There was the beginning of an interesting discussion of the relative merits of various airports as a tangent in another thread, but it seemed like it deserved its own forum. I'll start:

The most nerve wracking airports from which I have flown have been:

1) John Wayne: due to noise restrictions, immediately after takeoff the pilot throttles back from 100% to idle. It's kind of spooky even after the 20th time.

2) Palm Springs: airport is deep in a valley with mountains at either end of the runway.

3) Catalina Island: sheer cliffs at both ends of the runway.


The best airport approach of all time? No contest: the old Kai Tak. Too bad it's gone...

Flying into San Diego CSAN) is also very interesting. Reminds me of flying into the old HK airport. Oh Yes, The infamous Laurel Travel parking garage. 6 or 7 story building right there on the runway. Seeing the whites of the eyes of the drivers on Interstate 5 as one flies in always makes my day too! Always look foward to one of the jets skimming the roof of my rentral car as I leave downtown S.D. going north on interstate 5. Interesting you bring up John Wayne (SNA) I always feel like I am in the space shuttle in the way the plane gains altitude. The only difference being like you mentioned the cutting back on the engines(QUITE).

Mike

The (former) National Airport in Washington DC. The approach using the Potomac River for noise restrictions is a bit weird.

But Kai Tak takes the trophy.

Scary: DCA from the North. Aspen: Get off the plane there and look around, you are surrounded by mountains and wonder how in the heck your going to get out without smashing into one of them. LGA gives me the willies when I see how the planes land on top of that sea wall.

For the view: DCA from the North. SFO over the bay bridge approach is neat, but the easterly take off that turns north, around the city then out to sea over the golden gate is breathtaking.

For the ride: John Wayne. Or any approach with a last minute go-around call.

timchen: ("former") National is still "National" to most of us, even though it's now officially "Ronald Regan Washington National Airport>"
MattWald: I don't think the approach to DCA (I refuse to call it Regan anything) is scary, at all. In fact, I think it's outstanding if you happen to be on the left side of the aircraft. And for those on the ground, if you go to Gravelly Point (just north of the runway end) and sit there watching those planes cut your hair as they land. Oh, boy!, what a view!

The most memorable award definitely has to go to the airport of Saba, a tiny island in the Dutch Caribbean, about 20 minutes flight from St. Maarten. The airport is built on a piece of rock connected to the island (which is really just one big mountain) with water on three sides. The runway is so short that it appears that your plane appears to fall first for a few seconds after leaving the runway, before they start climbing!

The airport can only be used by specially qualified pilots, in prop planes. The arrival and departure terminal is barely a shack, and you can only fly their from places like St. Maarten and St. Eustatius (another small Dutch Caribbean island).

However - Saba itself is a beautiful little island with excellent diving!

Amusing Airports I Have Known:

Tocumen in Panama -- wins in the 'most like a train station' category

Benito Juarez (MEX) at Mexico City -- too many layovers here have given me a sore bum; wins for "most uncomfortable seating"

Big Island of Hawaii at Kona (KOA) -- I love this open-air airport building(s) except when it rains.

Honolulu International (HNL) -- wins for Best Gardens

Heathrow (LHR) -- wins for most commotion and I still love it! What a hustle and bustle! Impossible not to feel at the center of the universe when at LHR.

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR) -- LA's best airport if one is flying to LA per se and not making connections. In and out FAST!

SFO and DEN -- tie for spending the most time on the runway

Dulles at Washington DC (IAD) -- I guess it makes sense that DC's primary airport would win for most inconvenient for making connections.

[This message has been edited by KatW (edited 01-21-99).]

Worst/scariest I have visited is Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Dirt & grass runway, lean-to shack for terminal and a windsock. A bush-pilots dream. Still one of the best and efficient after all these years is Tampa International.

Oh, Jaws, you bring back memories of the one time I flew from Montego Bay to Negril, Jamaica. Like Ocho Rios, the airport was a grassy strip of what used to be a road. The single-engine Trans-Jamaica plane bounced down the runway and jolted over potholes. I understand that some of the resorts now offer this 15 minute flight instead of the 90 minute bus ride from Mo Bay to Negril...I'd rather stick to the road...

Lets see:

Vail Airport (EGE) -- in a valley -- most times you need to stop in Denver to refuel and provide food service since they cannot load up or the plane cannot make it out of the valley.

Worcester MA -- small airport, built on a mountain. Very windy. I was on a 19 seater (US Airways Express) where the co-pilot served as the gate agent and flight attendant. They had to leave the door open between the cockpit and main cabin so the co could keep an eye on the three of us. It was neat to be able to look out the window and watch the appraoch to the runway.

Best Approach -- believe it or not -- LaGuardia at night --> one of the flight paths used from the South flyes up the East River and you get a great view of the city. On American from Dallas or US Airways from Charlotte -- sit on the left side of the plane (siting, facing the front of the plane -- you want to be on the left) for a great view (as long as that flight path is used)

LaGuaria is also interesting for landing -- you land over Flushing Bay -- the runway starts out in the water.

The takeoff from JNU is a heart-stopper! Taking off from Juneau, there is a 1,500 foot "hill" a few miles to the south. If you happen to take off in that direction, your plane climbs unusually fast and then scream a hard right turn. If you sit by a window, you can see the tree tops a couple of hundred feet below.

Passed through two rainbows while landing at Maui. Knew then that the trip was going to be great (no more wool anything!).

I definately miss the landings at the old Kai Tak airport but in terms of facilities, the new Hong Kong Airport rules!!!!!!!!!

I could live in that Airport.

Narita definately has to be the worlds most poorly planned airport. All fhose Northwest flights arrive at the same time but there is never enough room to sit down. I try really hard to make sure I never have a layover at Narita

Matt, If you ever rode in the van on the Jamaican narrow and curvy roads you would take the dirt & grass runway anyday. It would be more safe to walk, swim or ride a horse.

OMNI, now.

Jaws: having traversed the MoBay-Negril Road on nealy every form of transport available (car, taxi, bus, truck, motorcycle) over the last twenty years, I wear my "I survived the road to Negril" t-shirt with pride.
Apparently, an Asian constortium began a new road project to build a 4 lane highway from Ocho to Negril thru MoBay in order to increase the value of investments in resorts, but when the Asian economy went belly-up, so did the road. I've seen some of the mile-long stretches that they finished before the money ran out, though.

And as I said, I'd take that twisty, windy road over the Trans-Jamacia nightmare anyday...especially if I'm sitting in the back of a taxi with a few Red Stripes and Dragon Stouts!!!!!