Hunt the runway!

One of the interesting things about charter flying is the unusual nature of the airports you operate into. La Palma’s runway lies north/south on the eastern side of a volcanic ridge on steeply sloping ground. It is fairly short for a 757 (2200 meters) and has a pronounced downslope on the more commonly used northerly run. The approach has to be flown approximately 25 degrees off the runway centerline to keep terrain separation and the only instrument approach is an NDB let down to one end only. The go-around procedure requires an immediate right turn through 180 degrees to avoid the hill immediately north of the runway.

Fortunately the weather was quite pleasant when we arrived so I managed to get some photos taken by one of the cabin crew.

The first is a bit vague but here we are approaching the island.