Approach to Kai Tak....747 Style!

[RollerBall]

[quote]

i've always wondered, why not just approach from the other end of the runway...

[Sam 400]

Hope that doesnt happen too often. lol Great pics Sam

[bm_727]

WOW!!!!!!
I wish I could have landed there before it closed

[Nexus]

Was Kai Tak a dangerous airport?
Perhaps. But the pilots flying there were experienced and truly professional, hence limiting the chances of accidents.
Accidents did happen, as they do at every airport.
Most common mistakes were overshooting the right turn.
See, on most occasions, you'd have a right crosswind on (short) final, so your base leg is flown with a tailwind. If pilots overshot the turn, they'd have very little time to properly stabilize the aircraft for landing. Many of the "dramatic" clips shows just that

Here's some info I found regarding the safety:

"Despite nightmare scenarios of an urban crash-landing, Kai Tak enjoys one of the best safety records of any airport in the world. There have only been three major accidents the past decade, the most recent involving a 747 that skidded off the end of the runway"

Take it for what it's worth.