Worst Place To Be A Pilot (serie)

[save]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqkjRxzztJQ

Pretty awesome landings they have to do in the bush-land of Indonesia.

[Bruv119]

watched this series those guys do one hell of a job.   

If the weather conditions or mountains won't kill you the cannibalistic tribes people might.   

[Gman]

Good post/link.  Very interesting video, these xPat Brit pilots have a yard of guts, flying in these conditions.  I thought that the northern Canadian bush pilots were nuts, but they have nothing on these Susi Air guys.

[Brooke]

Fascinating.  Thank you for posting.

[artik]

Wow cool tv series - it looks like an amazing place to fly (and hell dangerous as well):

BTW all 4 series of season one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqkjRxzztJQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnFonu_0xdE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJDKAx_kRak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_3WpCfKI9w

[BaldEagl]

I've landed here (Saba) before on a commercial flight (de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter):



From Wikipedia:

The airport has the shortest commercial runway in the world, only 396 meters (1,299 ft) long, flanked on one side by high hills, with cliffs that drop into the sea at both ends.

Landing, the pilot literally stalled the plane right above the runway and dropped onto it.  Taking off we dipped off the end of the runway over the rocks until there was enough speed to climb.

BTW, here's a pic of the island overall (5 sq miles).  I climbed to the top of the tallest peak through a tropical "cloud forest" assisted by something over 1000 steps cut into the side in switchbacks and stood at a ledge with the clouds at my feet.  The road built to connect the airport and three villages was deemed an impossibility but exists nonetheless.  The island also sports some of the best dive sites in the world and is simply a great place to relax.

[Groth]

Great post, thank you.
                JGroth

[MK-84]

I've landed here (Saba) before on a commercial flight (de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter):

(Image removed from quote.)

From Wikipedia:

The airport has the shortest commercial runway in the world, only 396 meters (1,299 ft) long, flanked on one side by high hills, with cliffs that drop into the sea at both ends.

Landing, the pilot literally stalled the plane right above the runway and dropped onto it.  Taking off we dipped off the end of the runway over the rocks until there was enough speed to climb.

BTW, here's a pic of the island overall (5 sq miles).  I climbed to the top of the tallest peak through a tropical "cloud forest" assisted by something over 1000 steps cut into the side in switchbacks and stood at a ledge with the clouds at my feet.  The road built to connect the airport and three villages was deemed an impossibility but exists nonetheless.  The island also sports some of the best dive sites in the world and is simply a great place to relax.

(Image removed from quote.)

[Rich46yo]

I remember that one airport, I think it was in Hong Kong, where the people on the top floors of the buildings would be looking DOWN on a 747 having to do a underwear stainer of a landing on this crazy airport. I guess there was only one way to swing around and land on the place and the winds were crazy too let alone the landing drop.

I think its closed since. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PCOcyt7BPI  Here it is.

[715]

Landing, the pilot literally stalled the plane right above the runway and dropped onto it.

Our little local airport used to be served by a fly-by-night outfit.  On the last day of service (before a bigger commute airline took over) I was seated up front near the pilot.  On approach the pilot said to the first officer "hey watch how fast I can land".  He then proceeded to throw the props into reverse pitch while still in the air just at the runway threshold.  The plane came down like a sack of potatoes. 

[Volron]

(Image removed from quote.)

 

[Brooke]

Our little local airport used to be served by a fly-by-night outfit.  On the last day of service (before a bigger commute airline took over) I was seated up front near the pilot.  On approach the pilot said to the first officer "hey watch how fast I can land".  He then proceeded to throw the props into reverse pitch while still in the air just at the runway threshold.  The plane came down like a sack of potatoes. 

Yikes!