Hongkong's Kai Tak
Airport
Until 1998 Kai Tak Airport, with its one runway, served Hongkong. Planes came in over the city and by the time they were making their final approach, they were only a couple hundred feet above the rooftops of the buildings in Kowloon City.
About a mile before the end of the runway, the planes had to make a sharp 45 degree turn to line up with the runway. On windy days, this could be quite a challenge. Despite the close proximity to the city, through all the decades of use, there were relatively few accidents, and only one in my memory that caused death. In that case a small jet was trying to land in a storm. The landing gear was damaged when the plane clipped the landing lights at the end of the runway. The plane touched down, but veered off into the water breaking off the nose of the plane. The pilots and a couple crew members were killed.
We were quite personally acquainted with the planes since we lived only about two miles from the end of the runway for nearly 4 years. Our OMS office was also under the landing path about the same distance from the airport. If we were outside when a plane was landing we often literally had to cover our ears with our hands because of the roar of the planes.
These first couple photos are taken from nearby high rise buildings or high points. In the photo above the Royal Plaza Hotel (center left) is not as close as it appears. It's probably about 2 miles away from the plane.
Until 1998 Kai Tak Airport, with its one runway, served Hongkong. Planes came in over the city and by the time they were making their final approach, they were only a couple hundred feet above the rooftops of the buildings in Kowloon City.
About a mile before the end of the runway, the planes had to make a sharp 45 degree turn to line up with the runway. On windy days, this could be quite a challenge. Despite the close proximity to the city, through all the decades of use, there were relatively few accidents, and only one in my memory that caused death. In that case a small jet was trying to land in a storm. The landing gear was damaged when the plane clipped the landing lights at the end of the runway. The plane touched down, but veered off into the water breaking off the nose of the plane. The pilots and a couple crew members were killed.
We were quite personally acquainted with the planes since we lived only about two miles from the end of the runway for nearly 4 years. Our OMS office was also under the landing path about the same distance from the airport. If we were outside when a plane was landing we often literally had to cover our ears with our hands because of the roar of the planes.
These first couple photos are taken from nearby high rise buildings or high points. In the photo above the Royal Plaza Hotel (center left) is not as close as it appears. It's probably about 2 miles away from the plane.
In
the background is what we locally called the checkerboard.
This was the signal to the planes to start their 45 degree turn to line up with the runway.
This was the signal to the planes to start their 45 degree turn to line up with the runway.
This
photo is likely taken from the hill which holds the checkerboard.
From this angle the runway looks very short, but it is about two miles long.
From this angle the runway looks very short, but it is about two miles long.
Again, the planes look closer than they really are. They're about 3 miles
apart in this photo. Still, during peak hours of air traffic, one plane was just
lifting off when the other was getting ready to touch down.
These
next few photos show what a tough time it could be to make the turn at
the last minute while at the same time fighting the cross winds which
were common. Planes landed even when some of the higher typhoon
signals were raised.
It
was not uncommon to hear the sharp whine of the plane engines as the
plane was landing suddenly change to the deep roar of the engines as
the plane was taking off. It simply meant the pilot had missed
the approach and had to circle around for another try. I heard
that if the plane was off center by 20 feet or so, it would have to
circle around for one more try.
If
I had been a passenger on either of the next two planes, I would have
preferred
the pilot circle around and try again! Perhaps they didn't have enough fuel for that!
the pilot circle around and try again! Perhaps they didn't have enough fuel for that!
This looks like a harder than normal landing as well, though the plane
does appear to be in proper alignment with the runway.
This photo was taken near where International Christian School got its start. The planes were so low at this point that one could wave at the passengers, and count the rivets in the belly of the plane. We thought about advertising the school as being close to international transportation! It certainly was. When concerts were going on at ICS, about every 3-4 minutes one could hear nothing except planes for a few seconds. The gymnasium was not air conditioned, and therefore needed to be open for ventilation. Fortunately since the planes were so low at this point the loud noise only lasted a few seconds. If a person was outside, he/she definitely needed to cover their ears.
As we drove to and from work we could see this China Airlines plane sitting in the water for a few days after this accident, as I remember in the early 90's. The plane landed in very bad weather and did not get stopped at the end of the runway. Fortunately it was at the end of the runway with water, rather than buildings. No one was killed or even seriously injured in this accident. I suppose some people had some sopping wet luggage, though.
