Scary plane landings at Madeira Airport: Video

Updated
Insane Landings at Portugal Airport Under High Winds
Insane Landings at Portugal Airport Under High Winds



This video of planes landing in high winds on the island of Madeira recently shows just how tricky it is to be a pilot - and it's not much fun being a passenger either.

Some of the aircraft are blown off course so badly that the pilots have to abort the landing altogether.

See also: The world's scariest airports

The landings weren't helped by the fact that Madeira Funchal is recognised by pilots as one of the most difficult landing spots in Europe. With an unusually short runway, rocky hills on one side and a sheer drop into the sea on the other, it's not for the fainthearted.

The footage won't do much to quell the nerves of anxious flyers, but it's no cause for concern. Pilots are trained to land in precisely these conditions.

As Patrick Smith, a US pilot and author of Cockpit Confidential, explains that the correct landing technique is "a slightly skewed alignment, with one set of tyres hitting the ground before the other."



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