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World's Most Dangerous Airports: HTI: Hamilton Island

January 11, 2007 at 4:31 PM | by | Comments (2)


For the next couple of days we are doing a quick fly-over of the world's most dangerous airports. And by dangerous we mean formidable, adventurous, and fear inspiring. Know a stomach dropping, palm sweat inducing airport we should check out? Send it along.

Dreaming of a holiday on Australia's Whitsundays? Incredibly, the tiny island has been able to build an airport big enough to accommodate jet airliners (mostly Jet Star and Virgin Blue).

Minimum runway length for jets is ~5,000 feet, while HTI clocks in at 5,591 feet, or just a bit over one mile long. Want more? There are hills on both sides of the runway and water at both ends. To line up for the approach, even the most experienced pilots fly straight past the landing strip, then turn back at a fourty-five degree angle.

What is your reward for this harrowing air experience?

Your luggage on arrival is collected by the island taxi/bus service and taken directly to your room in the hotel. Unfortunately you have to carry it to the bus on the return journey and check it in yourself.

S'alright mate. After all, you are spending time in Oz, so it is best you calibrate yourself to the Australian attitude of let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may as soon as you arrive, literally.

YouTube video of takeoff from HTI is after the jump, but it doesn't do the experience justice.

Related Stories:
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Jaunted]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Google Maps]

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Hamilton Island airport is tame

This is so exaggerated.  Hamilton Island has one of the world's most spectacular airports - make sure you request a window seat - but dangerous?  Gimme a break.  The airport has catered for 737's but the biggest aircraft currently using the airport is an A320.  There are around 60 commercial flights each week (from major capital cities in Australia) using the airport without incident.  Usually there is only one commercial aircraft on the ground at one time.  Most island airports only cater for light aircraft and have you land on a dirt strip.  Hamilton Island's airport is one of the most sophisticated and well maintained island airports around.  I have been flying in and out of this airport virtually monthly for 10 years and (as a nervous flyer) have never even raised a sweat.
sooboo on January 12, 2007 at 12:39 AM #Permalink

Maybe...

Maybe "Dangerous" is the wrong moniker. Formidable, unnerving, fear arousing--that is what we mean.  I will add that to the intro.  C'mon, you have to admit just the sight of HTI is formidable.
markj on January 12, 2007 at 8:34 AM #Permalink

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