I was very lucky to fly into Kai Tak before it closed. It was quite unnerving on approach, looking out, and seeing people’s laundry hanging in apartments above you.
I think the most terrifying landing I have been in was a simple non-exotic flight into my original home airport, Leeds (LBA).
The airport is at 6-700 feet amsl and it gets super windy. Plus, there is only one runway, (14/32). (I guess you could technically call it 2 runways but there is no alternative for crosswinds). There are a lot of videos about this.
I recall the feeling of flying sideways (KLM Embraer 190) and moving up and down as though on a yoyo string. Being a keen aviator, I was actually amazed we did not divert. (It took 3 attempts to get in).
And after touch down, we were still getting blown around, In fact the pilot announced that we could not park at the gates due to the risk of being blown into the building. So, we had to park a long way from the terminal.
After exiting the aircraft, people were getting blown over on the tarmac.
I know right, I am exactly the same and sometimes get so annoyed with myself when I spot all the wrong words and typos in a post, days later. (This is why I felt it OK to have a laugh at it.).
St Mary’s in the Scilly Isles is interesting when approaching over the sea. Imagine Lukla but with the option to go around. I did this one IRL and trusted the PAPI more than the picture out the window. The threshold has a public footpath at one side so there was a chap with his dog waiting for me to do something spectacular. The upward slope just meant I didn’t need the brakes.
Saint Martin is an easy approach, just a tad unforgiving if you land early.
