I fly planes into one of the world's most challenging airports. The runway is tiny, and we don't see it until the last second.
Landing at the tiny Caribbean airstrip is bumpy and intense, but I love the thrill. Here's what passengers don't see during the extreme approach.
Mike Stein, a captain at Tradewind Aviation, is one of 31 pilots qualified to fly into St. Barts, one of the world's most challenging airports. Situated on the Caribbean island of St. Barts, Gustaf III Airport is famous for its small runway, which is nestled between a steep hill and the sea. Pilots cannot see the runway until the last moment, as the landing is a visual approach.
With only a few dozen captains allowed to fly the approach, Tradewind Aviation has trained its pilots to manage the unique, steep descent and rapidly changing crosswinds and turbulence. Tradewind Aviation operates Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft on St. Barts flights, as larger planes cannot use the island's short runway. Despite the challenge, successful pilots enjoy the thrill of landing in this picturesque destination, where passengers get to witness the breathtaking views during the low-altitude approach.
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