Originally Posted by
kaerast
Everybody got asked by passport control whether they were staying in Gibraltar or not, but this seemed to just be for their counting.
Indeed, they are just for government statistics.
Originally Posted by
kaerast
The Manchester one landed smoothly, and then the Birmingham one had a last-minute go-around. I'd heard Gibraltar is one of the most dangerous approaches in Europe, seeing an A320 go around at the very last minute made that real for me and several other passengers were heard remarking how scary it looked.
Firstly, it is not dangerous.
That is an urban myth largely created due to two factors. Firstly a National Geographic TV programme 'Worlds Most Extreme Airports' - but the criteria used for the programme included the unique and the unusual - which is how Gibraltar was entered in the list - due to the road crossing, the unusual (but safe) wind effects, and the water (safe). Sadly this TV programme was later repackaged in some markets and given advertising that it was the worlds most 'dangerous' airports with lots of sensationalist advertising. That is not the criteria the people who made the original programme used.
The second factor is the some people (erroneously) believe the runway is 'dangerously short' - well it isn't. What it does have is water around it rather than more typical land. This can makes it appear shorter - but it is a perfectly safe and valid length for the aircraft that use it. Small regional airports in various places have similar runway lengths.
What makes Gibraltar airport demanding (though perfectly safe) is winds. Due to the presence of the rock nearby, lots of wind effects are created - but they are very well understood (there has been an Met office station in Gibraltar for ages, it is well understood), the annoying thing is it only takes a slight change in wind direction (just a degree) and the effects will change from one type to another. So wind that is changing direction can make it change from a smooth landing to bumpy with only the slightest of change of direction, etc.
A go around is perfectly safe, there is *nothing* about Gibraltar airport that makes them dangerous. I've had go arounds at airports from big to small. Basically you feel like you are landing then you feel like you are taking off again. The aircraft remains at the same angle of attack, but the power is then applied (as per take off, rather than being reduced in a landing), it is quite smooth - some people don't even notice it if they are not paying attention.