Aviation Specials – May 2018

2 // Extreme Airports

4

Introduction

What are extreme airports, and why did we decide

to produce a 100-page bookazine about them?

Andy Martin explains the criteria, and how facilities

that made the cut were selected.

6

It’s the real thing

Atlanta has topped the airport passenger throughput

tables for decades. Richard Randall explores the

origins and drivers of its phenomenal growth.

16

Tyrolean tryst

The Alpine peaks surrounding Innsbruck make

flying its approaches very demanding, especially

in inclement weather. Kevan James sampled the

Wiener Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel while finding out

what it takes to keep this busy little airport running

smoothly and efficiently.

22

Dancing on ice

Close to the bottom of the world is an airfield

complex with two skiways, two temporary runways

built on sea ice and another permanent airstrip

made of compacted snow. Andy Martin examines

the infrastructure needed to enable Hercules and

Globemasters to land near the South Pole.

CONTENTS

28

A trip to Madeira

Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport on Madeira is

sometimes described at Europe’s Kai Tak. A current

Boeing 737 captain outlines the challenges involved in

flying into Funchal.

34

Tripping the night fantastic

A $27,000 win in a Las Vegas casino helped transform

a moderately busy regional airport into the world’s

second busiest cargo hub. Bernardo Andrade reviews

the development of Memphis International, while Andy

Martin charts the meteoric rise of its largest tenant.

42

Riding the IGS

Flying the approach into Kai Tak over Kowloon, with

its notorious 47o low-level turn, was among the great

challenges in commercial aviation. Captain Bailey

/ AviationImageNetwork explains what it was really

like to fly into Hong Kong’s revered airport.

50

So long and thanks for all the fish

Kai Tak was like no other. The sweltering heat and

almost unbearable humidity, the tower blocks and

the intense noise and bustle of Asia’s World City

pressing right up to its perimeter made every visit an

incomparable experience.

02-03_Contents.indd 2 11/05/2018 14: