The shortest commercial runway in the world on Saba Island offers a “terrifying” yet exhilarating takeoff and landing experience.
One of the Most Terrifying Flight Experiences in the World
Saba Island, part of the Netherlands, is very small, covering only about 13 km2, with most of its area consisting of hills and mountains, leaving little space for aircraft operations.
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport on the island is built on the limited flat land available, with a runway length comparable to that of an aircraft carrier.
The two ends of the runway drop off into the sea, making takeoffs and landings at the world’s shortest commercial runway extremely challenging, requiring the skilled hands of the pilots. This is why it is referred to as one of the most terrifying flight experiences globally.
The runway at the airport on Saba Island is only about 400m long. (Photo – CNN).
Completing a flight to Saba Island is such a memorable experience that the souvenir shop in the village of Windwardside sells t-shirts printed with the phrase “I survived landing on Saba.”
While visitors can take a ferry to the island, many still choose to fly for the thrill of the adventure.
The 15-minute flight from Sint Maarten to Saba is operated using Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, which are specially designed for complex airport conditions and can quickly land in case of an emergency.
Winair, based in Sint Maarten, is the only airline that operates flights to and from Saba Island. Only specially trained pilots are qualified to handle these flights.
Former military pilot Roger Hodge, a flight instructor for Winair’s Twin Otter fleet, noted that when the aircraft lands, passengers can experience a moment where they might be “hair-raising” due to the possibility of unusual emergencies or engine troubles…
In rainy conditions, landing is impossible due to the wet runway. According to Hodge, due to the unique nature of the runway size, pilots must ensure that not even a minor mistake occurs.
CNN Reporter Experiences a Flight to Saba Island
During a flight experience, a CNN reporter mentioned that the interior of the aircraft has no partition between the cockpit and the cabin, allowing passengers to clearly see the aircraft’s direction and the scenery ahead.
After takeoff, passengers can see lush green mountains, golden beaches, and the breathtaking beauty of the landscape below. In the cockpit, the two pilots operate in sync, expertly handling the controls and equipment.
The plane moves on the runway at Saba Island. (Photo – CNN)
As the aircraft approaches Saba Island, the view of the island is stunning but also gives passengers the sensation of heading directly towards a volcano’s mouth. When the aircraft turns left to align with the runway, passengers on the right can see the cliffside up close while those on the left look straight down at the sea below.
Finally, passengers feel the aircraft glide closely past the mountains before descending for landing. When the aircraft comes to a stop at the end of the runway, passengers can see the sea just in front of the plane’s nose.
The CNN reporter noted that taking off from Saba Island’s airport is just as thrilling as landing. The aircraft accelerates down the length of the runway and lifts off into the sky. Right at the end of the runway, the aircraft is at the island’s edge, with a cliff below.
The aircraft accelerates for takeoff at the world’s shortest commercial runway
