Sunday, September 16, 2007

Take Off
Juneau Airport



From: Flowis311
A take off from Juneau, Alaska in a g... A take off from Juneau, Alaska in a good old Boeing 737-200 Combi using the special FAA approved departure procedure for Alaska Airlines (immediate right and left turn after takeoff)...Listen to the captain's announcement at the beginning and check out how close the mountains are!! My all-time favourite takeoff movie. Please enjoy
Why I love flying out of Juneau. Notice as the plane taxis, you can see the Mendenhall Glacier in the mid-distance.

This is also why flying out of flat country feels wrong. Here, we have to get as high as we can as fast as we can, while turning, to avoid hitting mountains. When I take off in other places it seems to me that the plane is moseyin' down the runway and then sorta-lifting off, as if it had all the time in the world. Very tense making -- I have to keep reminding myself that it does have all the time in the world.

4 comments:

Susan B said...

Now it becomes obvious why they suspend flights when it gets foggy there.

Tabor said...

I think I am airsick!!

J said...

I remember when we came to visit...when we landed, it was cloudy, so much like landing anywhere, except poor Maya's ears were screaming with pain. When we took off, though, it was clear...and I could SEE why there are no roads in and out of Juneau. As far as the eye could see, nothing but mountains and glaciers between the mountains. In July. I had understood the problem before, but seeing something for yourself is always different than hearing about it.

Knowing that you love a takeoff where it's dangerous and you need such experienced pilots, however, causes me to question your sanity.

Anna said...

You are definitely a flying-junkie. That looks like sheer terror to me.