Scudrunners

When landing on a runway with a significant drop off just before the start of the runway and there is a wind blowing down the runway at say twenty knots how do you approach?


CpnCrunch???

[size=2]Those conditions will give you a high sink rate on short final. I'd be ready to add power.[/size]

[size=2]At one airport like this I would just flare 10' higher (757) and this worked perfectly. This was an airport I flew to regularly and was very familiar with. All the Dutch Charter Airlines had damaged aircraft during a landing at this airport. It was Captain's landing only.[/size]

[font=Verdana][size=2]Otherwise I would keep the power on almost to touchdown and if the speed was decreasing I would even add some more.[/size][/font]

Just another day at Catalina Island.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mf7aNr-lzbw/maxresdefault.jpg

Aim to land a little further down the runway.

But not too far,

http://ecatalina.com/images/2406/3332_2__large.jpg

I recall landing Sedona, AZ from the north (not preferred direction due to drop off ) with 20 + knots gusty wind. Downdraft short final  was substantial and sudden, even though I was a bit high due to the wind. Jammed on power -- I was ready to react -- and normal landing. Not a short runway, though, but high elevation. 

Scud.. That picture of landing in Catalina brought back some great memories from a time long ago..


But I do not remember the approach to be particularly challenging at all.  It was the ride to Avalon that was  challenging.


There are some wicked Caribbean approaches to runways with cliffs on the end.  Wicked....but surprisingly quite predictable as the winds are fairly constant most of the time, both in direction and intensity.


Better a cliff at the approach end than a mountain at the departure end.