Mountain Top Landings

Pia Bergqvist

Tuesday, April 01, 2014 at 05:10 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Hilltop runways, such as Catalina Airport, present significant visual illusions that can mislead pilots into misjudging altitude and runway length during approach and landing.
These unique conditions, including sharp drop-offs and sloped runways, increase the risk of botched landings and aircraft running off the runway end.
Pilots should counteract these illusions by trusting their altimeter, strictly adhering to established approach procedures (power settings, flaps, target speeds), and maintaining a slightly higher approach path to allow for go-arounds if necessary.

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There are many visual illusions that can present themselves during flight. One scenario that can mess with the normal cues during the approach and landing phases is a runway that is located on a hilltop.

I recently flew into Catalina airport on Catalina Island to enjoy one of their fantastic buffalo burgers. While the airport is a fantastic place to visit, it does present special challenges and many local flight schools require a special checkout in order to land their rental airplanes at Avalon.