Short runways

Members of Aviation Week's LinkedIn group have been discussing the shortest runway they've had to take off from (thanks to Covington Aircraft's Aaron Abbott for starting the discussion). Netherthorpe in South Yorkshire and Bukit Ibam in Malaysia are some of those mentioned. 

What's the shortest runway you've ever taken off from? Join the discussion on LinkedIn.

Covington's blog lists some of the most famous short runways in the world. Have you flown from here?

• Princess Juliana Airport, St. Maarten – The runway is only 2,400 meters, requiring jets to fly only 20-30 meters over sunbathers relaxing on Maho Beach in order to land.
• Gilgit Airport, Pakistan – The runway is extremely short and located at the edge of a slope so that even small jet airliners cannot land or take off from this runway.
• John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California – The main runway at this airport is 5,701 feet and is the shortest of any runway in the United States.  In addition, pilots must takeoff at or near full power, climb steeply and make two turns in order to accommodate noise restrictions.
• Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Netherlands Antilles – In addition to the short runway of only 1,300 feet, pilots must also contend with stormy trade winds, spin drifts, water approaches and cliffs at each end of the runway.

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