The Airport
The Famous Madeira Landing: The Curving Approach Explained
That dramatic banking turn over the Atlantic isn't a stunt — it's the only way terrain lets jets line up with the runway.
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The famous Madeira landing curves because high terrain blocks a straight-in instrument approach to runway 05. Instead, jets fly a visual approach over the Atlantic and make a sharp turn — roughly 180° — to line up with the runway only on a short final. Combined with mountain-driven wind shear and gusting crosswinds, that produces the dramatic banking turns, occasional go-arounds and viral videos Madeira is known for.
Why does the Madeira landing curve?
Because the airport’s geography leaves no other option. High ground at the runway-05 threshold blocks a straight-in instrument landing system (ILS), so jets approach over the sea and turn — roughly 180 degrees — to align with the runway only on a short final.
An ILS needs a clear, straight path for several miles in front of the runway. At Madeira, that path is filled by Madeira’s mountains, which rise steeply straight from the coast. So crews fly a visual approach: they navigate by sight, follow a curving track parallel to the coast, and roll out onto the centreline late, close to touchdown.
It is exactly the constraint that made Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak airport famous, which is why Madeira is nicknamed “the Kai Tak of Europe.”
What the curving approach looks like, step by step
The approach is essentially a wide, descending arc that ends in a tight turn. From the passenger’s seat it unfolds in a recognisable sequence:
- Descent over the Atlantic — the aircraft tracks down the coast, often with the sea on one side and the green hillside on the other.
- The banking turn — a steep, sustained bank brings the nose around towards the runway; the hillside seems to fill one window while the runway swings into view in the other.
- A short final — the wings level only briefly before touchdown, so there is little of the long, straight, settled approach passengers are used to elsewhere.
- Touchdown — sometimes firm, occasionally a “thump,” as crews plant the aircraft positively on the runway rather than floating it in gusty air.
The whole manoeuvre is deliberate and practised. Captains who fly here are specially qualified for exactly this profile.
Why the wind makes it harder
The turn is only half the challenge; the wind is the other half. Madeira’s terrain — mountains and deep ravines reaching the coast — disturbs the airflow, generating severe low-level wind shear, turbulence, downdrafts and shifting crosswinds.
The most awkward feature is how local the wind can be. As the aircraft crosses successive ravines on short final, the wind direction and strength can change abruptly, producing the sudden lurches passengers feel right before landing. A crosswind that was manageable a few seconds earlier can spike just as the aircraft is committing to the runway.
To help, NAV Portugal introduced an enhanced wind-detection system — X-band radar plus LIDAR, branded around “MAD Winds” — in late 2024, giving controllers and crews a sharper real-time picture of the wind field.
Go-arounds and diversions: normal, not alarming
Because the wind can change so quickly, go-arounds are routine at Madeira. If the approach becomes unstable, or the wind moves outside limits, the crew breaks off, climbs away and either tries again or diverts. This is a deliberately conservative response, not a sign that something has gone wrong.
When a landing simply isn’t possible, flights divert to one of a handful of alternates:
| Alternate | Typical role |
|---|---|
| Porto Santo (PXO) | Closest alternate; long, less wind-exposed runway, but limited apron space |
| Tenerife / Gran Canaria | Canary Islands fallback in sustained storms |
| Lisbon / Porto | Portuguese mainland, for major disruption |
These diversions cluster in the autumn-to-spring storm season but can happen at any time of year.
Why the videos go viral
Madeira produces a steady stream of dramatic crosswind-landing and go-around clips precisely because the manoeuvres look extreme — steep banks, wings rocking in the gusts, last-second escape climbs. A widely shared easyJet A320 go-around on 19 March 2025 drew hundreds of thousands of views.
It is worth keeping perspective on what those videos actually show. A crew flying a textbook crosswind landing, or breaking off a gusty approach to go around, is demonstrating skill and caution — the system working as intended.
The bottom line for travellers
The Madeira landing is one of the most spectacular arrivals in commercial aviation, and it is dramatic for an entirely rational reason: terrain forces a curving visual approach where most airports offer a straight-in one, and the island’s wind makes the final seconds genuinely demanding.
But “dramatic” is not the same as “dangerous.” The curve, the bank, the occasional go-around and the firm touchdown are all part of a well-rehearsed, tightly regulated procedure — which is why, despite the white-knuckle reputation, Madeira’s modern jet-safety record is strong.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Madeira landing curve so much?
High terrain at the runway-05 end blocks a straight-in instrument approach, so jets fly a visual approach over the sea and make a sharp turn — roughly 180° — to line up with the runway on a short final. The curve is dictated by geography, not pilot choice.
Is the Madeira curving approach safe?
Yes. It is flown by specially qualified captains under strict procedures and mandatory wind limits. The approach is demanding, but Madeira has had no fatal commercial jet accident since 1977 despite millions of passengers a year.
Why are there so many go-arounds at Madeira?
Madeira's mountains and ravines create sudden wind shear and gusting crosswinds that can shift on short final. If the approach becomes unstable or the wind exceeds limits, crews break off and try again or divert — a deliberately conservative, normal response.
Why can't planes just use an ILS to land straight in at Madeira?
An ILS needs a clear straight-in path, but high ground off the runway-05 threshold blocks one. So jets fly a visual approach and curve onto the runway. This is the same reason Hong Kong's old Kai Tak airport required a famous turning approach.
What does the Madeira landing feel like as a passenger?
Expect a steep banking turn with the hillside filling one window and the runway appearing in the other, a short final with sudden lurches as the aircraft crosses ravines, and sometimes a firm touchdown or a go-around. All are normal and deliberately conservative.