Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:10 pm
#703857
Barra is one of the few airfields in the world where a knowledge of tide times is part of the preflight planning. Apparently it is also one of [url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/the-worlds-scariest-runways/6]The World's Scariest Runways[/url]!
The East bay, towards the north end of the Island of Barra provides an enormous area of firm sand at low tide, which provides ample space for three nominally defined "runways". The western ends of all runways converge on a point just slightly to the south of the terminal, marked by a large orange bollard. Similar bollards mark the easterly ends but are much harder to locate. Not that this is a problem - provided you get somewhere reasonably close to the runway heading then you can actually land anywhere you like!
The first landing at Barra is a bit intimidating but in practice it turns out to be straightforward enough. All the approaches are clear and there is ample length. The sand is quite smooth (I've known grass strips that are much worse!) and usually the surface water drains away completely to leave a decent hard surface. The lack of perspective didn't cause me any problems, though I probably landed a little longer than I needed to as a result.
Barra has a FISO service and the operator is very helpful. Because the opening hours are limited by a combination of daylight and tides, the airfield can be quite busy with commercial traffic and it's best to keep out of its way, especially if you think you'd like to do a low pass to check the ground prior to landing (which the FISO will gladly accommodate).
There is a small terminal building, with a cafe. When I was there it was packed with passengers - this really is quite a busy little airfield it seems. We didn't really have time to explore but there doesn't seem to be much to do in the vicinity - the interest for me was entirely in landing on a beach!
Apropos of which, you will definitely want to wash the sand and salt water off the underside of your aircraft as soon as possible after landing at Barra. I found the fire people at Benbecula were exceptionally helpful and more than happy to give JLIN a good sluicing down. When phoning for PPR I just asked the ATCO if I could have access to a hose and I got the fire service instead! Can't argue with that. Sadly, the less said about the airfield security Stasi at Benbecula the better.
Barra is definitely a most unusual airfield to get in your logbook! Well worth a visit.
The East bay, towards the north end of the Island of Barra provides an enormous area of firm sand at low tide, which provides ample space for three nominally defined "runways". The western ends of all runways converge on a point just slightly to the south of the terminal, marked by a large orange bollard. Similar bollards mark the easterly ends but are much harder to locate. Not that this is a problem - provided you get somewhere reasonably close to the runway heading then you can actually land anywhere you like!
The first landing at Barra is a bit intimidating but in practice it turns out to be straightforward enough. All the approaches are clear and there is ample length. The sand is quite smooth (I've known grass strips that are much worse!) and usually the surface water drains away completely to leave a decent hard surface. The lack of perspective didn't cause me any problems, though I probably landed a little longer than I needed to as a result.
Barra has a FISO service and the operator is very helpful. Because the opening hours are limited by a combination of daylight and tides, the airfield can be quite busy with commercial traffic and it's best to keep out of its way, especially if you think you'd like to do a low pass to check the ground prior to landing (which the FISO will gladly accommodate).
There is a small terminal building, with a cafe. When I was there it was packed with passengers - this really is quite a busy little airfield it seems. We didn't really have time to explore but there doesn't seem to be much to do in the vicinity - the interest for me was entirely in landing on a beach!
Apropos of which, you will definitely want to wash the sand and salt water off the underside of your aircraft as soon as possible after landing at Barra. I found the fire people at Benbecula were exceptionally helpful and more than happy to give JLIN a good sluicing down. When phoning for PPR I just asked the ATCO if I could have access to a hose and I got the fire service instead! Can't argue with that. Sadly, the less said about the airfield security Stasi at Benbecula the better.
Barra is definitely a most unusual airfield to get in your logbook! Well worth a visit.
Last edited by The Westmorland Flyer on Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
John
FLYER Club Member
