A recent press release from Artemis Aerospace in England lists the world’s “top six must-see runways.”
Check out the company’s choices below, then let us know your favorite runway.
Barra Airport, Isle of Barra, Scotland
Barra Airport is the only runway in the world where scheduled flights use a tidal beach for takeoff and landing, according to the company. Surrounded by rolling hills, the sandy beach is underwater at high tide, meaning flight times vary according to the tides.
Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport, Greece
Named after a Greek novelist and native, the short and narrow airport on the island of Skiathos is a popular destination for plane spotters, who can experience close range takeoffs and landings from the small stone beach and adjacent public road located at the tip of the runway. Nestled in the Mediterranean and surrounded by hills on both sides, the runway was built using reclaimed land. Pilots need to be specially rated to operate here due to the length and confines of the runway.
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla, Nepal
Perhaps more infamous as one of the world’s most dangerous airports, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, is the main gateway for trekkers visiting Mount Everest Base Camp. At 9,334 feet, the airport is surrounded by mountains with snow-capped peaks that are often shrouded in clouds.
Santos Dumont Airport, Rio de Janeiro
The second major airport serving Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Santos Dumont Airport is located in one of the most scenic coastal cities in the world. Surrounded by mountains and water peppered with lush green islands, the airport overlooks the sandy beach of Copacabana with Corcovado and the iconic Cristo Redentor statue visible in the distance. The famous outline of Sugarloaf Mountain, which is on the runway’s direct approach path, makes it tricky for pilots to navigate.
Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy
Although the runway is located on the mainland, passengers flying into Venice’s Marco Polo Airport will get breathtaking views of the lagoon and the historical buildings. The lagoon and part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Donegal Airport, Ireland
Donegal Airport in Ireland has been voted the most scenic airport in the world for three years in a row. Located on an archipelago and flanked by stretches of clear blue water and soft sand, the runway approach is a visual display of natural beauty.
There are their picks, so what about yours? Do you find the runway at your home airport the most beautiful? What about the most challenging runway you’ve ever encountered? Let us know in the comments below.
How about KAVX, Catalina’s “airport in the sky”. Very unique and picturesque.
Challenging? My 330ft one-way grass strip, with no go-arounds on short final, wasn’t too challenging until I encountered it during a bad storm front. Then it became my most challenging landing.
https://youtu.be/YfrVVdxNh54
The old Meigs Field in Chicago on the lakefront. The people in the office buildings would wave at you on approach as you were at eye level. On occasion you would even be flashed.
Corfu Airport, Corfu Greece. Low and slow over the bay on your approach.
Love. Jackson hole…like to see the mt and jennys lake. Nice health air…
Kalitna Glacier, Alaska. The size and scope of the terrain is overwhelming. You fly straight toward a mountain that you’re sure you will fly into at any moment, though you are still several miles away from what is a 7000′ rise. Then you make a U turn and set up on final for an impossible to discern runway/iceway. Everything looks the same and you don’t know you’ve even landed until the airspeed bleeds to below V/SO. No, I was not flying but the right seat was pretty darn cool!
G-550 corporate pilot, traveled to Kathmandu at least twice a year for 15 years. We traveled to Lukla several times by Nepal Air. Lukla is short and meets a rock wall at one end, and a cliff at the other end. Oh, yea I forgot to mention the runway has a 12% gradient. Takeoff downhill, land uphill with the wall.
i love the “SKI SLOPE” runway at Lynchburg Va. (W24) (Falwell)—been there a few times—check it out—John Fleurent
I agree with Greg. Of all places mine was at Dulles Airport (IAD) before it became what it is now. The entire east coast was socked in late at night. After a missed approach at HEF in a Seneca I, Runway 19R was very beautiful at rainy minimums!!
Definitely Teleride Colorado! U gotta drive up a winding mountain road. Once you get there, man! So picturesque! It’s like the runway too is not Level either.
Santos Dumont does not overlook Copacabana as the airport is located on Guanabara Bay. You can certainly see Copacabana on approach to the airport but the beach is long behind you at touchdown.
Hi General Aviation News,
Nice choices for the most beautiful runways in the world. One of my absolute favorite runways is at the Jackson Hole, Wyoming Airport. The towering Tetons make a beautiful backdrop for the gorgeous approach and landing. JAC is the only US Airport actually located inside a National Park.
Please note that L06 (Furnace Creek) AND L09 (Stovepipe wells) are BOTH located in Death Valley National Park. Which is still a National Park …to the best of my recollection.
I’ve always liked KSEZ Sedona AZ.
BID Rhode Island is pretty anytime of year.
Virgin Gorda Airport! Amazing landing! Love ❤️ the thrill of landing there!
Runway 10 at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Ford, TN with the Smokey Mountains only a few miles away.
The prettiest airport I have flown into is Telluride Co. KTEX. Especially in the fall with the aspen leaves changing.
For 20 some years I was based at Aeroflex-Andover in northern NJ. It can be a little challenging when the winds are unfriendly but is a great place to live an aeronautical life and is a beautiful setting for a metropolitan airport.
Budd Davisson
Budd’s free weekly blog now comes to you automatically on budddavisson.substack.com
I flew out of Aeroflex-Andover (I lived in Tranquility) 4th of July 1976 to see the Tall Ships docked in NYC.
These are beautiful airports.
My favorite, must-see runway is the one I see at minimums on a low ceiling/vis approach in crappy weather.