Madeira Funchal (LPMA) 3,300 ft (1,000m) Runway Bridge

[out 769]

St.Maarten, Kai Tak, Funchal, Innsbruck, Skiathos, Lukla, Courchevel or Tegucigalpa have simply always been icons of aviation when it comes to approaches.But, again, it is like with all other types of knowledge: some know a lot, others not so much. I agree it comes as a surprise a longtime simmer knows nothing of LPMA.On the other hand it is great to see how the MFS series plays an educative role and I am not talking only about aircraft's avionics and operations.

[cmpbellsjc 2,960]

So, any of you heard of Tegucigalpa? Also a pretty famous airport. Crazy approach in the pre-2006 situation.

Lol, I was going to mention that one as well. I thought Tegucigalpa was pretty well known as well due to the approach.Another two in Brasil that you would think most would know due to their interesting approaches would be Santos Dumont and Congonhas. Congonhas doesnt have a difficult approach, but its short runway surrounded by buildings.

[Guest jahman]

I brought up Funchal for the civil engineering aspect, but if the difficulty of the airport is of interest, try landing at the Island of SABA (TNCS) with its 1,300 ft RWY:It is served by a single airline (Winair, that I would be tempted to rename "Splash!")

1. Details,
2. (Pilot says: "Damn, that's short!"),
3. (This guy does an off-axis approach and only uses half the runway!)

Then of course there's also deep mountain valley Paro International (VQPR), Bhutan ("Gateway to Shangri-La"):

1. Details.
2. (Private G-IV. The big white mountain in the background is Everest. Nine minutes of approach next to the mountains! Better pull the circuit breaker on the GPWS! Nice guitar soundtrack.)
3. (Easy in the Druk Air A-310, but can you depart RWY33 in a B-377? Wish Aerosoft would do this airport...)

Cheers,- jahman.

[out 769]

Wish Aerosoft would do this airport

In the meantime you can use a very nice budget version by Thai Creation.I've made a few approaches using this addon and they were very enjoyable.http://secure.simmarket.com/thai-creation-kuzu-zangpo-bhutan_paro-intl-vqpr.phtml

[Guest jahman]

In the meantime you can use a very nice budget version by Thai Creation.I've made a few approaches using this addon and they were very enjoyable.http://secure.simmar...intl-vqpr.phtml

Many thanks! Unfortunately it seems to only work for FS9.Cheers,- jahman.

[out 769]

Unfortunately it seems to only work for FS9

Oops, sorry! Didn't think of it!As an FS9 user I sometimes take things for granted...

[spilok 1,133]

Jahman,Thanks for the phenomenal "heads up" on this. I would have never known about it. What a great forum!Stan

[Dougal 165]

I have several of those mentioned and yes, there are frequent posts in the FSX forum just from me alone, begging for info on how to correctly make the approaches etc.The Madera scenery from Aerosoft is brilliant, if perhaps a little small in coverage. Then again they're a bit errr.... limited aren't theyI also HIGHLY recommend the MHTG Toncontin package by LatinVFR too, even if is now a bit long in tooth. Got mine at SimMarket I think.Lots & lots of threads about some of those airports and approaches in the PMDG forums also. Including some brilliantly detailed information.These fields are just fantastic when combined with the new 737NGX

[Mean Aerodynamic Chord 269]

I recommend this FREE Saba package.... It TOTALLY changes the airport from concrete on a flat surface with surrending trees to a beautiful mountain with the short runway. Here: http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=127642Probably the best freeware I've seen.

[cmpbellsjc 2,960]

I recommend this FREE Saba package.... It TOTALLY changes the airport from concrete on a flat surface with surrending trees to a beautiful mountain with the short runway. Here: http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=127642Probably the best freeware I've seen.

Not free, but the one that comes with FlyTampa's St. Maarten is pretty nice as well.

[Benjamin J 751]

Yep, Saba is also pretty nice. Never tried it to be honest, but I do have the FlyTampa scenery for it.Been watching videos of Madeira now, and I must say I had no idea of the approach into that place. Guess I just never came across a thread that talked about it. It's a pity that it's so far away though... Just don't see myself flying that distance. Although, then again, I do the same for Hond Kong.Phil: How is the Aerosoft scenery limited? From the screenshots it looks pretty good.

[out 769]

It's a pity that it's so far away though... Just don't see myself flying that distance

It depends on where you are usually based in your sim. If you always fly from one place (e.g. Amsterdam or Tel Aviv) it does seem far away.In other case you may try flying a RW route from Lisbon to Funchal, which takes less than 90 minutes. That's how I do it usually.

[Benjamin J 751]

That's exactly the problem indeed. I don't have a particular base, but most of my flights are around North and West Europe. While I do have scenery for Madrid and Lisbon, I don't really want to install sceneries that I probably will use once and then get rid of. Lisbon is exactly such a scenery...

[Dougal 165]

The reference to the Aerosoft scenery being 'limited' really was meant to be tonge-in-cheek. Just referring to the fact that it MUST be limited by the size of the Island, and that of it's small military neighbour (LPPS), included in the package. That is a 10 minute flight. Great for practicing take offs the great R/W05 approach.

[out 769]

it's small military neighbour (LPPS)

Well, not exactly, to be precise. Porto Santo is successfully serving as an international (mainly charter) airport with airlines like TAP, White, SATA, Thomsonfly, Jetairfly, TUIfly, Air Berlin, Travel Service, Neos or Transavia.As for the idea of practicing Funchal approaches, I wholeheartedly agree!