“The airstrip ends where the volcano begins.” 🌋✈️ Experience the most impressive bush flight amidst smoke and lava flows. Perched at nearly 2,536 m (8,320 ft) on the edge of the spectacular Bory Crater, FPIT is an extreme bush airfield built for pilots who believe that a landing should be more than just a landing. Its 250 m (820 ft) luxury volcanic pumice-gravel runway sits dramatically on the very edge of the crater, with the terrain falling away almost immediately beyond the runway. There is no room for a long flare or a late decision. At this altitude, thin air severely reduces aircraft performance, making every takeoff and landing a genuine STOL challenge. The runway runs roughly SW-NE, taking advantage of the prevailing airflow while allowing approaches through the spectacular volcanic landscape. Winds around the crater rim can be strong and unpredictable, with mountain effects, thermals and turbulence adding another layer of difficulty. The surroundings are as extreme as the runway itself. The immense Dolomieu crater dominates the skyline, while the vast Enclos Fouqué stretches beneath the aircraft toward the Indian Ocean. Black lava flows, volcanic scoria and barren slopes create an almost otherworldly landscape. But this is not a museum piece or a forgotten volcanic airstrip. Piton de la Fournaise is an active volcano, and the landscape is constantly shaped by its eruptions. The glow on the horizon is a reminder that the mountain is very much alive. Facilities are deliberately minimal, you'll have to trust the "smoky" navaid to reach the runway 04. Of course it also acts as a very nice windsock. And don't forget that magnetic variation is +20° on this island when using ADF 345 kHz. And if you're feeling brave, take the cable car down to see the construction work at the very bottom of the crater. You can also land there by helicopter. A VIP spot awaits you. Needless to say, the temperatures are unbearable. Welcome la Fournaise Lava Edge Airfield.