St. Maarten airport - is this for real!!?

SXMLVR · Guest

My family has owned a condo for the past 18 years ( I was just there March 9th-21st) in the building behind the planes as they land. It is the real deal. On our first visit, in late fall of 1989, President Bush and President Mitterand of France met on the island. The old AF1 AND the Air France Concorde BOTH landed there, complete with helicopter escort and AF1 decoy........I have pics of both that sadly got left at a friend's house out of state and haven't been found yet. But, those facts are easy to verify if you don't want to believe me. If you are on the island, you can see a pic of the Pres. eating at Poulet d'Orleans restaurant during the visit.

The thing that cracks me up here is that some of you dunces think it is all fake.........very surprising since PJIA is one of the most famous airports in the world for planespotting-and whoever said they don't allow sunbathing in the approach is just plain ignorant. They only have signs warning against the blast danger, but that stops no one. In addition, to the person who claimed they land on the low end and take off downhill, that is just plain wrong too. They only land from one direction-from the sea, and 90% of the time, they take off in the same direction-over the mountain! So if they land on the low end, and take off the same way, then according to your brilliant deduction, they'd be taking off UPHILL. Occassionally, when the wind is light, some will opt to take off over the ocean (my own departing flight did so this year) but that is not the norm at all.

CrashGordon · Chief Captain Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 4694

The "dunces" think it is fake because they can't imagine any place so willing to put greed for the tourist dollar so far ahead of public safety.

As far as staying near the airport. No thanks, I'll put a few hills between the airport and me and hang out over in Little Bay.

Oh yes, I guess I was lucky when I was there. Didn't have to fly out over the mountain.
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jeffb57 · First Officer Joined: Mar 20, 2006 Posts: 276

it seems so real that i thought it was doctored, but the people are all looking at it. it looks like the landing gear could take the head off of a tall person

Capt. Boy · Guest

I am a Pilot with a major US carrier. I just got back from my first trip to St. Maarten, the photos above are for real, they do not close the beach, and you should see the idiots that stand on the beach right behind the 747's when they get ready for take off. They get blown right down the sand into the water! With 100 mph+ sand blasting them in the face! Morons!

There is a bar off to the side of the runway where you can sit and drink while wathing these landings and the fools lining up on the beach for the take offs!

I loved the place, I'm going back as soon as I can.

I doubt if Air Force One ever goes in there.

Guest · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:00 am Post subject:

Capt. Boy,

Cool! Its great having real pilots on this forum. What kinda plane do you fly? Who do you fly for?

grth_bbtt · Guest

terrorists could easily do some harm to a plane from on the beach.so my suggestion is that air force one comes in at a certain part of the day

maximilian · Guest

maximilian · Guest

VIP GUIDE SXM · Guest

Hi guys, all those pics are real, they have been taken at the Sunset beach bar in St.Maarten... Go check out their website at www.sunsetbeachbar.com and no, they are not closing the beach, you can actually stand right at the fence 20 foots from the runway and get a wonderfull jet blast when planes are taking of.... Enjoy Smile

St.Maarten VIP GUIDE

CrashGordon · Chief Captain Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 4694

And they will keep on doing that until the first plane screws up and takes out everyone on the beach.
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CEO, Omega-Air Virtual airlines

JarJarBinks · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:01 am Post subject:

im very very very VERY! surprised the F.A.A. has nothing to say about this. Shocked

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Madbrit · Guest

Traveller · Guest

Believe me As someone who lived there for 7 years this pic is very real The planes take off in this same direction and ive seen foolish tourists standing taking pictures right behind the plane being blown into the water from the jet engines back wash. Cars have also been blown over before. I remember one time the airplane came in to low and the wheels caught the fence and dragged it down the runway

Guest · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 2:20 pm Post subject:

ive lived there for 2 years. i did the hanging on the fence routine while a 747-400 was taking off. it is a real rush. i tried it on the beach, but the sand blast is so painful that its almost a reflex to start running into the water. suprising, the "safest" way to do this is to go closer and hang on the fence. it only hot air while doing that with no sand.

that road goes to an area of the island called beacon hill. its all residential and thats the only road in and out of there. as far as tourists, about 5 years ago somebody parked their little rental hyundi atos right behind the jet blast to get a close look. the small car tipped over and rolled. since then, they narrowed the road and put a giant concrete divider in the middle to prevent anybody from parking their car there.

violentviolet · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject:

Reminds me of the airport on CORFU, they have to shut a road off when there is a takeoff. Cool

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