easyJet pilot shares airports that are so tricky they require extra training to land at

An easyJet pilot has taken to the airline's TikTok to share insights on which airports require special training for landing. The pilot highlighted that certain airfields in their network require extra training to tackle challenges like unusual terrain, short runways, or their position relative to sea level.

In some cases, both the pilot and first officer must undergo extra training and complete a flight with a training captain before they are cleared to carry passengers. While Tenzing-Hilary Airport in Nepal is considered the most dangerous airport globally, it only accommodates helicopters and small aircraft designed for short takeoffs and landings, so larger commercial planes do not operate there. The last fatal accident at this airport occurred in 2019.

Mykonos Airport

Discussing specific airports, the pilot pointed out that Mykonos Airport has a "very short and narrow runway" that is just 98ft wide, in stark contrast to Heathrow's 196ft width. Despite improvements made to the airport in 2021, the runway has not been expanded.

Opened in 1971, Mykonos Airport, like many in Greece, is compact and becomes particularly congested during the peak summer season.

Funchal, Madeira

The pilot disclosed about Funchal Airport: "That's got quite a bit of terrain there and some challenging winds to negotiate so you have to have additional training for that."

Speaking about the same airport, The Telegraph once stated: "The wind often takes hold of aircraft landing in Madeira, making for some terrifyingly shaky landings. The airport's proximity to mountains and the sea, and subsequent risk of extreme turbulence and poor weather conditions, means that landing here rarely goes smoothly."

With its notorious reputation, the History Channel once ranked it as the ninth most dangerous airport globally and as the third most dangerous within Europe. There have been quite a few accidents recorded over the years, with the most recent incident dating back to 2003 when an aircraft carrying 10 passengers ended up crashing into the sea shortly after takeoff, leading to the tragic death of all onboard.

Innsbruck Airport

Regarding flights to Innsbruck in Austria, the pilot commented: "So, for that one the captain and the first officer will both need additional training in the simulators and then they'll need to fly there with the training captain before being able to fly there with passengers."

The airport is notorious for its challenging conditions, largely due to the surrounding landscape. It falls under Category C - a classification for runways that can only be navigated by seasoned pilots who have undergone specific simulator training.

London City Airport also falls into this category due to its short runway nestled in a compact area surrounded by buildings. The proximity of the Alps at Innsbruck also contributes to tricky wind conditions, making landing quite a challenge.

There are several other category C airports in Europe, not on the easyJet network. They are:

Gibraltar

The runway at Gibraltar International is owned by the MOD and it's a bit shorter than normal, hence the Category C rating. The runway actually crosses a main road, with traffic barriers used to block off vehicles. It also has tricky terrain, which isn't surprising given the proximity to the Rock of Gibraltar.

Santorini

Thira Airport is both a military and commercial airport and is now capable of serving up to nine commercial aircraft at one time after a redesign in 2021. It's Category C because the runway is narrow and sloped with challenging terrain because of the island surroundings. High temperatures can make things more challenging too.

Sion

You can't land here unless the weather is good enough, meaning some planes will be diverted to the nearest alternative airport. There are mountains on all sides, making it a challenging place to land. It's not used frequently, with two airlines operating seasonal and charter flights. The views are stunning though for anyone lucky enough to visit this part of Switzerland.

Chambery

This small international airport can be flown to from Birmingham and East Midlands Airport. It only has one paved runway with a parallel grass runway nearby. This airport can be a challenge because it's in the middle of the French Alps, with Lac du Bourget at the end of the runway.