This airport closed in 1998 and was replaced by the new Hong Kong Intl (HKG). Because it was close to skyscrapers and hills, pilots had to do an irregular approach to runway 13, turning just before a hill covered in a checkered pattern, hence the name "checkerboard approach". Here's a video of a 747 following the approach, taken from the checkered hillside:
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re: Closed in 1998
🔗 Fri, 14 Jan 2011
— @mikeo.l_l.29400 at Hong Kong International Airport Kai Tak, Hong Kong Reply
Reply to @david: i wish it was still there
Closed in 1998
🔗 Thu, 09 Aug 2007
— @david at Hong Kong International Airport Kai Tak, Hong Kong Reply
This airport closed in 1998 and was replaced by the new Hong Kong Intl (HKG). Because it was close to skyscrapers and hills, pilots had to do an irregular approach to runway 13, turning just before a hill covered in a checkered pattern, hence the name "checkerboard approach". Here's a video of a 747 following the approach, taken from the checkered hillside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtnL4KYVtDE