[dorothymedney]

The year also saw the start of work on a $110,000,000 project to revolutionize Kai Tak Airport by the construction of a 7,200-ft runway on an artificial promontory reclaimed from the sea and projecting out into the waters of Kowloon Bay. In danger of being knocked off the international airline map by reason of its airport being too small and dangerous for the Comet and the larger conventional airliners, Hong Kong has now taken steps to keep itself firmly on the map. The airport project, when completed in 1958, will provide, for the first time since aviation started in the Colony, facilities for day and night operation all the year round.

[marywilliams937]

However, by the time Kai Tak was closed in 1998, only one runway (the famous 13/31) remained. I can find no mention of when runway 07/25 was closed, or why; can someone help answer those questions? here

[silver]

Wikipedia states that Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong originally had two runways, both built under Japanese occupation during World War II:

[dammy09]

The two original short runways (shown above) were actually abandoned c. 1955 in favor of a brand new longer runway built into the bay (completed 1958) to accommodate the new jetliner (the 13/31 you know). here

[Ewald]

. In 1942, the Japanese army expanded Kai Tak, using many Allied prisoner-of-war (POW) labourers,[9] building two concrete runways, 13/31 and 07/25.

here

[Solego]

A note on the design of runways: Two intersecting runways are usually treated as one, as both can't be used simultaneously unless they're sufficiently long and a procedure like LAHSO is used. Kai Tak started with 2 to cover the compass as much as possible, since early on the designers didn't have wind data. It was typical of that era to build 3 runways 60° apart, then later on expand the most useful, and abandon the rest.

[koskenkorva]

This tiny British enclave in the Med decided to build a runway partially in the sea. Whether this was to overcome the lack of space or just to irritate the Spanish is open for debate. Either way it seems to have worked and to add to the danger there is a main road which intersects the runway. Not a good place to jump the traffic lights!

[Goldstein]

Another of the world’s most dangerous airports located in a mountainous region now. However here planners decided to build the runway on the top of the cliff rather than in a surrounding valley. The runway is a fraction above 6000 feet and in icy conditions, if you overshoot the runaway, you fall off the cliff. Cool. [links]

[13fpigil]

colourful era as the main gateway into Hong Kong. As well as having an enormous amount of air traffic and some of the busiest air routes in the world, Hong Kong has giant skyscrapers, mountains and harbours all located within a few miles of Kai Tak. Planes had to dodge all if they wanted to land or take-off successfully.

[jknott]

Last week, I had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the construction currently in progress on Runway 16C/34C at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, aka Sea-Tac). The center runway closed on May 4th for a complete reconstruction and is scheduled to re-open October 30th, so the project is already well underway.

[Fecn]

Originally built in 1969, 16C/34C is the oldest runway at Sea-Tac. It was designed to last 20 years, so it has more than done its duty. Upon completion of this reconstruction project, all three of Sea-Tac’s runways will have been constructed or rebuilt within the last seven years. 16R/34L (the hotly-contested “third runway”) was built in 2008, and the longest runway, 16L/34R, was reconstructed in 2009.

[NghtRppr]

Concrete excavated from the old runway, waiting to be recycled – Photo: Lauren Darnielle | AirlineReporter more

[riggasconi]

The same reason that makes this Austrian airport notoriously difficult to land at also makes it one of the most beautiful approaches – it’s surrounded by mountains. Aircraft have to navigate around snowy peaks thousands of metres high before coming to land in the valley, and the views are incredible (as long as they’re not hindered by cloud cover). After you alight, you’ll see towering pinnacles all around – an inspiring way to kick off any trip. more

[brightside]

Always sit on the right as you’re flying to Venice – nine times out of 10 (according to a pilot) you’ll fly in across the lagoon, with a peerless view of the Lido, then Giudecca, and then the city itself. Then you skim low across the water and land parallel with the Byzantine bell towers of Torcello. It makes me well up every time. [links]

[GLR444]

Simon Calder, travel correspondent here

[leoragraves666]

I’m biased because it’s my local airport but there’s nowhere quite like Newquay. Whichever way you land you’ll have sheep either side of the runway, and depending on the wind you’ll either approach via the china clay pits of St Austell (fascinatingly ugly) or across the sea. Normally it’s the former, which means taking off over a cliff, then following the coastline past Newquay, Bedruthan Steps and the Camel Estuary before heading inland. [links]