I have been flying the Airbus 320 for a while now, but before that I was lucky enough to fly the Avro RJ for ten amazing years. This charming regional jet took me to the most exciting and challenging airports I could ever dream of.
Airports in an airliners network fall into different categories (a, b & c), depending on how difficult they are to fly in or out from. The factors affecting could be the approach system, the surrounding terrain, local weather conditions and more. Depending on category, some airports require a more extensive briefing or additional training. At some airports only the captain is allowed to perform the landing for example.
The airports below may belong to different categories, but they all have one thing in common, they are all unforgettable and absolutely stunning. All photos are taken from observer seat in accordance with respective employer. Enjoy the view!
This was my very first flight as a first officer on the Avro RJ, my first training flight. The intense London ATC, the steep approach, the short runway surrounded by water, the high buildings, the performance calculations…it all adds up to be one of my all time favourite airports, but also one of the most challenging ones for a new pilot. I have to admit that it was quite stressful the first week, getting used to London City takes a few flights, to say the least.
When I flew to Vagar for the first time I almost couldn't believe my eyes. Mountains to the left and mountains to the right, difficult approaches and extreme weather. A short runway with challenging surroundings….. and endless beauty. The Faroe Islands are a small group of islands situated between Norway and Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean. Short runway combined with limited diversion alternates and extreme weather makes this a quite sweaty one.
Hidden in the fjords between Bergen and Stavanger, I flew to Stord only once in my career. The runway has been extended from 1000 to 1460 meters, but still feels quite short. The surrounding terrain is gorgeous but challenging.
“Where is the runway?”
Flying in Mongolia was always special and spectacular. I will never forget my first flights to the gravel strips in the Gobi Desert. The entire operation was very special and quite demanding for us pilots. We saw both wild horses and camels along the runway and every day something new happened.
Another spectacular field in western Mongolia. The airport is surrounded by high mountains and amazing nature, and quite often stormy weather. The first time I flew there we rushed to the tower to file our flight plan before the storms would approach.
welcome aboard the new airside
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