If you are proud of the fact that I am not afraid to fly and not nervous on takeoff and landing, it likely means that you have never been in one of the airports of the world. Steep turns near the ground and the runway abutting the ocean, the cliff or the abyss — that not only are people to get to the most remote corners of our planet!
Madeira airport (FNC), Portugal
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Madeira is a small island of volcanic origin. The terrain is such that the airport could only be built on the edge there, between steep slopes and the Atlantic ocean. Moreover, the width of the smooth coastal strip is not enough for a full runway, so part of it rests on giant stilts.
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Airport named Tenzing and Hillary (LUA), Nepal
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This airport is named after the first conquerors of Everest, and here come all those who want to repeat the feat of ascension. The runway is tilted by 12%, the difference in height between its two ends is 60 meters. With one end rests against a steep mountain slope, and the other breaks into the abyss. Thrills and adds the fact that the only navigation equipment of the airport is a radio station, so during takeoff and landing, pilots rely solely on their skills and experience.
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Airport on the island of Saba (SAB), Caribbean Netherlands
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The island of Saba is the peak of an underwater volcano, with an area of only 13 square kilometers, but it rises above sea level to almost 1000 metres. On steep slopes it was hard to find a flat area, so the runway is very short, only 4 00 metres and is sandwiched between two steep cliffs over the ocean.
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Sandane airport (SDN), Norway
Photo: Sandane Airport / orbxsystems.com
On the surface, this airport is not so remarkable, strip it long enough, 970 meters. But a landing requires pilots to pinpoint accuracy, as the canvas is sandwiched between two fjords — when approaching him you need to stay in a narrow band between the rocks. At the same weather conditions all year round is pretty tough, this place always blows a powerful side wind and the plane must overcome the severe turbulence.
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Paro airport (PBH), Bhutan
Photo: gawkerassets
Airport in the valley of Paro is at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and surrounded by high mountains-the five thousand meters, so is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world for takeoff and landing. In 2014, only eight pilots were accredited to do steep turns and land in the gorge. The airport operates only in daylight and in good visibility, however, to enjoy the views, should be overcome with desire to close my eyes in fear.
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Tioman airport (TOD), Malaysia
Photo: Glueball at English Wikipedia
To get to the tropical Paradise of the Malaysian island Tioman, will have to endure several moments of serious fear. Runway located along the coast and rests in the rock, but it is not important. Because of the peculiarities of the mountainous terrain to come in for a landing, the pilot is reduced, heading straight to the high rock, and only at the last moment abruptly turns the plane 90 degrees.
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Courchevel airport (CVF), France
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This airport appeared in the James bond movie “Tomorrow never dies” and produced on the audience no less impressive than pierce Brosnan. Short, only 525 meters, the runway is located on the mountain under the strong gradient of 18.5 %. During takeoff the plane just dives into the abyss, and then soars, carrying passengers above the spectacular scenery of the famous resort.
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Airport Barra (BRR), Scotland
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If you’ve ever thought, “if from the plane directly on the beach” — this is your chance. Barra’s unique airport on the coast, light propeller planes, designed for only 12 passengers, landing and taking off from a sandy runway. The airport operates only in daylight hours, but can extra to take the plane and night to do this, workers put up lights. And it is closed at high tide, since the beach for a few hours hiding under the water.
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Photo preview: LUC KOHNEN / Shutterstock.com