The World's Most Challenging Landings: Lukla, Gibraltar, and Princess Juliana

Lukla, Nepal: Gateway to Everest Why is this madness Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla is located at an altitude of 2,845 meters in the Himalayas and has a runway length of only 527 meters, which is about five times shorter than a conventional commercial runway. Imagine a football field. Now imagine that you need to put a plane on it, traveling at a speed of 100 + km/ h. But this is just the beginning. There is a sheer cliff at one end of the strip, and a chasm into the valley at the other. If you miss the point of contact by at least a few tens of meters, that's it, there will be no second attempt. There is no second-round exit procedure in Lukla. Either you sit down, or you don't sit down. Which makes it even more difficult. The band has a slope of 11.7% — it literally goes up. This is done on purpose: during landing, lifting helps the aircraft to slow down, and during takeoff, descent gives additional acceleration. It's an ingenious solution, but it requires the pilot to have a perfect sense of the airplane. Add to this the thin mountain air, which reduces the thrust of the engines and the lift of the wings. At this altitude, the engines are running at their limit, and the aircraft is behaving sluggishly. If you are used to a certain reaction to the steering wheel under normal conditions, everything will be slower and softer here. Weather is the main enemy In the morning, the wind blows from the northeast, but by noon it changes to the southwest due to the warming of the mountains by the sun. This creates a strong side wind or tailwind, which is why the airport is regularly closed in the afternoon. During the monsoon season, up to 50% of flights are cancelled due to poor visibility. The clouds descend so low that you are literally flying blindly, and then suddenly you see a mountain in front of you. Or you don't see it, and that's even worse. How to train in the simulator Start in ideal conditions — clear morning, light headwind Use only light aircraft — Twin Otter, Pilatus PC-6. Jet planes don't fly here. The key to success is the right glide path. You need to follow a precise visual trajectory, keeping the mountains to your left. The touch point is critical. Try to touch the lane in the first 50 meters. If you land further than the middle, you won't have enough lane to stop. After touching, immediately apply the brakes. No smooth braking, every meter counts here. Takeoff is a vertical set. Immediately after the breakaway, start a sharp climb to get away from the mountains Expert mode: set fog, visibility 2-3 kilometers, crosswind 15 knots. Try to find a lane in the clouds and keep the plane on the glide path. If it works out, you understand what real pilots go through. Gibraltar: where the road intersects the lane Gibraltar Airport is the only place in the world where the main road crosses the existing runway. When the plane lands, the road is blocked by a barrier, and cars wait for the board to pass them. Then the barrier rises and traffic resumes. The 1,777-meter-long runway runs from east to west and is used as RUNWAY 27 or RUNWAY 09, depending on the wind direction. It sounds normal, but there is one detail: the huge 426-meter Rock of Gibraltar is located right next to the strip. The main difficulty is the wind The airport is subject to strong crosswinds skirting the Cliff and blowing across the Bay of Gibraltar, making landings particularly difficult in winter. When you are landing, the wind may suddenly change — you are flying in a straight line, and you start to drift sideways. Imagine: you have aligned with the runway, you are descending, and then a side gust blows the plane a few meters to the left. You compensate, and the wind changes again. It's like trying to walk a tightrope during a storm. Entry from the sea All passenger flights first approach from the east, flying over Marbella. If the wind is easterly, you will have to perform an exciting maneuver: fly around the Cliff from the south, turn north into the Bay of Algeciras, and then turn east and align with the runway just 15 seconds before the end. This requires an absolute understanding of the aircraft's position in space. You are flying between a mountain and the sea, constantly maneuvering, monitoring speed, altitude and at the same time preparing for landing. Feature — no ILS Gibraltar does not have an instrument landing system. In poor visibility, controllers direct the aircraft by radar until the final stage of the approach. At a distance of 5 kilometers from the runway, the pilot should see it visually. If he doesn't see it, he leaves for a backup (usually Malaga). This means that in the simulator you need to learn to fly, relying on the dispatcher commands and your eyes, and not on automation. How to train Study the topography. Open the satellite map and see how the Rock is located relative to the strip Train the crosswind. Set the wind to 20-25 knots at a 45° angle to the strip Practice a U-turn approach. Start the approach to RUNWAY 09 from the east, circle the Cliff and level off Learn to "feel" the demolition. A crosswind will constantly blow you off course — you need to learn how to compensate by rolling and yawing. Landing with a crosswind is a separate art. The nose of the aircraft should face slightly into the wind to compensate for the drift. Tip: if you want to experience the place, make a couple of low-altitude flights along the strip. Look at how close the Cliff is, how narrow the room for maneuver is. This will help you understand why Gibraltar is considered one of the most difficult airports in Europe. Princess Juliana, Saint Martin: low setting over the beach What does everyone know about it This airport is a YouTube and Instagram star. The strip is located a few dozen meters from Maho Beach, and planes land directly over the heads of vacationers. People are standing on the beach, holding onto the fence, filming on their phones as a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 passes above them 10-15 meters away. The 2,300-meter-long strip seems sufficient for medium-haul aircraft, but its proximity to water and mountains creates unique challenges. The main difficulty is the illusion of height The approach to RUNWAY 10 is over water, which can disorient pilots regarding altitude when flying according to visual rules. There are no familiar landmarks above the water — trees, buildings, cars. The surface of the ocean deceives perception, and it seems to you that you are higher or lower than you really are. If you go too low, there is a risk of touching the water to the strip. Too high — fly over the lane and you won't have time to slow down. In 2017, it was here that a tragic incident occurred: a jet stream from a taking-off plane hit a tourist standing at the fence, which led to her death. Takeoff is no easier than landing After takeoff, you must immediately turn right to avoid the mountains directly ahead. This is not a recommendation — it is a mandatory requirement. If you continue the direct dial, you will find yourself face to face with a mountainside in a few seconds. Imagine: you have just left the ground, the speed has not yet been picked up, the plane is heavy, and you already need to start a coordinated turn. Any mistake in technique — and you will either lose height or will not have time to dodge. The psychological factor When you go to land over the beach at an altitude of 15-20 meters, instinct screams at you: "You're too low! Pull the wheel!" But if you listen to this instinct, you will fly over the runway and not have time to land. You need to trust the devices, not the sensations. Experienced pilots call this approach thrilling — literally gliding over a strip of beach before touching the strip. How to train Set the starting point of the final approach over the water, 7-8 kilometers from the runway at an altitude of 600 meters Keep an eye on the instruments, not the view. Your eyes will deceive you, saying that you are too low. Keep the glide path at 3°. Use a vertical speed of about 500-700 ft per minute. Do not pull the steering wheel over the beach. This is the most difficult thing — to suppress the instinct and continue to decline. After touching, an immediate reversal occurs. As soon as the wheels leave the ground, start a smooth turn to the right. Additional challenge: try to take off on a heavy board (full tank, full load). You will feel how slowly the speed and altitude are gaining, and how little time you have to reach the mountains. Tips for all three airports Watch real videos. There are thousands of videos on YouTube with real landings at these airports. Watch how the pilots behave, how they hold the glide path when they start maneuvers. Use the appearance. In the simulator, you can switch to an external camera and see what your approach looks like from the outside. It helps to understand mistakes. Start with the passenger plane. On small planes, these landings are easier to do. Try the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 first — they have more automation that will protect you. Accept mistakes. You'll crash. Many times. In Lukla, you will fly off into the abyss. In Gibraltar, you will be blown into the sea. In Saint Martin, turn in front of the lane. It is ok. Every disaster is a lesson. Study the procedures. Each of these airports has specific entry procedures. Find them on the Internet, study them, and practice using the checklist. Why is this necessary? These airports aren't just complicated — they teach you how to read the weather, feel the plane, and make decisions in a second. After Lukla, the usual boarding at Domodedovo will seem like child's play to you. After Gibraltar, you will no longer be afraid of crosswinds. After Princess Juliana, you'll learn to trust your devices more than your eyes. It's not just achievements in the simulator — it's the skills that make you a real pilot. Even if it's virtual. Are you ready? Fasten your seat belts, remove the flaps and begin the descent. The most exciting flights of your life are ahead.