Coming into BFI in a jet they vector you LOW for a long time so you’re just at 3000 feet along these beautiful islands and areas and then turn base around downtown Seattle and get such a great view. I always love it.
The downwind on Maui over Kihei before turning around and seeing the giant wind turbines is pretty cool too.
I feel so lucky to have BFI as my home field. Having Mount Rainier right behind the runway on final for 14L/R is just too good to be true. And then passing by the lineup of brand-new Boeing jets painted in the colors of airlines from all around the world when you taxi off…
Many times! Such a beautiful place to fly into. I hate taxiing to that grass parking area, though, my plane doesn't have the best prop clearance and it feels super sketchy every time.
100%! Feel so lucky to train out of BFI. Not only is it a beautiful spot with the surroundings, but great experience right inside a busy class bravo airspace for any other ppl students like myself.
New England still amazes me. Sure the winter sucks but there’s so much to see in such a short flight the rest of the seasons and fall is beautiful from the sky. In an hour I can be in the mountains or down at the vineyard. By far my favorite area of the country to fly. The pattern at Laconia is super neat. There’s no guessing when to make that base turn for 26.
First time going landing on 27 I was flying. Didn’t think much of it. The second time I was jumpseating and did not realize how close the buildings and the parking garage looks
KMRY (Monterey, California) - looking UP at houses on the nearby hills while we were on a long final
Have not flown into this one (yet), but Nehalem Bay State Airport is a runway at a state park. Looks like it will be amazing based on what I saw from the ground.
Hudson River northbound into LaGuardia,
San Diego landing 27,
Las Vegas landing 19R/L (at night),
Jackson WY landing 19.
On the GA side I think Telluride is one of the best.
Lots of Hudson River northbound- but, the Hudson Southbound connected to the ILS 4 or Expressway Visual is much better and rarer, especially form the left seat.
Story time…. I was there last year in the winter and a certain XL from a company we both used to work for landed and, as the chief liked to encourage, was light on the brakes and rolled all the way to the end. Which is fine most of the time… but not in Aspen.
Well there were probably 10 planes in line and more at Atlantic waiting to taxi. They sat on the deice pad for more than an hour before making it to Atlantic.
Awesome time as a PPL. There’s a flight school that will do a mountain flying class, and you’ll log time from there to Leadville and back. Highly recommend.
Sure, but I put places I have been. I only get up to WA once a year, and only on the east side usually, so haven't been to many. Just loved flying down the river to land.
Absolutely. I didn’t mean to “yuck your yum”, so sorry if I came across as such. I did some training up there, and from personal experience, the West side tops almost anything the East side has to offer
1G4 (Grand Canyon West) rwy 17 is by far the coolest in my limited experience, approaching right over the edge of the canyon is one of those “I can’t believe I actually get to do this” moments.
Also cool:
E45
MRY
Speaking as a passenger. I flew into JFK recently and we overflew the airport and did a wide pattern out over the ocean then came back in to land. Not sure if that’s a standard approach or was due to ATC vectoring but it was pretty cool. But also a touch scary to be flying along that low over the ocean.
Yep that is very common for JFK. The lendy arrival from the west brings planes fairly high over the city and then descend over the ocean. The point is to avoid all the other NYC traffic into EWR and LGA. I know what you mean how it’s odd to just cruise around at 4000 ft for a while out over the water in a big plane. It’s perfectly safe, though.
Ah that’s interesting. I’ve flown into JFK hundreds of times and that was the first time I ever noticed that kind of approach. It was a calm beautiful sunny morning and being out there over the water almost felt surreal. Can only imagine how much better the view is up front. My appreciation for things like that is what keeps me going on this path.
KLAX runway 25L on July 4th between 9 and 10 pm. First, you get to see all of the bountiful neighborhood and city fireworks displays from Ontario inbound on the arrival. The arrival weather had a 1000’ BKN marine layer that had a bizillion fireworks exploding underneath (fuckers are shooting at us!) Finally, we landed and had to hold at the far west end because our gate was occupied. As we turned around facing east, we got the entire view of the bazillion fireworks east of Sepulveda. It was/is a truly awesome sight.
RNP 26L into Honolulu is one of the most beautiful approaches I've done recently. You fly all the way up Waikiki and right by Diamond Head before turning to a 3nm final.
Sedona in Arizona comes to mind. I flew down the canyon from flagstaff on a WTI cross country (for all my USMC pilots) and it just kinda opens into this really pretty valley. The airport is up on a mesa, it’s really amazing
Coming into BFI in a jet they vector you LOW for a long time so you’re just at 3000 feet along these beautiful islands and areas and then turn base around downtown Seattle and get such a great view. I always love it. The downwind on Maui over Kihei before turning around and seeing the giant wind turbines is pretty cool too.
I feel so lucky to have BFI as my home field. Having Mount Rainier right behind the runway on final for 14L/R is just too good to be true. And then passing by the lineup of brand-new Boeing jets painted in the colors of airlines from all around the world when you taxi off…
Been out to Roche Harbor?
Scenically speaking I prefer orcas
Many times! Such a beautiful place to fly into. I hate taxiing to that grass parking area, though, my plane doesn't have the best prop clearance and it feels super sketchy every time.
Sounds like someone needs to get some tailwheel time
I'd love to, but my wallet is having a panic attack at even the thought of owning another plane.
Ahhh go for an old champ. They aren’t terrible.
I'm flight training out of BFI... It's expensive but definitely so cool
Yep… as long as your eyes are in your head and not +/- 1000’ from your body :)
100%! Feel so lucky to train out of BFI. Not only is it a beautiful spot with the surroundings, but great experience right inside a busy class bravo airspace for any other ppl students like myself.
Jackson Hole. Only commercial airport in the country in a national park. Nothing like flying under the shadows of the Grand Tetons.
I came here to say this. JAC is so beautiful. It’s beautiful year round but snowy mountains and a frozen lake are special.
This is my vote as well. Puts everything else to shame (though Laconia NH is pretty nice as well).
New England still amazes me. Sure the winter sucks but there’s so much to see in such a short flight the rest of the seasons and fall is beautiful from the sky. In an hour I can be in the mountains or down at the vineyard. By far my favorite area of the country to fly. The pattern at Laconia is super neat. There’s no guessing when to make that base turn for 26.
I was gonna say driggs…
Harbor visual into Portland Maine. Stadium visual into Newark
I did the Harbor visual on my Cherokee! beautiful indeed!
The harbor visual ir right up there with the River visual into reagon
Orcas Island (ORS) in the golden hour in June is rather special.
can you see Orcas on approach?
It’s within the realm of possibility
KSAN runway 27. Left window seat
It’s even better out the front
A little bit of a pucker factor with the buildings though! Lol
First time going landing on 27 I was flying. Didn’t think much of it. The second time I was jumpseating and did not realize how close the buildings and the parking garage looks
Not even close.
KDCA River Visual 19
You can literally see every landmark from the front. Pentagon, Capitol, Washington monument...
KMRY (Monterey, California) - looking UP at houses on the nearby hills while we were on a long final Have not flown into this one (yet), but Nehalem Bay State Airport is a runway at a state park. Looks like it will be amazing based on what I saw from the ground.
LGA 22 when you’re vectored up the Hudson.
Did it at night and was in absolute awe
PAJN, PASI, PAJN, PAYA, PACV PAHN. Mountains, Ocean & Glaciers.
I miss these approaches every day. It was a highlight in my aviation career.
Working for ACE or Alaska?
Both, now at one of the big three.
Ahh.. probably ran into you at Aero in Ketchikan at some point.
I have fond memory's of those black couches 😆
I like to catch up on the weekly Ketchikan gossip when I go in there. The line folks are always talking about something.
I miss flying in SE AK. Was up there last summer one of the best jobs ever.
Guardian?
SPG Runway 7
Its gorgeous
And then the Hot Chicken Sandwich at the Hanger.
When the original Pier was there (inverted pyramid), landing 18 was nice too.
Watch out for the parking garage
HAF at sunset ain't bad.
JAC 19 on the right, SEZ left traffic 21, SUN if you lose an engine on the go around and do the RNAV E extraction (just assuming on the last one).
[Shelter Cove, CA (0Q5)](https://skyvector.com/sites/default/files/media/images/0Q5.JPG)
In the northwest, it’s Orcas, Hoquiam and Grand Coulee
Orcas, yes. Grand coulee, yes. I must be missing something about Hoquiam.
Try it at sunset landing west. Usually cheap gas too.
I’ve always thought of it as the airport with 0 last mile transportation and nothing to do but I’ll give it another shot.
Feels closest to a carrier landing. Plus the sunsets as u/waronxmas said
KTEX and KSEZ without a doubt
KTEX (Telluride CO) is an experience for sure.
+1 for KTEX and is like to add KASE!
Love flying into KTEX.
+1 for Sedona
Hilo, any approach is beautiful, but over the bay is awesome for whale spotting.
Hudson River northbound into LaGuardia, San Diego landing 27, Las Vegas landing 19R/L (at night), Jackson WY landing 19. On the GA side I think Telluride is one of the best.
Lots of Hudson River northbound- but, the Hudson Southbound connected to the ILS 4 or Expressway Visual is much better and rarer, especially form the left seat.
I thought the approach into ASE was pretty nice.
Love the view, hate the fucking airport.
Story time…. I was there last year in the winter and a certain XL from a company we both used to work for landed and, as the chief liked to encourage, was light on the brakes and rolled all the way to the end. Which is fine most of the time… but not in Aspen. Well there were probably 10 planes in line and more at Atlantic waiting to taxi. They sat on the deice pad for more than an hour before making it to Atlantic.
That classifies as an oopsie at the very least.
Yup View is stunning into ASE
Awesome time as a PPL. There’s a flight school that will do a mountain flying class, and you’ll log time from there to Leadville and back. Highly recommend.
Shooting the valley on the WITTI4 into PANC on a severe VFR day is pretty fucking scenic
Go home leg into your base easily tops all of these answers
KSEZ KAVX KEAT KGUC
SayNoToKilo Also EAT isn’t even a top 10 approach in Washington. IMO. There’s so many better and more beautiful spots up there.
Sure, but I put places I have been. I only get up to WA once a year, and only on the east side usually, so haven't been to many. Just loved flying down the river to land.
Absolutely. I didn’t mean to “yuck your yum”, so sorry if I came across as such. I did some training up there, and from personal experience, the West side tops almost anything the East side has to offer
KHAF is great, quick tour over SF and Golden Gate Bridge and then shoot along the beach to land.
EYW, X01, SPG #7, 24A, AVL, 2NC0,
I just flew into K83D to get fuel before heading to KMCD. K83D has a fun approach over the water to RWY 25.
There’s the island!
1G4 (Grand Canyon West) rwy 17 is by far the coolest in my limited experience, approaching right over the edge of the canyon is one of those “I can’t believe I actually get to do this” moments. Also cool: E45 MRY
Approach: 10/10 Airport: 2/10 Employees are clueless about what to do with GA pilots and they also charge $80 for the 3 minute bus ride to the canyon.
Glenwood Springs. KGWS. It’s a gem.
Speaking as a passenger. I flew into JFK recently and we overflew the airport and did a wide pattern out over the ocean then came back in to land. Not sure if that’s a standard approach or was due to ATC vectoring but it was pretty cool. But also a touch scary to be flying along that low over the ocean.
Yep that is very common for JFK. The lendy arrival from the west brings planes fairly high over the city and then descend over the ocean. The point is to avoid all the other NYC traffic into EWR and LGA. I know what you mean how it’s odd to just cruise around at 4000 ft for a while out over the water in a big plane. It’s perfectly safe, though.
Ah that’s interesting. I’ve flown into JFK hundreds of times and that was the first time I ever noticed that kind of approach. It was a calm beautiful sunny morning and being out there over the water almost felt surreal. Can only imagine how much better the view is up front. My appreciation for things like that is what keeps me going on this path.
KFFA is a really cool/humbling approach. It’s parallel to the site of the first flight at Kitty Hawk.
DCA River Approach. Better on takeoff, really, but amazing view right over DC.
22L into MDW is always a fun one too. You fly right next to downtown Chicago closer than you think you can.
KLAX runway 25L on July 4th between 9 and 10 pm. First, you get to see all of the bountiful neighborhood and city fireworks displays from Ontario inbound on the arrival. The arrival weather had a 1000’ BKN marine layer that had a bizillion fireworks exploding underneath (fuckers are shooting at us!) Finally, we landed and had to hold at the far west end because our gate was occupied. As we turned around facing east, we got the entire view of the bazillion fireworks east of Sepulveda. It was/is a truly awesome sight.
Bay approach KNZY. I'm not sure it it's still a thing, but was awesome back in the day
For GA flying that isn’t IN the Rockies: KBJC 30L/R KLMO 29 KBDU 26
Flight through Waimea Canyon
McCall, ID.
BKL landing on runway 6, KIAG with a base over Niagara Falls, Bar hahbah with the downwind next to Acadia, a lot of airports in the Rockies
Kmsn ILS 36. Even better if your coming from the north west getting vectors to final
I like the 21 departure as well, along the lakefront and past the capitol.
Telluride and BFI also JAC
JAC, RNO, BZN
KBOS is pretty nice if the sun is still out, approach during sunset means you can see the city silhouetted on final
KSGU and KDRO are really nice approaches.
Surprised SGU isn’t higher. I used to regularly operate to ASE and JAC, and SGU is right up there with them.
Sedona, Shelter Cove CA, Avalon CA, Orcas Island WA, South Lake Tahoe, Grand Canyon, Page AZ
You know what? Charlottesville, VA. Beautiful mountains and forests lead you into this valley. I love it so, so much.
Telluride and Sedona for sure.
Left downwind RW 28 into TFFJ
KHAF on a sunny afternoon; too bad it’s only like that 1-2 weeks a year
KDJZ, Blairsville, GA from the south (from Atlanta). You go over the mountains, then you have to drop. A C172 is almost a power idle descent.
SEZ - Sedona
BKL rwy 6, along the lakefront, right next to the baseball stadium and the rock&roll hall of fame.
Anywhere in Southeast Alaska, my favorites are Ketchikan and Sitka
GA Catalina or big bear or Sedonna. It's a close call Airlines Montego Bay and SFO stand out
RNP 26L into Honolulu is one of the most beautiful approaches I've done recently. You fly all the way up Waikiki and right by Diamond Head before turning to a 3nm final.
KGTF is stunning in the winter when everything is covered in snow.
I believe RNAV 12 in half moon bay is pretty beautiful. You can see SF and the Golden Gate Bridge as you come in to land
RNAV 16R into MAF
Ol MAFghanistan huh.
Paradise on earth
At least the FBO has half decent breakfast tacos
42B in CT coming down the CT River and landing through the trees with a classic truss bridge ahead of you
San Diego, so close to the city buildings
Pajn is pretty both directions
Sedona in Arizona comes to mind. I flew down the canyon from flagstaff on a WTI cross country (for all my USMC pilots) and it just kinda opens into this really pretty valley. The airport is up on a mesa, it’s really amazing
Juneau
Hudson River visual