Amarillo, TX, U.S.A (High Plains Region)

The Flight Experience

Amarillo offers a demanding and quintessential high-plains flight experience, defined by its flat, vast landscape, relentless wind, and extreme weather shifts. Situated on the Texas Panhandle at a high elevation (over 3,600 ft MSL), the city is a flat, orderly urban core surrounded by endless prairie. The flying environment is open and challenging, demanding constant pilot attention to wind correction. The scenery, benefiting from general enhancements in World Update X (USA), captures the massive scale of the plains and features unique, eccentric landmarks that break the monotony of the horizon.

Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (KAMA)

KAMA is the primary regional airport for the Texas Panhandle, named after the space shuttle Columbia commander.

• The Strip: KAMA operates two long, intersecting runways: 04/22 and 13/31 (both over 13,500 feet long), required for its high elevation and the strong winds.

• The Challenge: Wind and Density Altitude: The primary challenge here is extreme wind. Located on the open High Plains, KAMA experiences constant, strong, gusty crosswinds that sweep unobstructed across the runways. This is compounded by density altitude issues in the summer, requiring meticulous performance calculations and expert manual handling on every approach.

Visual Highlights

• Cadillac Ranch: This unique art installation is the region’s most famous visual marker. The line of ten vintage Cadillac cars buried nose-first in the dirt is a distinct, unmissable POI west of the city along I-40, serving as a key VFR reference.

• Palo Duro Canyon: Located southeast of the city, this massive, multi-hued canyon—the second-largest in the U.S.—is a spectacular topographical feature that provides a dramatic break in the flat prairie.

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• Downtown Amarillo: The cluster of high-rise buildings (e.g., Chase Tower) provides a distinct vertical anchor that stands out sharply against the flat plains.

• The High Plains Grid: The vast, organized grid of farmland and roads surrounding the city is a clear visual feature, defining the sheer scale of the Texas Panhandle.

• Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts: A prominent modern architectural landmark downtown, often rendered as a high-detail POI.

Pilot’s Note: The "High Plains Wind Challenge"

For a flight that tests your manual handling limits against the elements, take a medium jet (like a B737) or high-performance turboprop and set up an arrival into Runway 22 on a day with simulated strong westerly crosswinds (e.g., 25 knots).

The Maneuver: You must maintain a significant crab angle throughout the long final approach over the flat, open terrain. The technical challenge lies in executing a smooth, timely decrab maneuver and rudder input just above the threshold to land precisely on the centerline. This demanding approach is the authentic, high-stress procedural test of flying into the heart of the American wind belt.