A takeoff from Santos Dumont Airport is like a metaphor for some moments in life when everything must  go precisely as it’s supposed to. A kind of miniature Kai Tak,  Rio´s downtown airport has one of the shortest runways for airports of its kind (over 5 million passengers per year) and is limited on its extremities by the sugar loaf and a huge bridge across the bay, which leads to thrilling takeoffs and approaches. Just like those moments when you´re rewarded with a wonderful experience if you just have what it takes.