Scary Plane Landings: Video Of Dusseldorf Airport Landings By Martin Bogdan Goes Viral (VIDEO)

A video by Martin Bogdan of airplane landings at Dusseldorf airport has gone viral, thanks to heavy crosswinds.

Bogdan filmed landings at the airport during particularly high winds. The end result is an interesting look at the mad skills of the pilots who land there.

The planes, from Emirates to Thomas Cook, approach the runway at odd angles to compensate for the high winds, which were gusting up to 55 knots on the day, Bogdan says.

Landing (and takeoff) is statistically riskier than other parts of the flight, 'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger' told us over the summer, due to cloud height, wind and visibility, among other things. Now we see why.

Check out some of the nerve-racking landings below.

Comments

[mejohndoe]

01:27 PM on 04/27/2012

I want to go flying with this guy!

[mejohndoe]

01:26 PM on 04/27/2012

Who needs Viagra when youve got skills like that dude!

[mejohndoe]

02:00 PM on 04/27/2012

How come I cant give myself a thumbs up like on the other websites!:)

[mejohndoe]

01:25 PM on 04/27/2012

He was probably jamming out to Black Sabbaths Sweet Leaf on the way down!

[Mrsbean54]

05:51 AM on 02/18/2012

This is my airport...it's comforting to see the skill of the pilots.

As a Floridian who's used to hurricanes, I was shocked at how windy it gets here in Western Germany....sometimes there are gusts strong enough to push you over.

[Jim Pasterczyk]

01:05 AM on 02/18/2012

Check out the Hong Kong landings on YouTube.

[killmenow]

10:57 PM on 02/17/2012

There is an extra fee for that, doncha know.

[KIampfbeobachter]

08:55 PM on 02/17/2012

My compliments to each of them. They all seem to operate at or close to the maximum crosswind component their aircraft are certified for.
It is also the curse of the low landing gear and the the underslung engines. The "low wing method"
is out of the question. My last plane had a max crosswind component of 28 kts.

[joannevlavender]

08:16 PM on 02/17/2012

Any landing you walk away from is a good landing.

The Arab Emirates airline pilot ought to be rewarded for his skillful landing in less than ideal conditions.

Anyone who has landed at Ontario, CA in high wind conditions coming out of the Cajon Pass can tell you, those pilots earn their salaries on that landing alone!

[TealStrat]

05:02 PM on 02/17/2012

What's the fuss? These are normal crosswind landings. Every pilot who has ever flown has done these countless times. It doesn't matter whether you're flying a 777 or a Piper Cub, they all fly and land the same. The wind isn't always right down the runway, thus the need to be well versed in cross-wind landings (and takeoffs!). The landings shown in these clips are using just one of two techniques. Basically, with this one, you keep the plane pointed into the wind until the last moment, and then kick it around to line up with the runway using the rudder and the ailerons. The other technique is to cross-control, dipping the wing and using opposite rudder. The problem with using this technique in a wide wingspan aircraft is that you run the risk of touching the ground with your dipped wing.... not advisable. Both techniques are enjoyable to execute and equally effective in keeping the aircraft lined up with the runway.

[Roshi98]

07:30 AM on 02/18/2012

I think for civilians like me, who've never piloted an aircraft, it's just a chance to admire the skill and technique of pilots. Most passengers don't even know or comprehend what pilots do on a daily basis, so it's encouraging to see a video of multiple pilots performing well under difficult circumstances.

[mejohndoe]

01:32 PM on 04/27/2012

You should try it at least one. You ca take a demo or test flight at most local airports for less than $100-. I used to take my kids up for there birthdays until one year I decided to rent a bigger plain that held more us. My dad said oh your trying to wipe out the entire clan in fell swoop. After that I figure that loading all of the kiddes and cousins on the same plane might not be such a good idea afterall!

Planes are much different to control than land vehicles. With a car its forward, reverse, left and right, but with a plane its all of those plus up and down, its scary the first time you take control of one! The first time I did it about 30 years ago I asked the pilot if he though that letting me fly the plane was a good idea. He said "dont worry I wouldnt let you do anything to hurt me (referring to him)"!

[salamanca1]

01:43 PM on 02/17/2012

That's why I always find the phrase "We'll be on the ground soon," so unsettling, because it so clearly evokes the question: Will we be on the ground in one piece?

[KedvaleJim]

01:19 PM on 02/17/2012

At 3:39 in this video, the plane touches down with a tail-strike on the runway. You can see the flash of flame as it does so.

[salamanca1]

01:48 PM on 02/17/2012

The photographer clearly caught that and replayed in the edit of the video. Scary.

[juliannaluv]

04:58 PM on 02/17/2012

This was NOT a tailstrike. You can plainly see that it is the flashing light on the plane itself. Go and take a look again.

[KonradSA]

02:42 AM on 02/01/2012

I admire the skill it must take to land in such challenging circumstances. Surprising that similar such footage has not gone as viral, as I often check out www.amazinglandings.com, who regularly post the most amazing landings on the web. Job well done, pilots!

[7dr361]

07:11 PM on 01/26/2012

good skilled landings.......

[leomen]

12:12 PM on 01/26/2012

Text book crosswind landing. Pilot did a great job

[Halsey]

11:50 AM on 01/26/2012

That is why I want my pilots to make LOTS of money, get constant training and LOTS of sleep! I assume these pilots (notice..no little commuters..only one prop) are well trained..and listened to the pilots ahead of them to help anticipate the moves...moves a computer can't do..only a pilot with that "gift". I had one of these type take-offs from Palm springs..an incredibly windy and overcast day in Feb (which is odd). I mean, I had NO idea how that plane got off the ground. I made sure I could just watch the flight attendant (calming influence)..of course..they had to remain seated..and I just had to tell myself..hey..these pilots JUST landed in this..they don't want to die and know it's safe to take off. (and it was). A $19,000 a year pilot(like our commuters hire)..no way they could handle all that wind. I want my brain surgeon AND my pilot to make LOTS of money!..I don't need to save $100 on one ticket that much..I want the Scully's of the world to stay with us!

[TealStrat]

05:01 PM on 02/17/2012

Ridiculous. All pilots learn this technique and all certificated pilots can do it. To denigrate the skills of any pilot - private through ATP - is incredibly insulting to the skills that must be demonstrated by all pilots in order to get certificated.