Plane landing. (Photo by Thares2020 / Adobe Stock)
The airport on the Portuguese island of Madeira is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Its only airstrip has one of the most complex and dramatic routes.
At Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, landing every plane is a challenge for pilots and passengers. Every year the airport welcomes Millions of passengers, but it is known as the scene of some of the most exciting routes in the world.
The weather in Madeira is often unpredictable during the day
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located about 400 km north of the Canary Islands and 520 km west of Morocco, and is exposed to many extreme weather phenomena, including winds.
Therefore Madeira Airport’s only airstrip constantly faces violent headwinds. Pilots flying to the island must undergo additional training to land there.
Located in a mountainous area, very close to the ocean, Madeira’s daily weather is often unpredictable. Airlines serving the island are sometimes forced to divert their flights to other airports in the region, including the Canary Islands, when the situation is too dangerous.
Amazing landing of an Airbus A320 on the runway at Madeira Airport
Every day, the YouTube channel Madeira Airport LPMA, which specializes in airport monitoring, posts videos of landings, one more spectacular than the next. This is the case of the landing of the Airbus A320 of the Portuguese national airline.
Channel monitors are constantly striving to improve their shots, in particular by carefully choosing viewing angles. By positioning them on a hill overlooking the airport’s only runway, they get stunning views of aircraft maneuvers arriving at the island.
On September 22, an Airbus A320-214 of TAP Air Portugal landed in Madeira from the capital, Lisbon. Because the pilot knew exactly what to expect, he prepared well for landing. The same is undoubtedly true for passengers on board.
Upon landing, the plane bounced and ran off course
After making the final turn allowing him to align with the center line of the runway, the captain immediately began the descent by dramatically increasing vertical speed.
Unlike what we’re used to seeing on Madeira, the wind wasn’t strong enough, but the approach was still a little unstable. Thanks to his extensive experience, the pilot was able to guide his plane until landing.
When landing on the runway, we can see that the plane hit the ground violently. Result of the races: The plane bounced and even went off course. But fortunately, the pilot quickly corrected the plane’s course and continued the safe landing.
The photos are amazing to say the least, as this internet user, an aviation enthusiast, pointed out in his comments. ” It captured well the details of the landing and the aircraft’s reaction to the flight control movements “, he wrote.
