I also had to opportunity to experience the checkerboard approach from the jumpseat. Quite the thrill! Mark -----Original Message----- From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stanley Powroznik Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 6:54 PM To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: In the flight deck during approach on an airliner Quote: ".....having a chance to sit in an airline cockpit during landing, given how very difficult that is to do these days in person is a major treat...." Considering that most approaches to many airports in the world nowadays are straight in and pretty routine and nothing out of the extraordinary - it is those like yours truly that got the priviledge to experience seated in the jumpseat aboard Hong Kong's de-facto airline Cathay Pacific Airways aboard 747-400 (VR-HOT) and also on China Southern's 777-200 (B-2053) on the 'checkerboard' ILS 13 approach into the former Kai Tak Airport before it closed....a true "thrill of a lifetime" and I sincerely do not think there is any other approach in the world today that can top this ! The real thrill starts when the aircraft flies over what is nowadays Chek Lap Kok, then flying pass Stonecutter's Island and aiming for the infamous checkerboard atop a hill in Kowloontong Park close enough with the terrain being surrounded by mountains and Lion's Rock and then make that 45 degrees angle approach lining up with runway 13 of Kai Tak. Being seated behind the first officer on VR-HOT, I stared in awe out the cockpit looking at how the outer starboard wing and winglet 'seemed' to slice 'to close for comfort' over the rooftops of Kowloon on the final seconds before touchdown.... If this former Kai Tak ILS 13 approach is not the most demanding of all on the pilots flying widebodies and a totally unique thrill of a lifetime for any civilian who has experienced it in the jumpseat, then what is ? ;-) --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.465 / Virus Database: 263 - Release Date: 25/03/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.465 / Virus Database: 263 - Release Date: 25/03/2003