Explorer Flight Missions: Landing Challenge, Part 1
This month we wanted to bring you 5 landing challenges! This list has been curated via BGS (source).
You can fly these flights on your own or get a group going - it’s up to you. Make sure you choose an appropriate aircraft and conduct proper flight planning. Let the adventure begin!
To get the Explorer server role (access to Explorers DISCORD channel) and 500 TPC Points for each flight:
Fly to or from any of the airports on this list.
Leave a comment on this post with the ICAO code of the airport you flew into. Feel free to share more details about your flight, if you’d like.
Post pics from your flight in screenshots channel on DISCORD.
[OPTIONAL] If you post a video of the landing in streams and videos channel of TPC Discord, you will get an extra 500 TPC points!
1. VNLK: Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla, Nepal
Nepal’s Lukla Airport stands in the shadows of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. Renowned as the gateway for tourists aspiring to conquer Everest, Lukla Airport is a vital entry point to the region. However, its geographical location presents a set of formidable challenges for pilots (source)
2. VQPR: Paro Airport, Bhutan
Paro International Airport in Bhutan is another very difficult runway to land on. There are mountains soaring to 18,000 feet which it restricts visibility until moments before landing. Adding to the complexity, there is no radar service available for aircraft.
Consequently, flights into Paro are restricted to daylight hours. Pilots tackling the approach to Paro must rely on manual navigation using a series of landmarks. Precision is paramount as they navigate through obstacles, with some certified pilots executing a 45-degree angle descent before swiftly landing on the runway. (source)
3. LFLJ: Courchevel Airport, France
Nestled in the French Alps, Courchevel Airport presents a different set of challenges. While its elevation exceeds 6,500 feet, the primary hurdle is its runway. Measuring a mere 1,700 feet and featuring a daunting 18.5% downward gradient, pilots must execute precise landings on their first attempt.
Complicating matters, the absence of lights or instrument aids makes landings impossible during adverse weather conditions, a common occurrence in the mountainous surroundings. (source)
4. LPMA: Funchal Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, Madeira, Portugal
Located on the picturesque island of Madeira, Funchal Cristiano Ronaldo Airport may not seem as hazardous as its mountainous counterparts. Nevertheless, its coastal positioning exposes aircraft to constant heavy winds and gusts. (source)
5. TNCS: Juancho E Yrausquin Airport, Dutch Caribbean
Saba Airport, situated in the Dutch Caribbean, boasts the title of having the shortest commercially usable runway globally, measuring just 1,312 feet. However, due to displaced runway thresholds on either side, the total usable length shrinks to 1,263 feet. (source)
