Air France / KLM Virtual Airlines Forums - New Exciting Accomplishment

Air France / KLM Virtual Airlines Forums | AFVA Operations | New Exciting Accomplishment - Extreme Airports Explorer!

AFV885
Senior Captain, Concorde

Joined on June 01 2014
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"Stable? Yes Sir! Continue approach!"
Cambridge, United Kingdom

2,667 legs, 3,501.9 hours
10 legs, 11.6 hours online
2,622 legs, 3,430.5 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on July 16 2016 14:40 ET by Silvian Baltac

Dear All,

I am pleased to announce the launch of a new and exciting accomplishment at AF/KLM Virtual Airlines. Of course, I am talking about the Extreme Airports Explorer accomplishment (also known as ‘’The List’’) which covers 31 of the most challenging airports we currently have in our schedules. Spanning from Alaska to New Zealand, it contains airports on all continents and served by many of our partners, including the newly added schedules of Aeroflot or Virgin Australia.

This accomplishment, along with the AFVA Fleet Master, will take you to the very edge of your virtual career. As you progress flying through our various programs, you will acquire the necessary skills to visit and conquer all these airports. The accomplishment was designed bearing in mind that the pilot would be flying into most of these airports and thus, we have selected airports with challenging approaches. Of course, taking off from these airports will still result in completing the visits, but that is the easy and not so fun way to do it! wink

Many of you may have already flown to St Maarten (TNCN) or executed the famous checkerboard approach into Kai Tak, Hong Kong (VHHX), but there’s more to that… how about taking off from the highest airport we serve, La Paz, in Bolivia (SLLP, elevation 13,325 feet)? Or landing on the shortest commercial runway in the world (1,312 feet) in Saba, Netherlands Antilles (TNCS) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf2uRmHV7y0 ? If that doesn’t sound exciting, how about approaching Paro (VQPR), Tegucigalpa (MHTG) or Kathmandu (VNKT) on a cold and foggy day in these mountains? Or perhaps try a snowy approach into Aspen (KASE or KEGE) or Juneau (PAJN)?

Many of these approaches require advanced knowledge of instrument flying (off-set ILS, LDA, VOR and NDB approaches) and it is crucial that you study the approach plates thoroughly and brief yourselves before attempting to land there. Many of these airports are located in mountainous areas, so close attention to the MSA (minimum safe altitude) and to the MDA (minimum descent altitude) must be paid, especially in low visibility. Never be ashamed to go around if you have passed the missed approach point and you don’t have the airport in sight.
Aircraft-wise, in some cases you’ll be limited by the runway length (please note than only the DHC-6 Twin Otter is allowed into Saba or St. Barths). In most cases I personally recommend flying an aircraft you’re familiar with, which has all the VOR and ADF receivers functional and you know how to use/read them!

I personally like flying the old Boeing 727 on these challenging approaches as its basic analogic cockpit makes me think more about the approach, about which navaids I need to tune in, and increases my overall awareness. Some airports (e.g. MHRG) require RNAV approaches, followed by visual sections. Please make sure you fly the appropriately equipped aircraft. Some of the selected airports require full visual approaches, such as the Potomac River Visual approach into Washington Reagan (KDCA) or Madeira (LPMA), whilst others have VOR or offset LOC approaches followed by visual sections on short final, as does Tivat (LYTV), Petropavlocsk (UHPP) or Queenstown (NZQN). Normally, the pilot has to be familiar with the area, so please either explore it using Google Maps and the appropriate charts or a small GA plane before jumping in a big jet (no 747s into London City please!). smile

Up to date, I have visited 25 of the 31 airports and I should be able to provide assistance in most cases. Therefore, if you have specific questions about these approaches or need help with the basic ground navigation equipment often needed (VOR, NDB), please feel free to email me or any other member of the Staff.

A few references and guides can be found below. The Youtube channel cited below is particularly useful for learning instrument flying and briefing some of these approaches.

http://www.wonderslist.com/10-most-dangerous-airport-landings-in-the-world/

http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/g2285/most-dangerous-airports-in-the-world/

http://www.simtours.net/difficultapproaches.php

http://airfactsjournal.com/2014/02/approach-plate-olympics-more-crazy-charts/

https://www.youtube.com/user/FSX404

Thanks for reading and have fun visiting the airports on ‘’The List’’! wink

Silvian

AFV611
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP

Joined on January 22 2011
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The Indomitable Machine

UK

7,232 legs, 12,901.7 hours
419 legs, 601.0 hours online
6,996 legs, 12,331.1 hours ACARS
18 legs, 107.1 hours event
7,919 legs, 14,092.8 hours total
0 legs dispatched, 2.0 hours

Posted onPost created on July 16 2016 16:17 ET by Paul Hale

Awesome work putting this together Silvian, thank you!

Paul Hale

Senior Captain, B737-800

AFV301
Senior Captain, B747-400
DISPATCHER

Joined on May 27 2010
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Montréal, QC Canada

2,210 legs, 11,814.5 hours
2,201 legs, 11,779.0 hours ACARS
0 legs dispatched, 0.6 hours

Posted onPost created on July 16 2016 16:25 ET by Fabien Bergeret

Great!!!!

AFV230
Chief Pilot, A380-800
OLP, VFROLP, PPL1
DISPATCHER

Joined on March 14 2008
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"Every Drop Shapes The Stone"
Georgetown, TX

5,504 legs, 13,756.3 hours
572 legs, 942.2 hours online
4,776 legs, 11,466.8 hours ACARS
41 legs, 237.1 hours event
5,790 legs, 14,593.8 hours total
366 legs dispatched, 323.7 hours

Posted onPost created on July 17 2016 08:36 ET by Brian Hankey

Very nice job Silvian!

Brian Hankey (AFV230)

AFV787
Captain, B747-400

Joined on June 14 2013
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"Sky is not the limit"
Eastern Canada

291 legs, 914.6 hours
253 legs, 778.2 hours online
291 legs, 914.6 hours ACARS
23 legs, 40.5 hours event

Posted onPost created on August 02 2016 17:53 ET by Ismael Gbian

Eager to visit them all, thanks Silvian!

Ismael Gbian (AFV787)

AFV292
Senior Captain, A380-800

Joined on March 02 2009
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"Flying steadily onwards and upwards"
ZA

1,845 legs, 5,394.9 hours
1,833 legs, 5,371.5 hours ACARS
1,908 legs, 5,542.5 hours total
3 legs dispatched, 4.5 hours

Posted onPost created on August 03 2016 10:12 ET by Mark Stead

Thanks Silvian- great accomplishment- I've got about 3 to go- didn't know I had done so many of these harder airports lol. Paro is probably the hardest approach I've done-done them with a variety of aircraft based on runway length and nav equipment needed, etc.

AFV005
Senior Captain, A330-200
OLP, VFROLP

Joined on March 22 2003
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"You cannot negotiate with gravity"
Long Beach, CA

2,086 legs, 5,277.7 hours
1,880 legs, 4,385.6 hours online
1,571 legs, 3,472.9 hours ACARS
27 legs, 72.5 hours event
2,350 legs, 6,067.2 hours total

Posted onPost created on August 03 2016 15:41 ET by Kerem Yogurtcugil

seen all those airports and finished last two few days ago; I guess when you fly for AFVA for the last 13 years; you've been to places. Regardless, these are some interesting fields on that list that will keep all on edge

Kerem Yogurtcugil (AFV005)

Posted onPost created on August 04 2016 13:50 ET by Silvian Baltac

Well done Kerem! I am glad you found it interesting! If you have any suggestions of difficult airfields, please let me know. We can always update the list. smile

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