FS2020: Landing Challenges

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Landing Challenges in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) are a set of activities which test a pilot's ability to land as close to certain pre-defined parameters as possible. As of World Update XI: Canada (WU11) (2022-09-28), there are 58 unique Landing Challenges.

Each landing challenge consists of a predefined airport, runway, aircraft, and weather conditions. The objective is to attempt to perform as close to a perfect landing as possible.

During the loading screen a suggested approach path is displayed. It includes the targeted approach speed and at the bottom includes the judgement criteria. The challenge begins with fully setup and in-flight along the approach. Once the airport is in sight, a blue box is displayed on the runway which marks the target touchdown point.

Scoring

Each landing is scored using three criteria:

  • Landing precision: The distance between the center of the touchdown zone and your touchdown. Maximum score: 5,000 points
  • Ground roll: The distance to runway centerline from your touchdown to your full stop. Maximum score: 5,000 points
  • Landing smoothness: The descent rate just before and at your touchdown. Maximum score: 200 points

The formula used to calculate the overall score is (landing precision score + ground roll score) * landing smoothness score. The maximum score for each challenge is therefore (5,000 + 5,000) * 200 = 2,000,000 points.

Categories

There are currently three categories of Landing Challenges.

  • Famous challenges act as an introduction to the system with as airport and aircraft pairings that are easy-to-moderate in difficulty.
    • "Well-known locations and challenges that are well within reach. Focus on fundamental landing techniques, precision and smoothness."
  • Epic challenges are a step up in difficulty with difficult approaches and runway configurations.
    • "Short airstrips, treacherous terrain, dramatic approaches and harrowing descents. Face the most iconic and dangerous places to land in the world."
  • Strong Wind challenges add difficulty by way of strong crosswinds, often of variable direction by altitude and featuring gusts.
    • "Strong winds make a pilot's job even harder. Contend with air currents and crosswinds along the approach path to ensure a good landing."

List of Landing Challenges

Cateogry Challenge
Name		 Aircraft Airport
Famous Hachijojima Airbus A320neo Hachijojima Airport
Famous Llanada Grande Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) Llanada Grande Airport
Famous Nice Beechcraft Bonanza G36 Nice Côte d'Azur Airport
Famous Rio De Janeiro Airbus A320neo Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport
Famous Sydney Airbus A320neo Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
Famous Jackson Cessna Citation CJ4 Jackson Hole Airport
Famous New York Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental John F. Kennedy International Airport
Famous Quito Beechcraft King Air 350i Mariscal Sucre International Airport
Famous Suwanosejima Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) Suwanosejima Airport
Famous Toronto Daher TBM 930 Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Famous Arlanda Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Stockholm Arlanda Airport
Famous Rønne Cessna Citation CJ4 Bornholm Airport
Famous Düne Diamond DA40 NG Heligoland Airport
Famous Klagenfurt Daher TBM 930 Klagenfurt Airport
Famous Brisbane Airbus A320neo Brisbane Airport
Famous Shellharbour Daher TBM 930 Shellharbour Airport
Famous Girona Daher TBM 930 Girona-Costa Brava Airport (
  • ICAO: LEGE
)
Famous Bilbao Airbus A320neo Bilbao Airport (
  • ICAO: LEBB
)
Famous Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (
  • ICAO: KATL
)
Famous Calgary Intl. Airbus A320neo Calgary International Airport (
  • ICAO: CYYC
)
Epic Aspen Cessna Citation CJ4 Aspen-Pitkin County Airport
Epic Courchevel Daher TBM 930 Courchevel Airport
Epic Paro Airbus A320neo Paro International Airport
Epic Saint-Barthelemy Daher TBM 930 Gustaf III Airport
Epic Bugalaga Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Bugalaga Airstrip
Epic Lukla Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Tenzing-Hillary Airport
Epic Saba Beechcraft King Air 350i Juancho E. Yrauquin Airport
Epic Tegucigalpa Airbus A320neo Toncontín International Airport
Epic Svalbard Cessna 152 Svalbard Airport
Epic Ísafjörður Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Ísafjörður Airport
Epic Lugano Cessna Citation CJ4 Lugano Airport
Epic Katoomba Beechcraft Bonanza G36 Katoomba Airfield
Epic Mabuiag Island Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Mabuiag Island Airport
Epic Leon Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental León Airport (
  • ICAO: LELN
)
Epic Portimao Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Portimão Airport (
  • ICAO: LPPM
)
Epic Reggio Calabria Airbus A320neo Reggio Calabria Airport (
  • ICAO: LICR
)
Epic Sestri Cessna Citation CJ4 Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (
  • ICAO: LIMJ
)
Epic Telluride Daher TBM 930 Telluride Regional Airport (
  • ICAO: KTEX
)
Epic Castlegar Beechcraft King Air 350i Castlegar Airport (
  • ICAO: CYCG
)
Strong Wind Donegal Beechcraft Bonanza G36 Donegal Airport
Strong Wind Gibraltar Airbus A320neo Gibraltar International Airport
Strong Wind Kerama Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Kerama Airport
Strong Wind Nassau Daher TBM 930 Lynden Pindling International Airport
Strong Wind Queenstown Cessna Citation CJ4 Queenstown Airport
Strong Wind Southampton EXTRA 330LT Southampton Airport
Strong Wind Funchal Airbus A320neo Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport
Strong Wind Innsbruck Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Innsbruck Airport
Strong Wind Nanwalek Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) Nanwalek Airport
Strong Wind Out Skerries Diamond DA62 Out Skerries Airstrip
Strong Wind Sedona Cessna 152 Sedona Airport
Strong Wind Vaasa Airbus A320neo Vaasa Airport
Strong Wind Düsseldorf Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Düsseldorf Airport
Strong Wind Altenrhein Beechcraft King Air 350i St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport
Strong Wind Mt Hotham Diamond DA62 Mount Hotham Airport
Strong Wind Pico Beechcraft King Air 350i Pico Airport (
  • ICAO: LPPI
)
Strong Wind Punta Raisi Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Falcone Borsellino Airport (
  • ICAO: LICJ
)
Strong Wind Skyline CubCrafters XCub Simko Field Airport (Skyline Airport) (
  • FAA LID: 1ID9
)
Strong Wind Barkerville Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX Barkerville Airport (
  • TC LID: CAS3
)

Famous Challenges

Hachijojima

Hachijojima
“ 187 miles south of Tokyo, the compound volcanic island of Hachijojima rises in the Philippine Sea. The island's regional airport, established in 1926 by the Imperial Japanese Navy, lies nestled between two volcanic peaks and presents pilots with a standard approach for airliners — however moderately high crosswinds coming from the south can make landing even a nimble A320neo a bit more challenging. ”

Llanada Grande

Llanada Grande
“ Llanada Grande Airport is a small public-use airfield in the Los Lagos Region of the Chile. Its small size makes it primarily suitable for small aircraft, and its mountainous locale can turn the approach into a challenge for the unprepared pilot. ”

Nice

Nice
“ Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is a bustling international airport located 3.2 nautical miles southwest of Nice, France. As the principal port of arrival for visitors to the French Riviera and Monaco, it stands as one of the most spectacular landing sites in the world. The approach isn't especially difficult, but pilots will have to align with Runway 22R and keep parameters stale to touch-down in the best conditions. ”

Rio De Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro
“ Rio de Janeiro-Antonio Carlos Jobim/Galeao International Airport, located on an island in Guanabara Bay, sis the main airport serving Rio and a central gateway to Brazil. En route to Runway 33, pilots are treated to one of the most scenic approaches in the world — and while a landing here won't be exceedingly difficult, a perfect landing of an A320 is not so easy to achieve. ”

Sydney

Sydney
“ Situated on an open oceanic embayment of Botany Bay, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is one of the longest continuously-operated commercial airfields in the world. Though the approach to Runway 16R is quite straightforward, landing an A320 in one of the largest airports in Australia under the best conditions is still a challenge for most pilots. ”

Jackson

Jackson
“ At the base of the spectacular Teton Mountain Range in Wyoming lies Jackson Hole Airport. This remote airfield may be known for its awe-inspiring setting, however its high altitude, short runway and rapidly changing weather conditions are truly what make pilots take notice, and take extra care. ”

New York

New York
“ John F. Kennedy International Airport is the busiest international air passenger gateway into North America. Despite its proximity to the bustling boroughs of New York City, the approach to JFK isn't particularly difficult — unless you're contending with the notable weight and increase momentum of a Boeing 747, which makes every landing quite an achievement. ”

Quito

Quito
“ Mariscal Sucre International Airport is the busiest airport in Ecuador and one of the busiest in South America. Located near the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, the airport offers a relatively straight-forward approach — however, with a runway elevation of 7,874 feet, pilots will be wise to keep a close eye on aircraft performance. ”

Suwanosejima

Suwanosejima
“ Sparsely and sporadically-populated for several thousand years, through multiple historic volcanic eruptions, Suwanoose-jima is the second-largest island of the Tokara Archipelago. Its small airfield sees no regularly-scheduled flights on its notable short 2,300-foot landing strip, but pilots on approach are treated to a stunning view of one of the most active stratovolcanoes in Japan. ”

Toronto

Toronto
“ Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is a regional facility serving the financial and tourist districts of Toronto, the provincial capital of Ontario, Canada. While there is no trick to landing a TBM 930 on Runway 26, a magnificent approach past the city's downtown corridor and over Toronto Harbour allow pilots to practice and perfect their landing skills. ”

Arlanda

Arlanda
“ Stockholm Arlanda Airport is a major international airport located in the town of Märsta, 20 nautical miles north of the Swedish capital of Stockholm. The airport, the largest and busiest in the country, comprises three runways, and is surrounded by low swaths of forest and farmland. ”

Rønne

Ronne
“ Bornholm Airport is located on the southwestern corner of the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The single 6,530-foot-long runway lies just a few hundred yards from crashing surf on its south edge, with low, flat fields and swaths of trees just inland of it. ”

Düne

Düne
“ Heligoland Airport — Düne, Germany: Located on the uninhabited island of Düne, the smaller of the two islands of the Heligoland archipelago in the North Sea, Heligoland Airport offers remarkable views as well as challenges to those landing here.

You'll be treated to magnificent vistas of sea and shoreline as you skirt the southern edge of Heligoland, the larger of the two islands, on your base leg. Then, due to the short length of the runway and winds of the area, prepare to coordinate between throttle, flaps, and other controls with precision once on final—and then carefully apply brakes once you touch down. 		”

Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt
“ Located in southern Austria, just 15 miles north of the border with Slovenia, Klagenfurt Airport lies nestled at the base of a shallow bowl surrounded by rolling mountains.

While situated amid gentle terrain, the weather here can prove treacherous, making landings challenging, especially at dusk. When thunderstorms and other weather is present, take great care once on final due to wind gusts, especially during low light hours. 		”

Brisbane

Brisbane
“ Brisbane Airport is an international facility that serves the city of Brisbane and surrounding regions in the Australian state of Queensland. Located on the shore of Moreton Bay, which opens to the South Pacific's Coral Sea, Brisbane Airport is the third busiest airport in Australia with over twenty million served each year.

While the approach is straightforward onto Runway 01, the sheer size of the Airbus A320neo requires each control input and throttle change to be made with great care to maintain a smooth descent onto the ground. 		”

Shellharbour

Shellharbour
“ Shellharbour is a regional airport located just inland of Lake Illawarra in eastern New South Wales, Australia. It is roughly fifty miles south-southwest of Sydney and one hundred miles northeast of the national capital, Canberra.

The two-runway airport lies within a beautiful setting of distant mountains, patchworks of suburban architecture, and the large Lake Illawara.

Landing on Runway 16 is straightforward and presents only moderate challenges while offering stunning views of the region. 		”

Girona

Girona
“ Located just under 15 miles from the Mediterranean Coastline in northeastern Spain, Girona-Costa Brava Airport serves the region of Costa Brava and the Pyrenees mountains.
It is also used as an alternative to Barcelona's main air hub, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona – El Prat Airport.

Although surrounded by mountains, the peaks are low, presenting minimal dangers.

Using the city of Girona as a landmark, make an easy turn to the south-southwest and come in for a picture perfect landing in one of the Iberian Peninsula's most beautiful regions. 		”
  • Airplane: Daher TBM 930
  • Airport: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (
    • ICAO: LEGE
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 19 — 7860 ft long @ 474 ft MSL

Bilbao

Bilbao
“ Bilbao Airport, an international facility which serves the municipality of Bilbao in northern Spain, lies just under ten miles from the Bay of Biscay.

Beginning your approach from southeast of the airport, pass through light atmospheric conditions, including mist, and then make your final approach by turning onto a northwesterly course.

Smooth control inputs will result in a textbook landing of the Airbus. 		”
  • Airplane: Airbus A320neo
  • Airport: Bilbao Airport (
    • ICAO: LEBB
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 30 — 8539 ft long @ 130 ft MSL

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
“ Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is an international facility located 8 miles south-southwest of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, which it primarily serves. Originally established in 1926 as Candler Field, a 287-acre municipal airport, it is today the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic, seeing more than 75 million people move through its gates per year. KATL, 4,700 acres in size and comprising five parallel runways, also has the world’s largest airline hub and is considered the first “mega-hub” in the United States, meaning that it offers multiple domestic and international connections.

Built big to accommodate the world’s largest aircraft, KATL is ideally suited for the Boeing 747-8, especially 12,390-foot runway 27R. Pilots nevertheless need to pay close attention to the controls on the jumbo jet, to not overcorrect, and also keep a keen eye on the runway during approach to the busy facility. 		”

Calgary Intl.

Calgary Intl.
“ CYYC, Calgary International Airport, is the busiest airport in the province of Alberta and the third busiest in Canada, serving over six million passengers per year. It is located 5 miles north-northeast of downtown Calgary and is surrounded by highways, subdivisions, and a few small lakes on open, flat plains. The airport is composed of four runways, including two parallel runways, 17R\/35L and 17L\/35R, which can possibly cause confusion.

The challenge begins with the nose of the Airbus A320neo aimed directly at McDonald lake in the distance on the landing’s base leg. The lake, which is located 5 miles to the northeast of the touchdown point of Runway 17R, is a great visual reference. Closer to the runway, the cloverleaf interchange of Alberta Highway 2 and Alberta Provincial Highway No. 201, is another excellent reference. Turn onto final, keeping the lake, the interchange—and Runway 17L—to the left. Sight the airport tower to the east and downtown Calgary to the west, with Runway 17R between the two, and ease the Airbus gently onto the ground. 		”

Epic Challenges

Aspen

Aspen
“ Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, also known as Sardy Field, is a high-altitude regional airport nestled in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. To land on Runway 33, pilots must contend with a steep approach through the area's mountainous terrain, and a strong chance of bad weather obscuring the path. ”

Courchevel

Courchevel
“ Situated in the French Alps, Courchevel Altiport is a small mountainous aerodrome serving the ultra-exclusive ski resort community of Courchevel. The airfield, famous for its difficult approach and extremely short, upward-sloping runway, is made even more challenging with no go-around procedure due to the treacherous surrounding rocky terrain. ”

Paro

Paro
“ In the Kingdom of Bhutan, in a deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chhu, amidst the towering Himalaya Mountains, stands Paro International Airport. With surrounding peaks as high as 18,000 feet, and runway carved out of mountain foliage situated a mile and half above sea level, this is widely considered one of the most challenging airports in the world. ”

Saint-Barthelemy

Saint-Barthelemy
“ Gustaf III Airport is a public use airfield located on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy. Its short runway lies at the base of a gentle slope and ends directly on the beach — but the real trick here is the approach, obscured behind a hill that forces pilots into and extremely steep descent if they want to land. ”

Bugalaga

Bugalaga
“ In aviation circles, the Indonesian province of Papua is infamous for its poorly-maintained mountainous airstrips, which are often the only points of contact between locals and the outside world. Bugalaha, with its precipitously steep, sloped, and short runway, is no exception. ”

Lukla

Lukla
“ Tenzing-Hillary Airport is a small but popular airfield in eastern Nepal, drawing countless visitors each year on a quest to reach Mount Everest Base Camp. For pilots, the airport is one of the most difficult landing spots, with high winds, cloud cover, no go-around option, and a short, sloped runway that ends unforgivingly at a large stone wall. ”

Saba

Saba
“ Located on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport has one of the shortest commercial runways in the world at only 1,312 feet long. To add to that, the airstrip is flanked on one side by high hills, with both ends terminating at steep drop-offs into the sea, giving pilots plenty of peril to contend with while landing. ”

Tegucigalpa

Tegucigalpa
“ Toncontín International Airport is a civil and military airfield located 4 miles from the center of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Its proximity to rugged mountainous terrain and its short runway make the airport one of the most difficult in the world, especially when inclement weather conditions prevail. ”

Svalbard

Svalbard
“ Svalbard Airport is a single-runway domestic airport located on the west coast of Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean roughly midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. At just over 78 degrees north latitude, this is the northernmost airport in the world with regularly scheduled passenger service.

The 8,146-foot-long runway lies just inland of the icy waters of Advent Bay, set amid truly spectacular scenery of mountains, glaciers, and fjords. This landscape, as beautiful as it is, can prove tricky for pilots landing at Svalbard, especially with the area's fickle weather. 		”

Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður
“ Ísafjörður Airport is a small, regional airport that serves the remote Westfjords aspect of northwestern Iceland. Its single, 4,570-foot-long runway is tucked into the southeast nook of a fjord, making landing here tricky. It requires pilot nimbleness and precision while flying inside the tight confines of the surrounding topography.

Once at your base leg, which lies deep within the fjord, turn hard left, fly for less than a nautical mile, and then make another tight left turn and line up to stick the landing! 		”

Lugano

Lugano
“ Located in the far south of Switzerland, just here miles from the border with Italy, Lugano Airport is set amid beautiful lakes and steep terrain and is near some of the highest mountains in Europe, including Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn.

Due to its topography and unpredictable winds, landing here can prove challenging. Focus is key, as your eyes will want to wander off to the beautiful vistas as you approach the runway flying over Lake Lugano on final. 		”

Katoomba

Katoomba
“ Katoomba Airfield is a dirt airstrip located in New South Wales in southeastern Australia. The strip is cut into dense forest atop a plateau in the Blue Mountains approximately fify miles west-northwest of Sydney. Katoomba is one of Australia's most challenging airfields for landing due to its rough nature, relatively short length of just 3,100 feet, and altitude of 3,301 feet above sea level.

The stands of forest surrounding it on all sides add to the airfield's danger, necessitating pilots pay close attention to their altitude and speed just before touching down. 		”
  • Airplane: Beechcraft Bonanza G36
  • Airport: Katoomba Airfield (
    • ICAO: YKAT
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 07 — 3188 ft long @ 3311 ft MSL

Mabuiag Island

Mabuiag Island
“ Mabuiag Island Airport is a single-runway facility on tiny Mabuiag Island in far northern Queensland, Australia. Located in the Torres Strait, the island lies roughly fifty miles south of the island of New Guinea, and is one of the northernmost airports in Australia. The runway is built onto a small isthmus on the northeastern extremity of the island, and at 1,494 feet in length, is the shortest in the country.

One of the most beautiful airports in Australia, Mabuiag Island Airport is also one of the most challenging and hazardous at which to land due to its short length.

Pilots need to exercise great caution as well as quick action and precision to touch down here, as there is little room for error. 		”

Leon

Leon
“ León Airport is a small domestic aviation facility that lies outside the northern Spanish town of León, roughly 70 miles south of the coastline of the Bay of Biscay. At an altitude of 3,005 feet above sea level, it is the highest airport in the Iberian Peninsula.
While not at an extreme height, the airport definitely can prove challenging, notably in larger aircraft, and especially during low light conditions.

Approaching the airport from the southwest, turn nearly 90 degrees onto a northeasterly heading for final.

Pay very close attention to glide slope, control inputs, and be ever vigilant to not over correct, and you'll bring the 747-8 safely back to the ground at León. 		”

Portimao

Portimao
“ Portimão Airport is a small, single-runway facility located in southern Portugal just inland of Baia de Lagos, part of the Gulf of Cadiz. Popular with skydivers, Portimão is surrounded by beautiful pastoral landscapes.

Due to the runway's length, just 2,870 feet, landing here often proves a tough challenge.

Heading west-northwest, turn 90 degrees onto your base leg, and then quickly make another 90-degree turn onto final, paying close attention to altitude during the procedure to ensure a trouble-free touchdown in the Grand Caravan. 		”

Reggio Calabria

Reggio Calabria
“ Reggio Calabria Airport is a civil / military dual-use facility in the southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria. Also called 'Airport of the Strait', it lies on the shore of the Strait of Messina, which separates Sicily and the Italian Peninsula, and connects the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas in the heart of the Mediterranean. Established in 1939, the airport today comprises two asphalt runways and handles over 5,000 aircraft movements per year.

Approaching from the sea and turning onto final just one mile to the southeast of Runway 33, the landing is reminiscent of that at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, when it was still in use.

Be easy on the controls with your turn onto final, as you won't have any time to correct, and you'll bring the A320neo nicely onto the runway. 		”
  • Airplane: Airbus A320neo
  • Airport: Reggio Calabria Airport (
    • ICAO: LICR
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 33 — 6553 ft long @ 31 ft MSL

Sestri

Sestri
“ Genoa Airport, which is also called Christopher Columbus Airport (and informally, Genoa-Sestri Ponente Airport), is located three miles west of the city center of Genoa, in northwest Italy. The facility has a single asphalt runway which is built atop an artificial peninsula along the coast of the Gulf of Genoa, part of the Mediterranean's Ligurian Sea.

Keep a keen eye out to the west just before turning onto final as the airport lies in the shadows of the mountains during this early morning landing, making it difficult to spot.

Once lined up, ease the Cessna CJ4 onto Runway 28 for a picture perfect landing amid stunning, early morning scenery. 		”
  • Airplane: Cessna Citation CJ4
  • Airport: Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (
    • ICAO: LIMJ
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 28 — 9580 ft long @ 12 ft MSL

Telluride

Telluride
“ In term of both objective hazards and beauty, few airports can match KTEX, Telluride Regional Airport. The single-runway facility serves the southwestern Colorado town of Telluride, which lies in the heart of the high, remote, and very rugged San Juan Mountains, part of the greater Rocky Mountains of the western United States.

Telluride’s 7,111-foot-long asphalt runway lies at an elevation of 9,078 feet above sea level, ranking it as the second highest airport in the United States (behind Colorado’s Leadville, which lies at 9,934’ AMSL). The runway, located five miles west of the town of Telluride, also slopes slightly and abruptly ends in a cliff on its western end. It is located on the shoulder of 13,496-foot-high Mears Peak, which forms part of the northern periphery of the box canyon in which Telluride, and its airport, lies. Despite the dangers, this is one of the most beautiful mountain regions in the United States, and evening lighting often accentuates the wild topography and clouds above with golden and pink hues.

Pay close attention during approach, carefully eyeing the western end of the runway and the cliff at its edge. Be prepared to be quick on the controls, but without overcorrecting. There is little room for error when landing at KTEX. 		”

Castlegar

Castlegar
“ Castlegar Airport, formally called West Kootenay Regional Airport, is a single-runway facility located in southern British Columbia, 20 miles north of the border with the United States. It lies along the Columbia River, two miles southeast of the town of Castlegar. Surrounded by peaks of the Selkirk Mountains and subject to fickle winds and weather conditions, Castlegar is known as one of Canada’s most challenging airports.

Starting off over the Columbia River, turn onto final approach by heading over land just to the east of the river. Line up, being careful not to overcorrect, and ease the King Air onto Runway 33. The runway’s light dusting in snow makes attention to all control inputs, even the smallest, absolutely critical, from just before touching down, until stopped. 		”
  • Airplane: Beechcraft King Air 350i
  • Airport: Castlegar Airport (
    • ICAO: CYCG
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 33 — 5289 ft long @ 1616 ft MSL

Strong Wind Challenges

Donegal

Donegal
“ In the northwest corner of Ireland, in the townland of Carrickfinn, Donegal Airport is a single-runway airfield situated on the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way. While this coastal position blessed the region with some of the island's most beautiful scenery, direct exposure to the Atlantic also brings sweeping winds from across the ocean. ”

Gibraltar

Gibraltar
“ Gibraltar International Airport is a civilian airfield serving the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, situated on the border with Spain. As strong crosswinds whip across the Bay of Algeciras and around the Rock of Gibraltar, pilots can expect abnormal gusts, turbulence and wind shear to spike the difficulty of landing here. ”

Kerama

Kerama
“ Far south of mainland Japan, beyond Okinawa, the Kerama Archipelago is a veritable tropical paradise. Amid vibrant "Kerama Blue" waters, the uninhabited island of Fukaji-jima is home to two things: a whale observatory, and the Kerama Airport. Pilots trying to land on the short 2,617-foot runway that spans the island should brace for alternate approaches as the airport's locationi n the East China Sea routinely confronts them with strong gusts and tailwinds. ”

Nassau

Nassau
“ Located on the island of New Providence, near the capital city of Nassau, Lynden Pindling International Airport is the main international gateway to the Bahamas — but be prepared, the approach path to paradise is often swept by high winds. ”

Queenstown

Queenstown
“ Queenstown Airport, located in New Zealand, is a popular aerodrome for tourist 'flightseeing' around the resort region of Queenstown. Perched on the edge of a lake at the confluence of three mountain valleys, its runway is squeezed between peaks reaching more than 5,000 feet, presenting pilots with likely strong, gusty and variable winds on approach. ”

Southampton

Southampton
“ Flying into Southampton International Airport is no easy feat, especially in the EXTRA 330LT on an extremely windy day. An aircraft designed as an acrobatic tourer, the 330LT is remarkably light, making it nimble but also susceptible to strong gusts. After joining the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, pilots will find the plane's lack of flaps requires a shallow approach at a faster speed — adding to the challenge of navigating these turbulent skies about the United Kingdom and coming in for a safe landing. ”

Funchal

Funchal
“ Located in Santa Cruz, in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport is a marvel of structural engineering, with its runway perched on a foreland jutting out to sea. It's also considered one of the most peculiarly perilous airports in the world due to this extreme positioning — and that says nothing of the added challenge when severe off-shore winds rise up. ”

Innsbruck

Innsbruck
“ Nestled high in the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck is a seasonally-busy international airport primarily serving the ski and alpine industry. Due to its location in a deep mountain valley, the approach and descent process is a complicated and demanding one, made even more difficult by vicious winds and currents bourne from imposing mountain terrain. ”

Nanwalek

Nanwalek
“ Nanwalek Airport is a state-owned, public-use airfield in the remote Alaskan community formerly known as English Bay. Boasting one of the shortest runways in the USA, its approach is further complicated by an abrupt mountain to the south and regular exposure to stiff winds. ”

Out Skerries

Out Skerries
“ Amongst the Shetland Islands in far northern Scotland, on the tiny landmass of Bruray, sits Out Skerries Airfield and its 1,200-foot long gravel runway, rated one of the shortest in the world. To land a DA62 at this isolated airstrip, pilots must content with subarctic winds and waves on the tumultuous North Sea, navigate a turn in the approach, and locate a runway nestled in the rocky landscape with no navigational aides or lights — then comes the challenge of touching down and stopping with precision to avoid plunging off the cliff into the frigid waters below. ”

Sedona

Sedona
“ Sedona Airport is a small airport situated on a 500 foot tall mesa in Arizona. High elevation, rugged terrain, cliffs, and unique wind patterns present pilots with simultaneous perils, making this one of the most challenging, and most scenic, airports in the United States. ”

Vaasa

Vaasa
“ Vaasa Airport is a relatively small international airport that serves the Finnish city of Vaasa. It's located on the western side of the country approximately 20 nautical miles inland of the Baltic Sea's Gulf of Bothnia. Surrounded by flat, beautiful terrain of verdant forests and patchworks of fields, the approach and landing at the single-runway airport is fairly straightforward.

The area's weather, notably high winds, however, can really test the skills of pilots, requiring a heightened level of attention, especially to keep from overcorrecting. Once on your base leg, fly for 5.1 nautical miles and turn right onto final approach — and beware those winds! 		”

Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf
“ Located four miles north of downtown Düsseldorf, the capital of the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf is set amid sweeps of fields, forest, and suburbs just two miles east of the Rhine River. While its layout is straightforward, both weather and traffic can prove hazardous in this busy airport. ”

Altenrhein

Altenrhein
“ St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, a regional facility located in northeastern Switzerland lies just inland of Lake Constance, where the borders of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany meet.

The views of approach are spectacular in this northern Alpine location, especially at dusk with the waters of Lake Constance in the distance. As you enjoy the beauty of your surroundings, however, be mindful of your speed and rollout after touching down on this relatively small airport. 		”

Mt Hotham

Mt Hotham
“ Mount Hotham is a single-runway airport located in the eastern reaches of the Australian state of Victoria. Primarily serving the Hotham Alpine Resort, which is located on the slopes of Mount Hotham in the Australian Alps, the airport ranks as the highest in the country at 4,259 feet above sea level.

Surrounded by lush forest, the approach brings endless beautiful vistas, but the mountainous environment also means frequent powerful and erratic winds. Pilots will need to exercise great case on the controls from approach until stopped on the ground to keep ahead of the perils that the area's gusts can bring. 		”

Pico

Pico
“ Pico Airport is a small, single-runway facility on the Portuguese island of Pico, located just over 1,000 miles to the west of Lisbon in the Portuguese Azores. The airport lies on the northwestern extremity of the island, at the base of Mount Pico, a volcano that stands 7,710 feet above the waters of the North Atlantic.

Nestled in a beautiful setting, the airport presents challenges, even to the most seasoned of aviators, primarily due to fickle weather conditions, notably the wind.

Approaching the airport from the northeast, over the water, turn onto a heading just south of due West as you reach the coastline. Being attentive to gusts, and delicate on the controls in response, will deliver a safe landing. 		”

Punta Raisi

Punta Raisi
“ Falcone Borsellino Airport, often referred to by its former name, Punta Raisi Airport, serves the city of Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
It is located 15 miles northwest of Palermo, just inland of the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea in northwestern Sicily. The international facility, the second busiest airport in Sicily with over 40,000 aircraft movements per year, has two asphalt runways. It is known for its temperamental and often extreme winds, making landings here challenging, and sometimes dangerous.

The sheer mass of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental combined with the strong wind makes this a particularly difficult challenge.

Gain a visual on Runway 25 by spotting Pizzo di Mezzo, the prominent, sheer-faced bluff as you begin your approach. The runway lies just over a mile to the north of the mountain. Watch your yaw inputs just prior to and after touching down to maintain a heading straight down the runway, without overcorrecting. 		”

Skyline

Skyline
“ In the category of short airstrips in the United States, Skyline, located four miles east of Inkom, Idaho, on five acres of land, may take first place. Only 400 feet in length, 1ID9, also known as Simko Field Airport, can accommodate only a few airframes, namely bush flyers and STOL craft. Skyline is not only short, it lies at over one mile high in elevation. It is also situated atop a sloping ridge, with its high point, at its eastern end, at 5,623 feet above sea level, and its low point, at its western extremity, at 5,567’ AMSL, 56 feet lower. Add a gusty, strong wind—and a light aircraft like an XCub—and a true challenge awaits! ”
  • Airplane: CubCrafters XCub
  • Airport: Simko Field Airport (Skyline Airport) (
    • FAA LID: 1ID9
    )
  • Arrival: Rwy 10 — 1111 ft long @ 5568 ft MSL

Barkerville

Barkerville
“ Barkerville Airport is a small single-strip airfield located 1.2 miles due north of the town of Barkerville, British Columbia. The airport and town lie on the western periphery of the Cariboo Mountains; Barkerville was founded to support the Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1800s and today is preserved as a ghost town.

The airport consists of a single asphalt runway 2,700 feet in length and only 40 feet wide. Nestled into a small valley, locating the airstrip requires careful attention to the lay of the region’s topography. The challenge begins just southwest of Jack of Clubs Lake. Slowly descending, fly over the lake to its northeast extremity, then pass the small village of Wells. Sight the small “island” of trees just northwest of Wells, and then once over them, turn 90 degrees to the southeast into a small valley. British Columbia Highway 26, the 'Barkerville Highway', is a good visual reference, as it heads into the valley, passing just south of the runway. The runway is small, so it only comes into clear view about ¾ of a mile before reaching it. Pay close attention to control inputs in the strong wind to stay lined up with the runway from just before touching down until stopped. The runway’s narrowness doesn’t allow for much side-to-side drift at all. 		”

History

World Update IX: Italy & Malta (WU9) (2022-05-17):

World Update VIII: Iberia (WU8) (2022-03-24):

World Update VII: Australia (WU7) (2022-01-31):

World Update VI: Germany/Austria/Switzerland (WU6) (2021-09-07):

World Update V: Nordics Europe (WU5) (2021-06-17):

World Update III: United Kingdom (WU3) (2021-02-16):

World Update II: USA (WU2) (2020-11-24):

World Update I: Japan (WU1) (2020-09-29):

PC Release (2020-08-18):

Closed beta (2020-07-28):

Alpha 2 (2020-04-01):

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