Video: Plane Landing of the Day

Published on April 13th, 2008

Posted by Uncle Dave in Video

Going into Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong with a crosswind.

20 users responded in " Video: Plane Landing of the Day "

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# 1 Winston said, on April 13th, 2008 at 6:45 am

Wow! Talented pilot. Unavoidably very hard on tires, though.

# 2 TatooYou said, on April 13th, 2008 at 7:00 am

That pilot must be a member of Mensa…

# 3 jbenson2 said, on April 13th, 2008 at 7:11 am

An ancient video. Kat Tak closed completely 10 years ago.It was replace by the Hong Kong airport at Chek Lap Kok.

# 4 bobbo said, on April 13th, 2008 at 7:12 am

What crosswind??

Note the tall slender tree on the hill above the runway right at the start–its hardly moving.

The approach looks like a common late turn to final at low altitude, correction to centerline of runway, normal flare, – -

then – - it looks like right at touchdown he slams in a bunch of right rudder==but could always be a crosswind, yes.

If there was a strong cross wind, once again we see a cowboy pilot not taking the time to setup correctly. Must be Air France?–well known for such crappy flying.

I wouldn’t want to fly that airplane without the landing gear getting fully checked.

# 5 PeterR said, on April 13th, 2008 at 7:25 am

Gibraltar RWY 09 also used to be a fun approach until recently. Aircraft using Gib were not allowed to enter Spanish airspace. The approach to 09 involved flying north up the middle of Algeceiras Bay then at the last minute, with the plane scarcely flying, turning 90 deg right and landing immediately, taking care to avoid any ships moored nearby. The approach plate warns of high bird activity and turbulence, just to add to the fun. The only road from the border with Spain into Gib crosses the runway – it’s closed to road traffic during aircraft movements. This is one red light that nobody jumps!

Watching a 737 (the largest plane that can use the airport) coming in was quite a sight. Recently the ban was lifted and planes can now make a straight-in approach.

# 6 FRAGaLOT said, on April 13th, 2008 at 7:57 am

I’ve seen videos like this before posted here on Dvorak’s blog. They have to land like how drivers “power slide”

# 7 Nik said, on April 13th, 2008 at 8:08 am

That approach was known as the “Hong Kong Curve” or “checkerboard” and it had to be done that way to avoid China’s airspace. The most dangerous approach in the world. Number 3 is right, Kai Tak is now closed.

# 8 apeguero said, on April 13th, 2008 at 9:10 am

Hey Boboo, are you a pilot? I’m not, but your answer was exactly what I had thought, the pilot might have turned too far to the right and then corrected with rudder instead of going around. Although it does look like a typical crosswind landing right before flare. What makes it look so dangerous is the Kai Tak approach. Man, it’s almost like the old Air Craft Carrier approaches of WWII where Naval and Marine aviators had to approach the carrier from the side and then bank right before touch down. Anyway, the aircraft appears to have JAL markings.

# 9 bobbo said, on April 13th, 2008 at 9:40 am

#8==apeguero–just one of my many life experiences. I have landed at the new/old Hong Kong Airport- the one that makes a straight-in between buildings higher than you are to the left and right. Hard to believe a standard approach would involve such a tight turn on final==but I guess so. Such airports requiring that amount of skill should also require specialization or be closed to general aviation. But what I think should be the case, hardly ever is.

# 10 Stu said, on April 13th, 2008 at 10:53 am

Bobbo – you are full of it.

Plainly a strong crosswind and a masterful job by the pilot.

The only question is whether the crosswind factor(s) for the aircraft and/or airline and/or airport were exceeded.

ex-Air Traffic Controller (Tower)

# 11 edwinrogers said, on April 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am

I have landed in a 747 at Kai Tak, in fact on the day that it closed. It was the most memorable landing in my life. A tribute to Boeing engineering as much to pilot training. They had a special set of runway lights to tell the pilot to apply full reverse thrust and brake, or to apply full power and overshoot, like on old aircraft carriers. Local chinese people harvested rice, by hand, adjacent to the tarmac.

# 12 Balbas said, on April 13th, 2008 at 11:13 am

Reminds me of when three C-130′s executed a low-flyover of a civil terminal, made a sharp 90-degree turn and then immediately landed.

Obviously they were practicing for combat. It scared the hell outta many people peering out the terminal windows, including the staff.

# 13 bobbo said, on April 13th, 2008 at 11:29 am

#10–Stu==yes I am full of it. Experience and insightful intellect.

I don’t deny the crosswind, I just say it doesn’t look like it until the very last moment. Whats wrong with that? Why do I have to assume the validity of the post or comments?

I have never seen a “checkerboard approach” or landed at that airport so whats wrong with being skeptical of something outside my own experience?

So stud==what was the wind at the time of landing? I’ll take your non-response as you don’t know and like most ground pounders, you just love making assumptions.

# 14 hayden said, on April 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

Obligatory “It’s Bush’s fault” comment like on every other article:

BUSH CREATED THE CROSSWIND CONSPIRACY TO CRASH THIS PLANE AND ATTACK THIS FOREIGN ASIAN COUNTRY FOR ITS OIL RESERVES!!!!!1111 LOL BUSH IS DUM

# 15 pjakobs said, on April 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

#13, bobbo: as anyone who has ever read a thread on pprune knows , the level of flying knowledge decreases along this list: non-aviators, private pilots, atc personnel, atpl.

# 16 bobbo said, on April 13th, 2008 at 12:45 pm

#14–Hayden==the amount of oil found in wok cooking does not justify invading China, although the neocons might disagree.

#15–pj–that kind of curve exists for most subjects on most blogs. I am getting comfortable though that most people have to misstate my position in order to argue against it. Actually makes my response too easy. I’m glad for the few here that have sharpened my skills and given me a few things to think about.

What “actually” happened 10 years ago on a runway in China isn’t one of them.

# 17 hhopper said, on April 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

#14 –

# 18 Fly the Narrows said, on April 13th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

Wow – simple as that

# 19 HBear said, on April 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

My dad landed there a few times, at first as a pilot, and later as a passenger, in both commercial and military aircraft. His best description of that airport was that it was “scary”, especially looking out the windows at washing hanging out of windows that were at eye level with him. BTW, there were special training manuals for landing there, and most older Boeing simulators have still got a special flight sim for it, as a reminder to pilots as to how pear shaped it can get if you get it slightly wrong.

# 20 QB said, on April 13th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

There’s tons of vids at YouTube of Kai Tak landings. A good hour or more of entertainment. This one isn’t from Kai Tak, but it’s still my favourite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwUIOpOuBuk

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