AA 253 MIA-TGU (Miami->Tegucigalpa/Toncontin)
DEP MIA 11:10 11 SEP 2010
ARR TGU 12:40 11 SEP 2010
Flight Duration: 2:30
Aircraft: B757-200 (Winglets)
I had a chance to go on a volunteer trip to Honduras with my college friends through Global Brigades. It was my first time in 3 years going on volunteer trip (the last one being in Dominican Republic), and my first time ever in Central America. I know Tegucigalpa is one of the most dangerous cities in Central America, but we ended up staying away from the city, only touring the city in the daylight.
The trip itinerary was booked through American Airlines. I was able redeem miles onto my Japan Airlines JMB with my flights from Chicago/O'Hare to Tegucigalpa/Toncontin. There are no direct flights between these two cities; we first flew from Chicago to Miami on a 5:00AM flight, arriving into Miami at around 9:00AM, then boarding a Tegucigalpa-bound flight at around 11AM, arriving into Tegucigalpa at 12:40PM.
Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, where my flight would be landing is known to be one of the most dangerous airports to land. Check out this Youtube video of AA B757-200 landing into the airport. The airplane almost skids along the surface while approaching! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NKeKl09mDQ
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온두라스에 봉사활동으로 일주일간 다녀왔습니다 ^^
오랫만에 가는 봉사활동이고 온두라스에는 처음이여서 설랬습니다.
게다가 테구시갈파의 공항이 비행기가 내리기 어려운 곳으로 유명한 곳이죠~ 아래 비디오 보시면 아실거예요~
때는 2010년 12월 11일. 학기가 끝나고 다음날 새벽 2시 분에 에반스톤에서 친구들과 택시를 타고 공항에 왔습니다. 마이애미로 가는 비행기가 새벽 5시 30분 비행기였지요~
시카고와 온두라스 사이에는 직항이 없습니다. 게다가 온두라스 테구시갈파 활주로가 짧고 까다로워서 멀리서 비행기가 올수는 없습니다.
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The Chicago O'Hare Airport Terminal 3 at 4AM. I think a lot of the passengers here were Central America-bound passengers taking the same flight into Miami.
The counters were open, but only two desks. The line moved slowly.
It was the Holiday Season so Christmas decorations were everywhere.
My Miami-bound plane, B767-300. I didn't take much pictures for this flight (given the fact I passed out for all of this flight), so unfortunately there's no trip report for this flight :(
I got some gift for my birthday!
Boarding started at 4:30AM
Most of the passengers here looked dead-tired.
The only picture I took inflight... Overall, the flight from Chicago to Miami was a quiet, pleasant ride. The AA seats are one of my favorites. It's comfy and it suits me well for some reason. I also love the coziness of the AA cabin. Anyways, I barely woke up as the plane was landing at Miami Airport.
A gift shop in Miami Airport. It's Heat Nation here!
My plane B757-200 that would take me to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
MIA is a huge airport, but what's more impressive is the line up of all the AA aircrafts. What's bad about the terminal is that the concourse is kinda long, which can be annoying if you need to make connection from one end to another. On top of that, the walk from your gate from arriving international flight to the immigration customs can also be long.
The plane took off, and headed straight south for Cuba.
After a while, we were already at Honduras coast near San Pedro Sula.
The scenes of mountains of Honduras.
And that's Tegucigalpa/Toncontin Airport's only runway. We will be landing from the south using Runway 2. This picture was taken probably when my plane was passing to checkpoint "MELVO" (please refer to the diagram below)
This was probably between TG 015 and TG 014.
I hope you didn't lose sight of the runway. You can see it on the right side above the wing. I'm guessing this was at TG 012.
A direct shot from the Youtube video I mentioned earlier, but this is how close to the ground you get while approaching into Tegucigalpa/Toncontin Airport!
We landed right before Copa Airlines B737. I actually saw this plane landing as we were approaching into the airport.
And just like that, we have arrived into Honduras!
I told captain personally, "Nice landing!". The captain replied "Thank you" :]
This is the first view of Tegucigalpa you would see as you exit the airport.
Gathering our bags from the baggage claim.
The conveyor belt wasn't even working, or needed. The airport workers grabbed the bags from the planes and directly carried them via carts into the building.
A last look at our AA B757-200 before heading off to volunteer site.
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