Cheap-Flights-Finder » Articles » The Worlds Trickiest Runway Approach

There aren't many (if any at all) runway approaches that compare in terms of trickiness to that of Runway 02 at Toncontin International Airport in Honduras. It's almost as if the planners decided to include every potential hazard they could imagine when considering the landing strip's location. First of all, take a look at the runway itself.

In case you hadn't noticed it's pretty small and with a landing distance of 5'442ft it is without doubt one of the shortest runways in the world to welcome aircraft the size of a Boeing 757. However, if this was the only scary part worth mentioning, this airport certainly wouldn't be unique as there are many runways all over the world that boast runways of a similar size, if not shorter. Have a look at this next photo.

Notice the angle of approach? That's no mistake on the pilot's part, it's an absolute must for anyone wishing to touch down at Toncontin, an airport whose runway is already a dangerous destination due to its length. The problem is, the area surrounding the airport is made up of mountains and it's physically impossible to approach this airport head on from distance due to the terrain. So the aircraft have to approach from a different angle, resulting in the need to make a sharp turn just prior to landing and giving very little time for the pilot to level the plane. Watch this video and you'll get the idea.

It's also worth noting how close the road is to the runway. There's a very short distance between the traffic and the aircraft as it approaches. For an even better understanding of the nerves needed for even an experienced pilot to land at Toncontin, watch the next video, filmed from inside the cockpit. At the very end of the clip, after the plane has landed, you'll hear confirmation that this runway is certainly not loved, even by the very people trained to land these machines.

Photographs found at Flickr: 1 / 2