rhondabrwn -> RE: The Scariest Airports to Fly Into (7/19/2015 2:25:00 AM)
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Going to look these up in MS Flight Simulator X and give them a try! My scariest airport isn't on the list... it was a routine descent into Chicago O'Hare when our Boeing 737 got routed into the slipstream of the 747 Jumbo landing in front of us. Suddenly the plane was rocking violently, rolling to the right, then back to the left, then back to the right (harder and deeper), then back to the left, even harder and we were nearly vertical. The engines were roaring at full power and we fell off to the left out of that near vertical bank, probably about 150 feet off the ground, and then, miraculously pulled level and gained altitude. The pilot came on and apologized for the "inconvenience" and said very professionally that we were going around for another approach in hopes that Air Traffic Control could get it right this time! No one screamed through the entire episode... we just held on for dear life and gave the pilot of big round of applause for saving our lives :) My company had nearly half their senior staff on board that plane... it was serious enough that the rule went in to effect that no more than 4 company people could ever be booked onto the same flight in the future. Makes a good story. 2nd story... Indianapolis International... landing in the middle of a heavy snowstorm with violent cross winds. As we crossed over the fence the plane was rocking violently... and instead of landing we continued to fly down the runway at full speed and still rocking with an altitude of maybe 20 feet. I watched the terminal go by as we were still in the air (my children were there and watching), and then about half way down the runway, there was a momentary calm... the plane stabilized and instantly dropped smoothly onto the runway... engines roaring to break our speed. It was actually one of the gentlest touchdowns I have experienced on a plane and under the worst conditions. Another huge round of applause for the pilot who probably saved our collective asses. Makes me wonder how many "close calls" there are every day that don't make the news?
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