Innsbruck Airport (LOWI) is the largest international airport in Tyrol, Austria. The airport handles regional flights around the Alps. During the winter, activity increases significantly, due to the high number of skiers travelling to the region.
Innsbruck Airport is well known for having a difficult approach due to surrounding terrain, prohibiting certain aircraft types from operating at the airport. The approach and descent is a very complicated process—the Alps create vicious winds and currents, which the pilot has to deal with throughout the process. Because there are mountains all around, the plane usually circles the airport, enters a pattern, to decrease both speed and altitude.
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