GULLIVER is currently reading “Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot” by Mark Vanhoenacker. It’s a lovely memoir of a 747 pilot, half poetic meander through the joys of flying and half discussion of the technicalities of captaining a jumbo. I will probably return to the book later this week, to share some of the secrets of the cockpit that are revealed. But a particular insight of Mr Vanhoenacker's came to mind when watching a video (above), which has been released by British Airways (and which Gulliver came across on the Breaking Travel News blog). It shows a pilot’s-eye approach into Funchal airport on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
The approach is a particularly tricky one. The landing must be done visually—ie without the instrument landing system. Because of the island’s mountainous terrain, aeroplanes must skirt the coast before banking sharply onto the runway. The strip itself, perched right on the shoreline, with hills on the other side, is notorious for dramatic changes...Continue reading
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