62. Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport – Alaska
Year of construction: 1967
Risk factors: Flocks of birds, exposed location, hazardous weather
Named after Rocky Gutierrez, the former mayor of the Alaskan town of Sitka, Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport is a single terminal with service by Alaska Airlines and Delta. As anyone who has seen Ice Road Truckers knows, the weather in Alaska can be a little tricky (and that’s an understatement).
Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport – Alaska @darinblass / Pinterest.com
Hazardous weather and the exposed location of Sitka make this airport dangerous. There are also large flocks of birds that can cause decreased visibility and hazardous conditions for pilots. In fact, the mission “Sitka Approach” is a training option on Microsoft Flight Simulator X, a flight-themed video game.