.- Location: Madeira, Portugal
- IATA Code: FNC
- ICAO Code: LPMA
- Runway Length: 2,781 meters
- Runway Elevation: 58 meters
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610votes
Jnpet · CC BY-SA 3.0This airport is situated between the mountains and the sea, and the runway crosses the main road leading into Gibraltar. Pilots need to coordinate with traffic control to ensure the road is clear before landing.Gibraltar International Airport is located in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on the southern coast of Spain. It is considered one of the most difficult airports to land at due to its location and challenging runway design.- Location: Gibraltar, British Overseas Territory
- Runway Length: 1,829 meters (6,001 feet)
- Elevation: 5 meters (16 feet)
- Runway Design: Crosses Gibraltar's main road, Winston Churchill Avenue
- Road Closure: Road must be closed to allow aircraft to land or depart
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714votesThis airport is situated on a small island, and the runway is adjacent to a beach, making it one of the most unique airports in the world. Planes fly low over the beach, and tourists gather to watch the planes land and take off.Princess Juliana International Airport, located in St. Maarten, is renowned for its challenging approach and thrilling landings. It has gained significant attention due to its close proximity of the runway to Maho Beach, allowing spectators to experience the thrill of aircraft passing just a few meters overhead.
- Elevation: 4 meters
- Runway Orientation: 10/28
- Approach Type: Visual
- Air Traffic Control: Operational
- Daily Aircraft Movements: Approximately 50-70
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87votesThis airport is situated on a beach, and the runway is made of sand. The airport is only open during low tide, and pilots need to check the tide schedule before landing.Barra Airport is located on the island of Barra in Scotland. It is renowned as one of the most unique and challenging airports in the world. What makes it particularly distinctive is that it is the only airport in the world to have a scheduled flight service operating on a beach. The airport is situated on Traigh Mhòr, a wide sandy beach on the west coast of the island. When the tide is out, the beach becomes the runway, and flights can take off and land directly on the sand. When the tide is in, the airport is submerged and unavailable for flights.
- Location: Barra, Scotland
- Airport Type: Beach airport
- Runway: Sandy beach
- Runway Dimensions: 1,286 meters (4,219 feet)
- Scheduled Flights: Yes
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98votesThis airport is built on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay. The airport is prone to typhoons and earthquakes, making it one of the most challenging airports to land at.Kansai International Airport is an airport located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, Japan. It is considered one of the most difficult airports to land at due to its challenging engineering and geographical factors.
- Location: Osaka Bay, Japan
- Type: International airport
- Runways: 2 (one on the main island, one on a connecting artificial island)
- Length of longest runway: 3,500 meters
- Elevation: 3.03 meters (9.9 feet)
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108votes
Pbkiwi at English Wikipedia · Public domainThis airport is situated on an ice runway, and the weather conditions are extreme, making it one of the most challenging airports to land at. The airport is used mainly for scientific research expeditions.McMurdo Station Airport is a challenging airport located in Antarctica. It serves as a major hub for scientific research and transportation in the region. The airport is known for its extreme weather conditions, including strong winds, low temperatures, and limited visibility, which make it one of the most difficult airports to land at.- Location: Antarctica
- Elevation: 24 feet (7 meters)
- Runway Length: 10,000 feet (3,048 meters)
- Runway Surface: Ice and compacted snow
- Operating Hours: 24/7 (Seasonally)
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Ranking factors for difficult airport
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Runway lengthShorter runways make it more challenging for pilots to land safely, especially for larger aircraft that require more space to come to a full stop.
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Runway widthNarrow runways leave little room for error during landing and require more precision from the pilot.
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Runway slopeSloped runways can create additional challenges for pilots during both landing and takeoff.
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Runway surfaceUneven or damaged runway surfaces can make it difficult for pilots to maintain control during landing.
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Airport elevationHigh-altitude airports can negatively impact aircraft performance and make landing more difficult due to thinner air.
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Surrounding terrainMountains, cliffs, or water near the runway can complicate approaches and increase the risk of accidents during landing.
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Weather conditionsStrong crosswinds, turbulence, low visibility, and icy or wet runway conditions can all make landing more challenging.
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Air traffic controlAirports with busy or complex air traffic patterns can be difficult to navigate, increasing the challenge of landing safely.
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Approach pathSteep or curved approach paths can be difficult for pilots to manage, especially if combined with challenging weather conditions or terrain.
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Local regulationsSome airports have specific noise abatement procedures or other rules that affect the approach and landing, making it more complex for pilots to safely land.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult airport to land at. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or airport is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1533 views
- 194 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each airport once every 24 hours. The rank of each airport is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most difficult airport to land at
Background: Landing an airplane is an art and a science. Pilots have to take into account multiple factors such as wind speed, runway length, altitude, and weather conditions to make a safe landing. However, some airports around the world pose extra challenges that make landing even more difficult for pilots. From mountainous terrain to short runways, these airports require a higher level of skill and experience from pilots. In this article, we will explore some of the most difficult airports to land at and the reasons why they pose such challenges.
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