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World's Most Dangerous Airports: Madeira Island, FNC

January 16, 2007 at 5:13 PM | by | Comments (4)


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.

Ever heard of Madeira, an autonomous island (part of the EU) off the coast of Norther Africa? It is a popular year round resort with a near perfect climate, good wine, incredible scenery, and quality surfing. Sounds like paradise, but prepare yourself for a turbulent landing on the island's partially over-the-water runway when landing at Madeira Funchal Airport.

The FNC runway is abutted by water on one side and hills on the other, and in 2000 the runway was extended over the Atlantic Ocean about half a mile in order to accommodate jet liners. The overwater landing strip addition is supported by giant pillars, which you can actually boat around once your stay on Madeira begins.

Want more? Even though British Airways (direct from London-Gatwick), Air France, and other major airlines land here daily, pilots and passengers have to put up with mega-turbulence during landing, so much so that, at times, high winds and storms still close this airport to jet liners during winter months.

The airport itself is extremely modern and well kept, which any entering visitor deserves after putting up with what can be a arm rest clenching landing.

Check out the video of a SAS plane that approached FNC, but pulls off just before landing--this place has one tough approach.

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

Comments (4)

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Madeira Airport

Sorry, but I must disagree with you on the "dangers" involved in landing at FNC. I have flown in and out of that airport several times since 1983 and have never experienced any of the problems you have discribed. Actually I just returned (Feb 6, 2007) from a business trip there and both landing and take-off were fine.
nvs bremen on February 15, 2007 at 5:06 AM #Permalink

madeira airport


Sir,

1 -
"in 2000 the runway was extended over the Atlantic Ocean about half a mile in order to accommodate jet liners"

Wrong, Jets flew here since 1964 with the shorter 1400m runway.
Caravelles 10R, B.727-100 and -200, 737 classics, etc. After 1985, when a 400m section was added we got 757s and 767s in medium-haul flights. Runway is now a 2800 win clear and stopays, and 767-300s, 747s, A340-300s, A310, B777 and A300s have benn here. Some of them in direct flights to American continent

2-
"Want more? Even though British Airways (direct from London-Gatwic), Air France, and other major airlines land here daily, pilots"

It is Gatwick and not Gatwic. Air France never flew here, but most charter and low-cost airlines do. Finnair also flies here. Code-shares include United Airlines, Spanair, Lufthansa and Thai. Last major accidente was in 1977, with a half-length runway compared to now.

3-
the airport is not of the easiest, and approach to runway 05 is curve shaped, and no ILS exists.
But special training is required and done in a simulator and loss-of-life accidents have not happened since 1977. The aiport rarely closes, and for bad weather check out Milan-Malpensa. And others were snow is a problem.

Regards

clearedfortakeoff on April 1, 2007 at 3:55 PM #Permalink

Thanks for the info.

Fixed the typo.  
markj on April 2, 2007 at 3:48 PM #Permalink

the airport of the city of merida, venezuela

is in between a valley with 17000ft mountains and houses at the end off the runway...as of matter of fact a passenger plane crash after take off on the 21st of feb.
maky0317 on March 12, 2008 at 2:40 PM #Permalink

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