aviators..! how can this be real???

I got back last night. One day we went to explore the island and stopped at a Subway for lunch. The kids wanted to see the airplane beach, so we parked and ate our sandwiches right there on the shore. There were signs warning of the jet blasts on both sides of the road. Some people were standing up acting like they were going to wait for the blast from the taking off planes, but at the last minute they'd chicken out. All in all a pretty cool place to eat a sandwich. Looks just like Sefac's pictures. I swear I saw that exact 747 land.

 

Let me ask: is there a flight curfew on St. Martin (etc.) like there is at John Wayne ? No flights after like 11 p.m. ??

Also, isn't JFK, or LaGuardia, or Boston's Logan bordering the ocean with one runway ?

 

It was a timeshare. I can find out the name for you

The jets usually come in between midday and 4ish every half hour or so. The little island hopper prop planes come in all day and night until about 11:30. However, there were a few nights where a jet (probably a 747) took off at around 11pm

 

Why am I reading this thread?? I'm flying tomorrow. Kind of like watching shark attack videos before going to the beach...or tonguing a canker sore.

 

No, its really not bad. Really cool actually. Cool to fly in and look out and the water seems to be a few feet below you, knowing that one wrong move can.....oops, sorry

 

In case you live under a rock and have never read these before. For your enjoyment...

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet," which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.


P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

**************

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

**************

P: Something loose in cockpit.

S: Something tightened in cockpit.

**************

P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on back-order.
**************

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

**************

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

**************

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level.

***************

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what friction locks are for.

***************

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

***************

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

***************

P: Number 3 engine missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

***************

P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

***************

P: Target radar hums.

S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

***************

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

***************

And the best one for last..................

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget

 

Robert, that's hilarious... My dad was a pilot, I should send this to him...

 

Thanks Rob, those were great

 

don't forget always fly with the best..........Qantas
(just don't worry about the problems and you should be fine,i hope )

 

Here's a description of the opposite situation - a high, diving approach.

The Baghdad "Alpha" approach:

 

But also very sane to have landed that!

 

Got a video of a C-130 doing that approach - Looks like fun.

Not as fun though as the C-130 with experimental retro rockets strapped to it for short field ops, only to have them go off accidentally during flare, and rip off the wings...

 

I'll upload some vids for you guys....

 

I jumped and caught a ride on the wing of one of the Air France 747s when I was there. It was really great not to have to deal with the price and security check.