Watch: World’s shortest runway? Pilot lands plane on Dubai’s Burj Al Arab helipad, sets new global record

Watch: World’s shortest runway? Pilot lands plane on Dubai’s Burj Al Arab helipad, sets new global record

The pilot reveals that 650 landing attempts were made on ground before the big day

Photo: @visit.dubai/Instagram

By Web Desk Published: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 6:37 PM Last updated: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 7:01 PM

In a first, Lukasz Czepiela, an airline pilot successfully landed a plane on the Burj Al Arab helipad.

The iconic Burj Al Arab helipad is just 27m in diameter making this victory all the more special.

In a video put up by Visit Dubai on Instagram, Czepiela is seen assessing the situation before making the remarkable landing. "It's a very steady wind right now," he says before moving towards the big 'H'.

The Red Bull ambassador then successfully makes the landing. Mike Patey, an aviation engineer monitoring the situation on the helipad runs in to hug and congratulate Czepiela, spitting out expletives, he says, "You beautiful man!"

The landing was made without any reference points and at a height of 212 metres, which is the 56th floor of the hotel.

The pilot also revealed that 13 special modifications were made to the aircraft to decrease the weight as much as possible and ensure that the feat can be accomplished.

Czepiela said on his Instagram story that 650 attempts were made on ground to prepare