This pilot specialises in dangerous airport landings. Here's what he wants passengers to know
While Madeira is a dreamy holiday destination, arriving on the island can sometimes be an unsettling experience.
Funchal Airport is considered one of the most dangerous in the world to fly into. It can mean that landings are bumpy or that flights experience delays and cancellations if the weather is poor.
However, this shouldn't put you off travelling there as pilots are expertly trained to handle the challenging conditions.
Zbigniew Mlotkowski, director of crew training at Lithuanian charter airline KlasJet, explains how pilots are prepared for the most difficult take-offs and landings and what it means for passengers.
Airports are classed as dangerous based on several factors. One of the main considerations is terrain. Surrounding mountains often make landings difficult, requiring pilots to employ special procedures.
Weather conditions are also important because strong winds in combination with hills and mountains can cause local turbulence. Crosswinds can impact aircraft handling and control while microbursts create sudden downdrafts, causing aircraft to lose altitude.
The dimensions of the runway also play a crucial role. A short and narrow runway requires honed skills for a pilot to maintain the arrival path.
Madeira Funchal Airport (FNC) is known for its challenging runway. One end is built on concrete pillars with nearby steeply climbing terrain. The other end is close to cliffs, forcing aircraft to stay off the central approach line until they are about to land.
Winds from nearby mountains create local turbulence, which often causes flight delays or cancellations.
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Last summer, strong winds forced over 80 flights to be cancelled or diverted over a three-day period in August.
Another airport known for difficult runway conditions is Innsbruck Airport (IIN) in Austria. It is located in the Alps within a valley surrounded on almost all sides by high, rocky mountains.
This requires special procedures to be followed during approach and landing. Any small deviation from the designed tracks may bring the aircraft close to mountains, potentially affecting safety.
Each complex airport requires skilful handling and very accurate calculations to ensure that the safety of the flight is not compromised in different weather conditions.
'Special procedures are required for each phase of flight, such as approach, landing, and missed approach, which must be executed by pilots if for any reason aircraft cannot land,' Mlotkowski says.
'There are usually special procedures designed for such an airport, which allow continuing safe flight even with only one engine operating.'
To get familiar with complicated airports, pilots must undergo simulator training. This allows them to put previous experience and theoretical knowledge into practice in safe conditions.
'The simulator provides detailed visualisation of all-natural and man-built objects in the vicinity of the airport, preparing pilots for flight to the real airport,' Mlotkowski says.
'In addition, in simulators, there is the possibility to activate all possible weather phenomena that are applicable for particular airports, so pilots can improve their skills and be ready to conduct safe flight in [the] worst weather conditions.'
Very complex airports require special approval for instructors, which must be obtained before they can provide training for other pilots.
All complicated airports require only captain landing and take-off because captains are more experienced.
'European regulations require recurrent training both theoretical and practical for pilots every 12 months. However, for very complex airports, the validity of such training is reduced to six months, to assure that knowledge and skills are on the highest level,' Mlotkowski says.
Travellers may have concerns about flying into an airport branded as dangerous - and there are some issues of comfort and convenience to consider.
Airports surrounded by mountains are prone to turbulence, which can make landings uneven.
Mlotkowski says shorter runways may also mean touchdown is not always smooth - what is called a 'positive landing' in the industry. Skiathos in Greece, Florence in Italy and San Sebastian in Spain are some places passengers might experience this.
More demanding airports where weather is a big safety factor can also see more common delays as schedules are temporarily adjusted to avoid potentially dangerous conditions.
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Passengers might also experience 'holding', where an aircraft has to wait for a while in the air for a weather change that allows it to land safely.
Occasionally, if the wait is drawn out and too much reserve fuel is being burnt, the pilot may make the decision to reroute to an alternative airport.
However, Mlotkowski emphasises that all possible precautions are taken to ensure challenging runways and weather conditions are navigated safely.
'All pilots are trained, experienced and well prepared to assure that our job is done safely and professionally,' he says. 'This is our way of life.'
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Forbes
27 minutes ago
- Forbes
Beyond Rioja: 5 Underrated Spanish Wine Regions
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20 hours ago
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National Geographic
a day ago
- National Geographic
How to experience 6 of Europe's most musical cities
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). While many cities can lay claim to being hubs of musical creativity, only a few become truly synonymous with a certain sound. After all, Vienna will always waltz to the tune of Strauss and few can imagine Seville without the passion of flamenco. In some cases, a city is its music. And, like that of a gifted composer, the European repertoire is vast. Whether for pop or classical, folk or techno, travellers will find no shortage of cities to immerse themselves in Europe's great soundtrack. There are hands-on workshops, interactive museums that chart the story of a genre, and nightly shows at age-old venues — perhaps the closest thing to seeing a city's soul. Whatever your taste, here are six of the best in which to plan a tuneful escape of your own. The Museo del Baile Flamenco houses costumes, art and interactive exhibits, which chart the history of the genre, with shows in the courtyard or cellar events space. Photograph by Getty Images, Miguel Sotomayor 1. Flamenco in Seville Seville's heart beats with flamenco. The stirring trinity of song, dance and music has its roots in the city's Gitano communities and has become an emblem of both Seville and Spain; such is its cultural value that it was added to the UNESCO Intangible World Cultural Heritage list in 2010. Tablaos are the place to experience the dance. Packed each night of the week, these venues can range from the casual La Carbonería, where locals come for tapas and a show, to more venerable institutions such as Peña Flamenca Torres Macarena, a stage and cultural hub for new and established performers, or El Arenal, where punters can enjoy a full-course dinner with a show. But the street is perhaps the most authentic stage of all. 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The Crane Bar heads up any list of must-visit venues, with both floors of this lively Victorian haunt host packed-out sessions each night of the week. Photograph by Getty Images, Thomas Winz 2. Irish folk in Galway The rousing sound of a fiddle is never far away on Ireland's west coast. Huddled against the Atlantic, Galway is a bastion of traditional culture, where poets, artists and musicians have long found a place to hone their craft in the city's bustling bars and salty-aired granite streets. More than just watering holes, Galway's atmospheric pubs have a proud tradition of hosting and championing Irish folk (or Irish trad) musicians. The Crane Bar heads up any list of must-visit venues: both floors of this lively Victorian haunt host packed-out sessions each night of the week, while Monroe's Tavern focuses on Irish-language music, and often throws dancing and poetry nights, too. With its charming web of streets festooned with flags and hanging baskets, the Latin Quarter is not to be missed. It's the beating heart of the folk music scene: buskers can be heard on street corners, covering classic ballads or trying out their own original tunes, while the pubs here make a fine place to while away an evening with a whiskey or two. Tigh Neachtain has been trading since 1894 and has platformed several well-known Irish folk artists, including acclaimed accordionist Sharon Shannon. Over at the charming Tig Choili, twice-daily live music sessions come courtesy of local and visiting musicians alike. Date for the diary: Now in its fourth year, the Galway Folk Festival promises a spirited programme of live music sessions across the city. 4-8 June. Listen to: My Irish Molly O by De Danann. Stockholm has been a powerhouse of European pop and now, fans can dig into the city's hit-making heritage at the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts, which explores the history and future of music, theatre and dance. Photograph by Getty Images, Kavalenkava Volha 3. Pop in Stockholm Ace of Base, Roxette, The Cardigans, Robyn and, of course, ABBA… Sweden's musical exports reads like a festival headline bill. For decades, Stockholm has been a powerhouse of European pop and now, fans can dig into the city's hit-making heritage at the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts, which explores the history and future of music, theatre and dance. The Avicii Experience tells the story of the late, chart-topping DJ with a collection of unreleased music and virtual-reality karaoke, while the club Trädgården sees revellers dance beneath Skanstullsbron bridge. And, in the city that gave the world Spotify, vinyl still has its place; Bengans, Snickars and Mickes record stores are a music-lover's dream, while Pet Sounds sells used records beside a cocktail bar. But no trip to the city would be complete without a whirl around ABBA The Museum, where the career of Sweden's most successful act is celebrated through interactive exhibits and memorabilia. Date for the diary: Drömmen Festival will bring together pop legends from Sweden and around the world, including Ronan Keating, Gipsy Kings and Shirley Clamp. 7 June. Listen to: It Must Have Been Love by Roxette. 4. Classical in Vienna Just like the Danube, music flows through the heart of the Austrian capital. Some of history's greatest virtuosos — from Mozart to Haydn, Beethoven to Strauss — lived and worked in Vienna, leaving a musical legacy that's as rich as a Habsburg palace. When it comes to live music, the Vienna State Opera shines as one of the world's most opulent music venues, while the Golden Hall at the Musikverein is home to the Vienna Mozart Orchestra. Mozart's legacy lives on in performances at the Orangery at Schönbrunn Palace, the space where he premiered The Impresario in 1786. The House of Strauss, meanwhile, is the world's only remaining concert hall where all four Strausses performed. Not everything takes place in palatial surrounds though. Intimate piano recitals are held at the Mozarthaus, where the composer lived, while the Annakirche is a baroque jewel of a church that hosts affordable concerts. Date for the diary: 2025 is the bicentenary of Johann Strauss's birth. A special concert by the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter will mark the big day on 25 October. Listen to: The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II. The French capital is peppered with old-school jazz clubs, and few are as hallowed as Le Caveau de la Huchette, on the Left Bank. Photograph by Getty Images, Shironosov 5. Jazz in Paris When American troops were stationed in Paris during the First World War, they brought with them the improvised rhythms of jazz. In the years that followed, this sound took Paris's music halls by storm and has become entwined with the city's soundscape. The French capital is peppered with old-school jazz clubs, and few are as hallowed as Le Caveau de la Huchette, on the Left Bank. The building dates to the 16th century and has staged countless stars of swing in its time, including Sidney Bechet and Lionel Hampton. On the Right Bank, life on the Rue des Lombards saunters to the sound of jazz, for it's home to three of the city's finest bars: crowds squeeze into the Duc des Lombards, Sunset/Sunside and Le Basier Salé for late-night jam sessions. But, if one figure epitomises the French jazz era, it's Josephine Baker who turned heads in 1926 when she performed at the Folies Bergère wearing a banana skirt. The legendary music hall remains an art deco icon of Paris's musical heritage. Date for the dairy: Jazz festivals include Jazz à La Villette, held in the Parc de la Villette. August/September 2025, dates TBC. Listen to: Black Trombone by Serge Gainsbourg. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the underground electronic music scene offered West and East Berliners a way to come together. Photograph by Getty Images, Mahiruysal 6. Electronic in Berlin If German reunification had a sound, it would be one of wavy synths and drum machines. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the underground electronic music scene offered West and East Berliners a way to come together. Since then, the city has become the pounding heart of European electronica. Venues have popped up in disused landmarks across the city, harking to the 1990s when students began squatting in abandoned buildings. A fine example is Tresor, which began in the cellar of a former department store in 1991. Now housed in a decommissioned power plant, its killer sound system draws fans from across the world. Kater Blau — a former soap factory — is a popular, open-air summer spot beside the River Spree, while ://about blank takes a political approach to techno, offering 'hedonistic, insurrectionalist dialectic'. Top of any list, however, is Berghain, the cathedral-like club where (almost) anything goes. Top-quality sound and performances aside, the mysterious entry policy is all part of the appeal and has revellers queuing for hours. Date for the diary: Rave the Planet Parade mixes rave culture with political demonstration. 12 July. Listen to: Autobahn by Kraftwerk. Published in the European Cities Collection 2025 by National Geographic Traveller (UK). 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