Watch an A321 Fight Fierce Winds Approaching Madeira
Before Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport in Madeira, Portugal (FNC) made the news a number of weeks ago for its creepy (and hilarious) bust of the professional soccer player it's named after, it had gained notoriety for its unique runway and windy approaches. Back in March, the airport experienced severe winds, causing a number of precarious-looking go arounds.
In this crazy aviation video, watch a Germania A321 fight fierce winds on arrival into the gusty Atlantic island. The angle of the video shows an interesting perspective, as you see the aircraft maneuver back and forth to land in the center of the runway, near the aiming point (those two large, solid white rectangles). While we've certainly seen more extreme landings, this video shows how the pilot does a remarkable job recovering from a bumpy short final to touch down quite smoothly. At one point, you can see the aircraft tips its nose down towards the runway, which had to have been alarming for those on board. It may look as if the airplane is at the mercy of the elements, but remember that pilots are highly-skilled and train for these kinds of perilous landings.
Have you ever flown into Madeira? Tell us about your windy approach (there or elsewhere), below.
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