For the next couple of days we are doing a quick fly-over of the world's most dangerous airports. Know a stomach dropping, palm sweat inducing airport we should check out? Send it along.
Since Lukla Nepal is the place most people start their Mount Everest trek, this Himalayan strip gets quite a bit of traffic--mostly to and from Kathmandu.
Sirens inform folks for miles when an airplane is landing here, and as you would suspect, only helicopters and Twin Otter type planes can handle the 2,000 foot, uphill runway that is fenced off at the end, to protect you from the edge of a mountain cliff.
As for take off?
When you take off, you go downhill and then the runway just disappears into the valley down below. If you don't get enough speed, you drop until you get lift and then hopefully get back up again.
Wind and weather cause plenty of delays here, however, there is usually plenty to drink around the airport, just in case you need to pass the time or get up the gumption to get on your flight.
Yeti Airlines is one of the few commercial airlines you can book through to get to LUA.
Click Here to check out a small craft landing at Lukla.
[Photo: Dave & Marks trip]
Related Stories:
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Jaunted]
· Luka Airport [Google Maps]
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For the next couple of days we are doing a quick fly-over of the world's most dangerous airports. Know a stomach dropping, palm sweat inducing airport we should check out? Send it along.
Courchevel Altiport is home to an extremely short uphill runway (1722 feet) with a vertical drop at the end. Of course, since the airport is in the French Alps snow, wind and ice reek havoc with anything airborne. If do actually get the chance to land here, you will be afforded a rare opportunity to ski or snowboard after you disembark.
Who gets to land here? Well, Pierce Brosnan made the short list. This was the airport used in the opening seen of Tomorrow Never Dies.
For the rest of us, private plane, helicopter, or charter are the only ways to go, and your pilot is going to need some serious training before he or she is allowed to land at CVF.
If all that sounds like too much trouble there is a great little après-ski bar in the airport, perfect for watching planes and helicopters attempt to land from the warmth of the indoors.
[Photo: Rick Farrell]
Click here to check out a plane landing uphill at Courchevel.
Related Stories:
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Jaunted]
· Courchevel Airport Airport [Google Maps]
· Courchevel Airport Photos [Flickr]
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