5 scary US airports
Airfarewatchdog’s (www.airfarewatchdog.com) Rachael Prescott has put together a list of US airports with scary takeoffs and landings — though website founder George Hobica suggests calling them instead “the most thrilling.’’
1
TELLURIDE REGIONAL AIRPORT
Telluride, Colo.
Sitting on a plateau above the San Miguel River, it is the highest commercial airport in North America. Touch-and-go landings are prohibited, so pilots have one shot to land on a runway that dips in the middle.
2
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Santa Ana, Calif.
Takeoff here (above) has been likened to both a ballistic missile and a space shuttle liftoff. Because of strict noise-reduction requirements, pilots must ascend at full throttle and then abruptly cut back their engines.
3
MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Chicago
Known for its short runways, close to 2,000 feet shorter than those at newer airports, it is not surprising that several pilots have overshot them over the years.
4
YEAGER AIRPORT
Charleston, W.Va.
The lone operational runway is relatively short and sits atop a flattened mountain that runs between two cliffs.
5
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT
New York
During landing, pilots must make a series of tight, low-altitude turns, one of which is 180 degrees around Citi Field, while navigating through the crowded skies of the country’s largest airport system.
NECEE REGIS
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com