Check out the video to the left to see the entire approach from the cockpit of a Boeing 737 which includes the pilot's sincere feelings about the whole ordeal once he's safely taxiing off the runway.
Not every pilot that's challenged Toncontín International Airport's tricky setup has lived to tell the tale. The latest, on May 30, 2008, involved an Airbus A320, approaching from San Salvador, that came in a bit too hot and overran the runway resulting in 5 casualties. After reviewing the recordings from the aircraft's black box, the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) determined that the fault of the accident was human error and not the previously thought poor weather conditions. He landed a half mile beyond the landing marks as well as in the opposite direction from what the flight tower had directed.
This latest accident prompted Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya, to eliminate all international flights from Toncontín and force all large birds to land at the Soto Cano Air Base, a joint Honduras and U.S. military base near Comayagua, while the construction of a 984 ft extension of runway was completed. That extension brought the total length of runway 02 to 7,096 ft and was completed in May of this year.
Will the extension make the landing any easier? By our cool, calm and collect calculations — No. But what it will do is give pilots a little bit of extra breathing room and a little more time for them to change their pants before making the embarrassing trek across the tarmac.
Know of a crazier, more difficult airport to land a big bird at? Share it with us in the comments and we'll investigate for a future Planelopnik installment.