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AVIOPHOBIA is a common fear of flying experienced by over 20 million people, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
But this doesn’t mean flying comes without its risks, especially if you’re heading into one of Asia’s most dangerous airports.
Nepal: Lukla Airport
If you’re visiting Mount Everest, then you’ll probably be flying into this tiddly airport nestled between two mountains.
Lukla serves as one of the world’s highest airports and most treacherous, due to unpredictable weather conditions.
The airport doesn’t have runway lights or air traffic controllers, so pilots must put all their training into landing on this extra small strip.
Built in 1964 under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to stand atop of Mount Everest in 1953, the airport is patrolled by the Nepalese army and is in continuous use.
Although this well-used airport has daily flights between Lukla and Katmandu, don’t expect to pick up your duty-free souvenirs here.
Bhutan: Paro Airport
Sitting high in the Himalayan mountains, this runway has such a dangerous reputation – only eight pilots worldwide are qualified to land on it.
The tiny village of Paro lies 2.4 kilometers above sea level between jutting mountain peaks, some as high as 18,000 feet.
One wrong move could mean clipping the roof of one of the many houses scattered on the mountainside as the plane descends.
As this is Bhutan’s only international airport, it’s estimated 30,000 people fly in and out of it every year for holidays in the “greenest nation on Earth”.
The runway is just 6,499-feet long, a lot shorter than the average needed to land a large commercial plane.
This challenge, coupled with the high winds ripping through the valley and often low visibility, make it possibly the most dangerous airport in the world.
Antarctica
Tourism to Antarctica has increased by 10,000 visits over the past decade with most visitors coming from the US, China, and Australia.
While many tourists travel via environmentally-unfriendly cruise ships, scientific expeditions often land on the continent via air travel.
But given the low demand for snazzy airports, there’s a serious lack of infrastructure for aircraft to land safely.
Most “airports” are attached to research stations and spend most of their time covered in snow.
Even Antarctica’s best international airport, Wilkins Aerodrome, must be significantly checked and safety-tested immediately before any aircraft land.
However, you’ll be happy to know you can park your sled here for free, unlike other extorting airport carparks.
Japan: MCAS Futenma
On the spectacularly beautiful southern Japanese island of Okinawa, hides the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Futenma.
We say “hides” because it’s surrounded by a high density of houses which all feel the full effects of US aircraft coming onto land.
Powerful aircraft such as F/A-18 Hornets and V-22 Osprey are continuously landing at this airport.
While the landing strip isn’t particularly short, the constant worry of clipping homes on landing or facing engine failure on take-off have earned MCAS the reputation of world’s most dangerous airport among the US armed forces.
Japan: Chubu Centrair International Airport
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Surrounded by water on every side, there is no room for a botched landing or take-off attempt here.
This airport acts as the main airport for access to Japan’s central region and is one of five airstrips built on manmade islands in the archipelago nation.
However, the airport has a clean safety record and is classified as first-class in terms of facilities and operations.
Commercial pilots face some of the toughest training in the world, so even if you’ve got a trip planned to Mount Everest, Antarctica or Bhutan, you’re in safe hands.
The post Asia’s most dangerous airports appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com