Amazing Landings at St. Maarten Airport

THought these were pretty sweet...anyone landed there?

http://web2.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=426025&nseq=38
http://web2.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5763051&nseq=27
http://web2.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=505764&nseq=13

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvNONncieu0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k53tMD43PDA&mode=related&search=

 

Here's some more[several more]:
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?front=yes&s=1&keywords=St.+Maarten

I went there once a year ago [before I knew how the runway was situated] and it was a pretty awesome experience. Being able to see the people on the ground in such detail is just awesome and a bit scary at first.

 

WHere abouts is that?

 

I would crap in my pants if I was standing there.

 

So cool!!!! I want to go there.

 

I've been there and stayed at the hotel (timeshare actually) on the beach and words can't even describe how cool it is

 

Wow, that must make you go deaf after a while.

 

I remember seeing a pic of a Learjet clearing the fence by about 1-2 feet. It was insane!

 

Yeah thats crazy! I wonder if any one has ever hit the fence?

 

Holy crap this is low! http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1126677&WxsIERv=Qnffnhyg%20Snypba%20%28Zlfgrer%29%2020S&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Hagvgyrq&QtODMg=Cuvyvcfohet%20%2F%20Fg.%20Znnegra%20-%20Cevaprff%20Whyvnan%20%28FKZ%20%2F%20GAPZ%29&ERDLTkt=Argureynaqf%20Nagvyyrf&ktODMp=Frcgrzore%2029%2C%202006&BP=0&WNEb25u=Ebgngr&xsIERvdWdsY=A911QG&MgTUQtODMgKE=Ubj%20Ybj%20Pna%20Lbh%20Tb%3F%20Unccl%20Znub%20Ornpu%21&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=224743&NEb25uZWxs=2006-10-20%2001%3A06%3A51&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=471&static=yes&width=1200&height=812&sok=JURER%20%20%28%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156698%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156696%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156345%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156343%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156090%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156086%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271156066%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271154457%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271154061%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271154060%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271153806%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271153169%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271153126%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271152790%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271152739%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271152224%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271152195%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271151982%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271151055%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271148706%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271148359%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271148160%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271147369%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271147294%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271147212%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271146875%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271146240%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271146239%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271146115%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271146114%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271145902%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271145775%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271145774%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271145306%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271145252%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271144588%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271144583%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271144560%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271144454%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271144089%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271143874%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271143873%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271143872%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271143871%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271143870%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271143869%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142819%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142723%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142552%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142445%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142444%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142443%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142442%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142441%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142279%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271142278%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271141244%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271138720%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271138719%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271138000%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271137999%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271136675%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271136672%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271135864%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271135863%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271135862%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271135597%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271134328%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271134191%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271134188%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133568%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133567%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133561%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133560%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133559%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133558%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133554%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271132927%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271131963%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271129419%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271129418%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271128822%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127905%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127871%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127695%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127127%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126692%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126690%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126689%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126677%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126674%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126673%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124050%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124049%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124048%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124047%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124046%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124045%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124044%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271124026%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123890%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123892%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123891%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123889%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123888%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123886%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123887%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123510%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271123468%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271119068%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271115036%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271115035%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271114977%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271108124%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271106822%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271106798%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271105386%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271104349%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271103692%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271103691%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20&photo_nr=210&prev_id=1126689&next_id=1126674

 

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1126677&WxsIERv=Qnffnhyg%20Snypba%20%28Zlfgrer%29%2020S&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Hagvgyrq&QtODMg=Cuvyvcfohet%20%2F%20Fg.%20Znnegra%20-%20Cevaprff%20Whyvnan%20%28FKZ%20%2F%20GAPZ%29&ERDLTkt=Argureynaqf%20Nagvyyrf&ktODMp=Frcgrzore%2029%2C%202006&BP=0&WNEb25u=Ebgngr&xsIERvdWdsY=A911QG&MgTUQtODMgKE=Ubj%20Ybj%20Pna%20Lbh%20Tb%3F%20Unccl%20Znub%20Ornpu%21&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=224742&NEb25uZWxs=2006-10-20%2001%3A06%3A51&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=471&static=yes&width=1200&height=812&sok=JURER%20%20%28%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133558%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271133554%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271132927%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271131963%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271129419%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271129418%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271128822%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127905%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127871%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127695%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271127127%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126692%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126690%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126689%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271126677%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20&photo_nr=210&prev_id=1126689&next_id=NEXTID
That's about the closest call I've seen.

To answer the question about where, the airport is officially called Princess Juliana International Airport in the Caribbean island of St. Maarten [Sint Maartin/ Saint Martin]

 

While the St.Maarten landings look cool to the folks on the beach...the ones on St.Barths are more exciting for the folks on the plane ...

 

The St Maarten landing is cool from both the plane and the beach. From the plane, you see how low you're getting, but you don't see land out the window, only water. Then all of a sudden, there's the runway and you're on it.

From the beach, the noise and the jet blast is pretty cool, if you don't mind blowing sand. It's also interesting to be driving on the road that seperates the airport and beach, the jet blast can rock the car pretty good!

 

The big 747s and Airbus 350's must land at the very beginning of the runway, to use maximum distance to stop, because the strip is quite short.

Thats why they get so low and near to the beach as they approach the runway.


Those pics and videos are awesome! I was in St Maarten, but not close to the airport, on that day I only noticed smaller aircraft landing from a distance.

 

I worked on the island back in the late 80's. It was always fun to watch them land. Literally, standing on top of the hill (just off the road) where they dive-bomb the field, it felt like we could touch the wheels with out hands.


edit... am I thinking of St. Barts? WTF am I drinking?

 

Yes... it is St. Barts I'm thinking of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtJy8A6hNKE

 

More...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqOo0Qol89o&mode=related&search=

 

Check out this one.....another St Maarten takeoff of a 747.

Look at the spectators holding onto the fence for dear life as the jet takes off under full power!!!! Those people are insane....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d21sIjCg-M&mode=related&search=

 

it is hard to imagine that the photos are not faked.

never in america!

tom w

 

I guess these people couldn't hold the fence;

http://www.aviationexplorer.com/747_takeoff_st_maarten_sxm.htm

 

This is my favorite, a 747 in a crosswind landing at the old airport in Hong Kong.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1647492853543566084

The landings are like the ones at St. Barts, only at a bigger scale.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2956265634609783836

 

That is really close!!

 

Standing on the beach is worse during takeoff. You get wrecked by all the sand. I have a vid i took of an A340 taking off and it blew the bed of a pickup truck out and it got taken out to sea. Crazy stuff. I kinda regret i never held onto the fence but its really dangerous with flying rocks and stuff. We're going back there though sometime so i'll take my SLR camera when i go back.

 

it all looks very harrowing for the people on the ground and the pilots.