Where is the shortest and scariest runway in the world?

This is the shortest and arguably the scariest commercial runway in the world, with only a handful of pilots allowed to land planes on it.

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, located on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, is built on the island's only flat piece of land.

The runway on Saba Island is said to be the shortest and scariest runway in the world.

PHOTO: GETTY

The airport’s runway is over 1,300 feet long, but only 900 feet of it is usable, as it is not much longer than an aircraft carrier. At the end of the runway is a sheer cliff that drops down to the sea, adding to the danger for pilots landing there, making it a must-see destination for plane spotters.

Saba, a Caribbean island in the Lesser Antilles chain, is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Measuring just 13 square kilometers, it essentially covers the summit of the dormant volcano Mount Scenery. The surrounding Saba Marine Park, a popular diving destination, is home to coral reefs, dolphins, sharks and turtles. There are also offshore seamounts, or underwater mountains created by volcanic activity.

Despite its short runway, the airport is the "lifeline" of this small island, attracting tourists and ferrying out locals in need of medical care.

The runway is so beloved by Saba residents that it appears on postage stamps and in the souvenir shop in the village of Windwardside.

Visitors who are not brave enough to make the dramatic landing can also reach the island by ferry, even pilots are nervous about entering the airport.

Not all pilots are allowed to land at this airport.

PHOTO: GETTY

The pilot, Capt. Roger Hodge, who also trains other pilots, told CNN that he told the recruits to "may God be with you" when they first landed on Saba.

“Sometimes flying into Saba is quite dangerous, but when we understand what to do, it makes things simpler and calmer. As a pilot, I love going to Saba because that's when you put your maximum experience to work,” he said.

Pilots reportedly need specific training to land on Saba, meaning not every commercial pilot can do the job.

The island can be reached from Sint Maarten, a Dutch part of another Caribbean island south of it.

The flight took just 15 minutes, using a 19-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters utility aircraft, STOL (short takeoff and landing), designed for challenging landings and, importantly, quick stops.

However, this airport is still considered safe.

PHOTO: GETTY

Only specially trained pilots are allowed to fly into the island, and Sint Maarten-based airline Winair is the only airline operating commercial flights to and from the island.

Landing on a runway has been likened to "landing" a bird on a postage stamp, and a single entrance or exit only allows the aircraft enough room to leave the runway briefly, before turning 180 degrees to begin the return journey.

Despite this, the Juancho E. Yrausquin runway is considered quite safe, with no incidents or accidents recorded there since it opened 60 years ago.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/duong-bang-ngan-va-dang-so-nhat-the-gioi-nam-o-dau-185250528154328243.htm