Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is one of the most difficult airports to approach...it sits amidst highrises and mountains on all sides. The runway is located at 300m above sea level and as an extra is on a steep slope. Approach from the north can only be done during the day when there is visual of the runway and sourrounding mountains. Approach from the south barely touches the roofs of buildings and cars on the roads!!

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/2089/airport11.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/8817/airport8.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/3127/airport18.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/7606/airport19.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/4426/airport21.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/1869/airport13.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/6011/airport14.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/4040/airport15.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/3961/airport16.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/3631/airport30.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/5671/airport23.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/2133/airport10.jpg

Airport runway viewed towards the north

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/8592/airport32.jpg

The airport runway viewed towards the south
http://img51.exs.cx/img51/6003/airport25.jpg

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/9498/airport31.jpg

Here is a link to another thread with pics of the terminal building :)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=142161

That's awesome. I love runways like that.

I think the airport you should say is Kai Tak not Chep Lap Kok

That looks crazy! A runway on a slope. What if the plane is making an emergency landing and can't stop!

Once at my aunts housee, a plane flew really low, but not as low as that, that's scary! :O

Chek-Lap-Cok, eh? :lol:

I think the airport you should say is Kai Tak not Chep Lap Kok

You're right zergcerebrates!!! I got confused! I changed it already :)

Doesn't it look like a baby Kai Tak? hahhahaah

At least it's not on water's edge like Kai Tak was. BTW, does anyone know if Kai Tak is still being used? Is the whole area as mountainous, or could they build it on less mountainous terrain surroundings?

Not as scary as this....:nuts:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ldohmen/stmaarten2.jpg

damn! where is that airport w AF in it!@!!!! cool! :)

Kai Tak and much of the harbour that surrounded it has been reclaimed and now its got high-rises on it apparently.

Kai Tak and much of the harbour that surrounded it has been reclaimed and now its got high-rises on it apparently.


actully it's still intact expect for the termial has been demolished. they are still planning to create a rereational area there. since then only higher flats have been built because there's no longer a height resriction.

damn! where is that airport w AF in it!@!!!! cool! :)

My guess is St. Maarten/St. Martin Island in the Caribbean. I saw this photo before on some aviation website. Yeah, it looks pretty cool but I can't help but imagine if the aircraft miscalculated its landing and nose-dived into the beach with people still on it! (I think that I should quit watching disaster movies. :D)

My guess is St. Maarten/St. Martin Island in the Caribbean. I saw this photo before on some aviation website. Yeah, it looks pretty cool but I can't help but imagine if the aircraft miscalculated its landing and nose-dived into the beach with people still on it! (I think that I should quit watching disaster movies. :D)

Yes, that is famous SXM or St. Maarten Airport. The runway is only 7000 feet long, but it handles 747s and A340s. A lot of people take their vacation on St. Maarten just to see these planes landing just behind the beach. :)

Wow, those planes are really flying low.
Did accidents already occur?

Well its good to see that at least no one is sunbathing right below the approach path of the plane, if my eyes arent kidding me? ;)

Wow, those planes are really flying low.
Did accidents already occur?

I don't believe so, if you don't count sunburns. :)

Is the whole area as mountainous, or could they build it on less mountainous terrain surroundings?


Yes, there are mountains all over the place because the city is nested in a high valley that looks like a balcony. No matter what direction you fly into the city, you always have to start your descend from the south and then chose whether you want to approach the runway from the north of from the south. The approach from the south requires flying through a narrow canyon between the mountains that form the edge of the city valley and another isolated round mountain that sits on a the lower valleys......then there is a sharp drop on a curve to approach the runway. On the other hand, the approach from the south takes you right on top of the city and all its buildings. Beleive me, both are nerve recking but exiting at the same time.

Here is a satellite pic and a sketch that show the geography of the region and the two possible approach routes. In red is the approach to the runway from the north and in orange the approach from the south.

Note the lower valleys...these are also surrounded by mountains but less tight. This is where the new airport is getting built. :)

http://www.xpphotoalbum.com/data/14626/14069Quito.jpg?5043

http://www.xpphotoalbum.com/data/14671/1406914069quitosketch2.JPG?4081

If you are an airport and aircraft fan, you'll love these new pics of UIO:


http://img134.echo.cx/img134/2998/uio69eg.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/1741/uio37mp.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/7119/quitoairport62wi.jpg

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/3496/quitoairport54uc.jpg

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/5844/uio131cs.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/4991/uio28ro.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/7324/uio74ay.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/8199/quitoecuador132qk.jpg

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/8931/uio42xc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/8036/quitoairport33jc.jpg

Wow! It's a very modern looking terminal building. I'm sure that the city grew around the airport, but it seems crazy to keep the airport there with all of the city around it. Are there any other flat areas nearby Quito that could be used to build another airport that is not so dangerously close to the population center?

Wow! It's a very modern looking terminal building. I'm sure that the city grew around the airport, but it seems crazy to keep the airport there with all of the city around it. Are there any other flat areas nearby Quito that could be used to build another airport that is not so dangerously close to the population center?


You are right Nick...the airport was once in the outskirts of the city but unfortunately the city grew around it. UIO was renovated 2 years ago to serve until the new Quito International opens its doors in late 2008.

The new airport wil be located on a less mountainous and rural plain located in the interandean valley. This basin is located right next to and below Quito proper. This site was chosen because is free of topographic obstructions, is located a 1000 m below the city (making the site at 2000m above sea level), and because there is enough land to assure the airport can grow in the future.

The new Quito International airport is a huge development which includes a technological park, free trade zone, hotels, and other amenities. A major 6 lane expressway with bridges and tunnels is also been built to link the city to the airport. Under current road conditions it takes over an hour to get to the site, but the new highway with bridges and tunnels cuts down the driving time to under half an hour. I don't think there is an airport code chosen for the new airport yet.

The site of UIO will also be developed into a major urban park (Central Park style). The site will also house the new Quito Convention Center and there will be an area reserved for commercial use. Once UIO shuts down the building height limit will be removed!!!

I made this thread long time ago about the renovation of UIO and the construction of the new airport (wiht renderings and construction pics) check it out!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=142161

If old UIO is shut down, then the new airport will most likely get the UIO Iata code transferred to it.

It's good to know the code UIO will not dissapear. Thanks for the info Nick!