This is footage of an A320 making one of the world's most difficult approaches. Approach into this airport in Bhutan is visual flight rules only. (youtu.be) さらに...
I think when you get into the story, it says there are only 8 pilots in the world certified for this airport, and besides the approach, you only got 6500" so not only do you have to make a good approach, you had better kiss the marks; not much room for error here.
PAN AMERICAN PILOTS DID THAT ONE WITH GRACE I REMEMBER WATCHING THE WINGS FLEXING ON THE 707 AS THEY TURNED AWAY FROM THAT MOUNTAIN ARTWORK! RAIN AND/OR SHINE MEMORIES!
Bruce, I can agree with you. Lots of us used to( and I wasn't Pan Am), but you can watch some of the you tube stuff that is still up and a lot of the newer generation weren't near that graceful.lol Even trying to be graceful didn't eliminate the pucker factor if there was a decent crosswind though. It was challenging with a straight in, let alone having to crab a little.lol
I have landed and taken off four times from Paro airport in Bhutan. The landing was OK, but the turbulence scared the shit out of me! The A320s flying in and out of Bhutan are modified to handle the high altitude take off and steep climb out of the valley. A few weeks prior to my second visit, a plane hit some birds after take off. Everything went well, but I can´t think of a worse place than this to loose engine power...
I'm curious, who are the MORONS that attempt to eject these comments for no apparent reason. You got a zero Preacherman for what??? Some people on here really need to get a life!!!
At first I was like how does this person know I am from Shelby then I looked at your pics...lol.....I would be more than willing to but darn it you sold the Navajo so I guess that will never happen....oh darn..lol
As a retired helicopter pilot, I think these fellas did a good job with a large aircraft, and only a single runway with not much room to maneuver, and no taxiway once they were landed ! Very nice 180 to taxi back. Good job.
Actually, there are more than 8 allowed to fly into Paro. 8 of them work for this airline. Several other charter/corporate pilots are authorized to fly into Paro after getting trained in Bhutan to do so.
I was wondering about that. One of the other links(it wouldn't come up for me) but it was titled about a G-IV pilot or pilots going in there. I told Tim the other day that it didn't look much worse than the old KaiTak.lol He said there was a board about halfway up that hill before that last turn. I never did see it but that is seat of the pants flying, anyway you cut it.lol.
Airport code is VQPR. I found the approach plate at: http://www.dca.gov.bt/Bhutan%20IAIP/MAPS/VQ_AD_2_VQPR_6-1_en.pdf I wonder who Mr. Smith is to appear on the plate.
Didn't know you had already commented on Mr. Smith...sorry.....but it does make you wonder who he is.....the last name Smith doesn't seem like it would be common in that area; it's probably a pretty well off persons mansion or something.
Dang, they call that an approach plate?lol. That's kinda like whoop, dere it is, figure it out. I like that part about "not flying over the yellow rooftops.
I missed that. It was in the post above with the link but I didn't see it on the plate.Either way, looking at the video's, both of them, why in the Sam Hill would you even want a plate, other than to give you peak height. 172 or 320, that is seat of the pants flying. Dodge a hill and drop her down. I liked the video you sent last night that showed the shot from the terminal and the plane coming round the bend. You ought to post that link. It looks a lot more open from that shot but it's still bad. lol
As you look at how they execute it, it seems 2nd nature to them,and may be, but to know what it takes to do that is the scary part. I guess if I was living in Bhutan and had a chance to be a commercial pilot, with that being the only game in town, I'd do it and not know any better.lol
bloody hell that is a scary landing to do, a pilot has got to have one hell of a love for flying to do that approach, i would do tricky landings but that is a seriously tricky one to do
This is even more exciting than the old Hong Kong. Makes Ozamiz, Philippines seem easy re no Nav Aids. Let down over water then start looking when you're under the cloud cover. But it's easy in a C-172...on a clear day. flyerh
I don't think it was. It should have been but with no more frequency on flights, they probably missed it. I think it was posted here on FA a few months back and gathered comments out the wazoo.
You could fly this down preacher1.... Become number 9 :) ... was surprised on a runway that size that he was able to turn around on the runway... Did not think a 320 could turn that tight. Sure it plays havic with the main tires turning that tight.
I have no interest in becoming #9. It does look like that turn on the main would give a chance for FOD off the runway side. I figured that was an RJ of some type until Tim sent that other video shot from the terminal and I saw what it was.
If you do it, I will fly Jump Seat and make a nice video for you... How can you refuse an offer like that... Besides, you never know where your next Employer may take you :)
Hey wait ! Aren't you guys supposed to be flying instead of surfing the net ? Ha Ha ! Hope all of you are doing well. I think I work way harder now than when I had my helicopter flying job. Love being retired, but....! What a honey-do list. God bless.
I don't think I heard them call it. You never know, as small as that country is and no more length of flight than there is, they might not have ever had it engaged; if they did, it could not have been for very long and if it was engaged it was probably off before the video ever started. Seems to me he was hand flying at that point.