The island of Saint Martin (some people use the name Sint Maarten) and its airport are located in the Caribbean Sea, which is one of the most popular tourist regions in the world. Almost every island that can be reached with comfort has potential for development. There are two main ways to deal with the delivery of passengers: ship or plane.
At the same time, sea and ocean cruises create a significantly smaller part of the flow of tourists compared to air transport. But the cost and complexity of the air harbor infrastructure is significantly higher and sometimes requires non-standard solutions from engineers and architects.
Saint Martin's Island of the Lesser Antilles has one of the most interesting airports in the world (ranked in the top 10 in terms of danger, according to Reuters). It also plays a large role in the transport of the surrounding areas: Sint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Barthélemy and Anguilla.
Princess Juliana Airport (full official name) has the ability to accommodate even large Boeing 747 aircraft, although the landing strip with a normal width of 45 m is only 2300 m long, which is the maximum allowable value for some types of liners. In this regard, takeoff and landing, passing on a glide path of 3 °, are considered the most dangerous in the Caribbean.
The construction of the airport began with the construction of an air force base back in 1942. Although already in 1943, due to the absence of hostilities in the region during the Second World War, it was converted into a civilian one. After 1964 it was reconstructed and a new control tower and terminal appeared. After 1985, it was modernized, so it began to be able to accept long-haul aircraft classes and fully comply with the high development of tourism on Sint Maarten.
Air harbor features
Here we can talk about a variety of factors.
The island has a relatively small area - only 87 km², with a predominantly hilly relief and tropical thickets.
The island is divided by different states: the northern part is the overseas community of France Saint-Martin, the southern part is the autonomous formation of Sint-Maarten, subordinate to the Dutch crown.
Only after 1994 was the Franco-Dutch protocol on border control signed. The landing strip with its end abuts against the Maho beach in the west of the Dutch part. Planes land and take off directly over the heads of tourists, 10-20 m above the surface.
Spectacular photos and videos of airplanes make Princess Juliana incredibly popular among other airports in the world. There are several cafes and hotels nearby, which specialize in the most famous type of island. A loudspeaker is installed on the beach, which informs about the planes coming in for landing, and broadcasts the negotiations between the dispatchers and the crew.
In the central part of Maho, the wind speed can reach 180 km / h, which can be very dangerous and even fatal for humans, but this does not stop curious tourists who are trying to take vivid photos and video with air liners.
In 2012, renowned photographer Josef Heflehner published black-and-white spotter images from the vicinity of the airport, including them in the book Jetliner: The Complete Works.
Infrastructure
The capacity is thus up to 30 flights per hour.
The dispatch service also provides control over other small airports in this area: Clayton J. Lloyd, L'Espérance, Gustaf III. The 30,500 m² terminal can handle up to 2,500,000 passengers per year. In the entire history of the airport, not a single disaster has been recorded, although this runway is considered one of the most difficult for the crews of airliners and dispatch services.
Photos and videos from Sint Maarten airport
View of the island of Sint Maarten
This is what Princess Juliana airport looks like.
In this regard, takeoff and landing, passing on a glide path of 3 °, are considered the most dangerous in the Caribbean.
Princess Juliana airport runway
The landing strip with its end abuts against the Maho beach in the west of the Dutch part. Planes land and take off directly over the heads of tourists, 10-20 m above the surface.
Runway
The location and topography of Sint Maarten did not imply the construction of a full-fledged runway. Therefore, it was decided to build the minimum allowable strip length for long-haul liners (for example, 747). At the same time, the width was increased to 45 m. Radar systems provide a range of up to 460 km.
The capacity is thus up to 30 flights per hour. The dispatch service also provides control over other small airports in this area: Clayton J. Lloyd, L'Espérance, Gustaf III. The 30,500 m² terminal can handle up to 2,500,000 passengers per year. In the entire history of the airport, not a single disaster has been recorded, although this runway is considered one of the most difficult for the crews of airliners and dispatch services.
"Post from the Past": Maho Beach on the island of San Martin is famous for the fact that many people go there not to swim, but to see the landing of planes. Photographer Thomas Prior traveled to the Caribbean to capture the chaos on this beach in the immediate vicinity of the international airport. It is difficult to believe in the authenticity of the pictures of giant liners flying at an altitude of 10-20 meters above sunbathing tourists, nevertheless, they are real.
(13 photos total)
Sponsor of the post: Rent hotel rooms at the lowest prices in St. Petersburg. Appreciate your time and money, book rooms in hotels and mini-hotels of the city for free! Our phone number is 8-800-333-06-26, the line works around the clock, the call is free.
1) Princess Juliana International Airport serves Sint Martin, the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin. It is the second busiest airport in the Eastern Caribbean. Therefore, beachgoers on Maho Beach have a hard time.
2) The beach is just an ideal place for a detailed examination of low-flying planes, although this causes some inconvenience when swimming and getting sunbathing.
3) It is more than difficult to shoot under such conditions, and the sand that rises like a cloud during landing is not the best "companion" for optics.
4) Despite the difficult conditions of takeoff and landing, not a single accident has been recorded in this so far.
5) Some beachgoers deliberately tickle their nerves, standing under the "belly" of landing airliners.
6) This is dangerous: the jet from the engine can injure or even kill. A poster at the entrance warns about this.
7) Airliners and small planes, when landing, fly so low that they seem to be about to hit, if not vacationers, then the umbrellas or the roof of one of the local bars.
8) Maho Beach is so popular with airplane enthusiasts that local bars have airport flight schedules. And one of them even has a speaker that broadcasts conversations between pilots and controllers.
9) The owners of local drinking establishments make a good impression: from the impressive sight, many tourists want to drink something stronger.
10) The hum when landing airliners is unimaginable, but it does not scare away tourists.
11) In a couple of minutes, a carefree vacation gives way to an atmosphere of chaos, and the beach embraces a real revelry of the elements.
12) The airport runway and is only 2,180 meters long. This length is barely enough for maneuvering and the aircraft must fly at minimum altitude.
13) There is also an information board on the beach, which details the flight times of the airliners.
Saint-Martin is the most unusual island in the Caribbean, this island seems to be unique too much, let's start in order.
1. The island belongs to two countries at once, the northern part - France, the southern part - the Netherlands. But there are no borders on the island, there is only a symbolic pillar with which tourists are photographed. The French call the island "Saint-Martin", the Dutch "Sint-Martin", sometimes we call it the island of St. Martin. To get to the island, you need a special visa, which can be obtained through the visa centers of the two countries; you need to make a visa for the country where you will spend more nights. The list of documents is no different from a regular Schengen visa, only the application form itself is slightly different.
2. Prostitution is legalized on Saint Martin, most of the brothels are located in Philipsburg, which is the capital of the southern part, there is a large port, where huge liners with tourists dock almost every day. Drugs are banned, unlike the Netherlands. The saleswoman in the supermarket was glad that we were from Russia, there are few Russians here, but there is one girl who works as a masseuse in the next building. I'm afraid to imagine what kind of massage she does :)
3. The most unique airport in the world is also located here, we admit that many people come to Saint-Martin just because of it. The runway of Princess Juliana International Airport is famous for starting from Maho Beach, so planes land right over the heads of tourists. Standing over the giant Boeing KLM is an extreme pleasure. The second entertainment is to stand by the fence when the planes take off, the main thing is to hold on tight :) I wrote about him earlier
4. Nice beaches. Swimming on the island will really please everyone, the water is distinguished by clear azure water and the absence of waves. I recommend Maho beach with planes (in season when there are no stones) and the nearby Mullet Bay beach. In the French part, Orient Beach is a good beach. 
5. The whole island is Duty Free and Dute Free. Despite the fact that all the goods are imported (they only produce sauces), thanks to tax breaks, there are excellent supermarkets with decent names at an affordable price. American beer, Brazilian couscous, Belgian ice cream, Canadian maple syrup and more. Prices for liter bottles of rum start at $ 6. We brought home something that is difficult to find in Perm, real Canadian maple syrup and so on. And what kind of Jamaican beer is there, because the island was an English colony, they brew incomparable ales !!! 
6. Currency. The uniqueness is that on the island the official currency on the Dutch side is the guilder, but prices are also quoted in dollars, because most of the tourists are American. In the northern part, prices are indicated in euros, but you can also pay in dollars, and at the rate of 1 dollar = 1 euro :) Guilder rate = 1.8 dollars. It is most profitable to go to Saint-Martin with American dollars.
7. Sunset bar & Grill. Returning to the topic of airplanes, it is best to observe them from the cafe on Maho Beach. It has good food and sometimes real Caribbean parties with live music. It's fun when the next ship disembarks, absolutely all tourists rush to this promoted institution. By the way, topless girls are served for free, topless boys are not served at all :)
8. Judging by the sweat of reviews, there are enough gay couples on the island of Saint-Martin, who are guarded by a big Negro uncle. They prefer secluded beaches, so be careful with your choice of meta bathing :)
Tips for those wishing to visit the Isle of Saint-Martin
How to get there?
The easiest way to fly with one connection from Russia via Paris or Amsterdam with KLM or AirFrance. The cost of tickets will be from 40 thousand rubles. round-trip, sometimes a little cheaper flight by American airlines, but it is suitable only for those who have an open American visa, since there is no transit in the United States.
How to get cheap to Saint-Martin island? To catch shares of the airline aircaraibes http://www.aircaraibes.com/, they fly from Paris. The cost of a round-trip flight for the promotion can be 400 euros round-trip. The minimum price for a flight from European cities with connections in Paris and Amsterdam with KLM or AirFrance is from 600 euros. For those who travel to the United States, my recommendation is cruises from Miami to the Caribbean islands or direct flights (from Miami round-trip from $ 350, fly 3 hours). 
Where to live?
The best area to live in is Marina Simpson bay. First, close to the airport and the beaches of Maho with Mullet Bay. Secondly, good infrastructure. These are all over the place restaurants where you can dine with steaks and ribs with live music. A good hotel price - around $ 100, the usual cost is $ 130-150 per night. It should be understood that hotels usually do not include breakfast, the service is weaker than hotels in the Dominican Republic. Good Sonesta Maho Beach overlooking Maho Beach and The Villas at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina. Search for villas and apartments on Abritel.fr and HomeAway.com homelidays Airbnb.com
View from the window of our room 
The hotel is good, but those who are used to being licked, showing shows, animations, cooking all-inclusive meals, making swans out of towels and so on, will be very disappointed. The rooms are gorgeous, there is no service. 
What currency should I take with me?
It is most profitable to take American dollars with you. Large sums are not accepted in minibuses, it is best to take more small banknotes.
How to travel around the island?
The whole island travels by minibuses, you just have to raise your hand. The fare from Simpson Bay to the airport is $ 1.5-2, to Maho beach $ 2, to Mullet Bay beach $ 2.5-3, the same fare to Philipsburg. In fact, small Saint-Martin can be easily traversed with these minibuses. From the airport you can plunge into a taxi, a specially trained person at the exit will sort the tourists according to their place of residence, the cost is 10-15 dollars maximum. There are a lot of rental offices, you can take some Ford Mustang, many beautiful American cars.
Is the island safe?
As elsewhere in the Caribbean, you need to be careful. There is a story on the Internet about how people were robbed right near the beach by hijacking a rented car. It should be remembered that the local population is poor with all the ensuing consequences. At the same time, you should not see an enemy in everyone, the locals are extremely positive and welcoming.
On the streets of Philipsburg 
Beaches
The best beaches are located in the Dutch part of the island, for example Mullet Bay. It is easy to find it, if you go from the airport to Maho, then you should follow the main road along the golf courses, then after the barrier, the next turn to the sea. Many minibuses go to this beach, if it is indicated on the plate, you can name it, and they will prompt you when to get out.
The best beach is also called Maho beach, swimming under the planes is original. The main thing is that it does not happen in the off-season (for example, October-November), when there are huge boulders on the beach instead of sand. There are always a lot of people on Orient Beach, there are active entertainment (water skiing, etc.), and parties are held in numerous restaurants on weekends. Not far from this beach is the small island of Pinel. Small boats can sail across 
To find your beach, it is best to take a car and go around them all :) The cost of sun loungers on the beaches of Saint Martin is from 8 to 15 dollars.
What else can you see on Saint Martin? In the French capital, in the city of Marigot, there is a market where you can buy spices and vanilla. And also have breakfast with croissants in French cafes
The only thing that is produced locally is spicy sauces, everything else is imported. Seafood including. Dinner cost at European prices. For those who want to save money, it is better to take rooms with a kitchen or apartments, there are excellent products in supermarkets, you will not be lost :)
We met the cheerful bartender Roger Lutz. who lives on two things: travel and cocktails. His dream is to open his own bartender school on the island. He thinks that the locals make cocktails shitty (and that's true), his cocktails are incomparable. He lived for several years in countries such as South Africa, Iceland, Australia, Japan. Like all Germans, he loves football, is a fan of the Hamburg St. Pauli, this is a very interesting club, for which all asocial strata of society also root (lgbt, hippies, punks, etc.) smells of marijuana :) A cheerful guy who taught us how to make real pink chocolate, we brought all the ingredients from the island, then every day we pampered ourselves with a wonderful cocktail at home. By the way, he told us that bacardi is a trash heap, any cheapest rum is better than bacardi 
Locals pray for lobsters, the cost of dinner is quite European-style. 
Sunsets 
A cruise ship in the distance 
During the Great Geographical Discoveries, many European countries acquired overseas territories and colonies. Some colonies later achieved independence, but there are places that are still "under the wing" (remember this phrase, it will be needed a little later) of the Europeans.
This happened with the island of Saint-Martin. This small piece of land in the beautiful Caribbean Sea was divided between France and the Netherlands. And practically in half. The northern part of the island is owned by France, the southern part, respectively, belongs to the Netherlands. The name of the island is pronounced slightly differently by the French and the Dutch. Saint-Martin for the French and Sint-Marten for the Dutch. Translated, both means "St. Martin's Island".
We will not touch the island itself for now, we will only pay attention to the part of it that belongs to the Netherlands, or rather to the western coast of this part. It is here that one of the most dangerous airports on the planet and one of the most dangerous beaches in the world is located. These are Princess Juliana Airport and Maho Beach, which is right at the beginning of its runway.
It was the Maho beach that attracted our (and not only our) attention. It is located, as we have already said, in the western part of the island just north of Berjo Bay.
Maho beach on the map
- Geographic coordinates 18.039228, -63.120539
- Distance from the capital of the Netherlands about 7000 km
- Nearest airport across the fence from the beach
What is Maho Beach famous for?
The beach itself is unlikely to evoke violent emotions. It is only 300 meters of sandy coast, up to 20 meters wide. But its southern half ... will not cause any adrenaline either, until a giant passenger airliner such as Boeing 767 or Airbus A320 flies over your head at a height of only a couple of tens of meters. A plane over the beach can fly at any time of the day or night. As you can imagine, airplanes flying over the beach are not a tourist attraction at all. Flying over a small beach, the plane lands literally behind its fence.
This is where the phrase "under the wing" comes to mind. Tourists, basking in the sand, are literally "under the wing" of planes landing or taking off over Maho Beach.
The beach and the beginning of the runway are separated by a road and a mesh fence. The airport just behind the beach has a rather limited runway length of only 2300 meters and ends with Simpson Lagoon. This is a fairly short stretch for large aircraft. In addition, the runway from the north and east is bounded by Simpson Lagoon, and from the south by the bay of the same name with the lagoon.
It turns out such a narrow tie surrounded by water, which the plane must hit. He has to descend as much as possible to land at the very beginning of the runway. Therefore, planes fly over the beach, almost catching the heads of tourists with their landing gear, and therefore the airport is considered extremely difficult to fly.
Maho beach and spotters
It is natural to see an airplane landing or taking off over the beach, and even almost at arm's length, the dream of many extreme lovers. They are also called spotters. These are the people who love to watch airplanes. And Maho beach is perfect for this.
Here you can practically scratch the belly of a landing plane (well, if you jump well). Of course, this is a joke, the authorities do not really welcome such an activity. Everywhere in the beach area, warning signs are posted that stop few people.
There are signs like this all over the beach, but that doesn't stop anyone. The famous Sunset Bar and Grill cafe is located next to the beach. Here, until August 2015, a loudspeaker was installed, which warned of the approach of aircraft. On the beach you can see information boards where the schedule of aircraft landings and takeoffs is written.
Quite crazy tourists have the same crazy entertainment, something like "withstand the jet stream." This is when a group of people tries to get hit by a strong stream from an airplane taking off and tries to resist. Someone succeeds, but someone falls off their feet, because the flow speed can reach 160 km / h.
We, as sane people, warn you, as sane people, in no case try to repeat this. Games with death will not lead to any good. In addition, there has already been a vivid confirmation of this. On July 12, 2017, a 57-year-old New Zealand tourist was killed when Caribbean Airlines Flight 457 departed from Princess Juliana Airport. The jet stream from the plane with its flow strongly threw the woman onto the concrete, as a result of which she died. After all, it is not in vain that warning signs are hung on the beach.
Relax on the Maho beach, swim in the gentle Caribbean Sea and sunbathe on the sand in the usual sense of a beach holiday, you are unlikely to succeed. But to tickle your nerves and get a lethal dose of adrenaline will definitely work out.
For a classic beachfront getaway, head to San Salvador Island. It is located 1350 km to the northwest. Well, if finances allow, then to the island of Laucala, located on the other side of the world, 13,000 kilometers from Saint-Martin.
- The beach is popular not only among lovers of selfies against the background of a landing plane, but also among windsurfers and skinboarders because of the large waves that periodically appear here, caused by jet streams from aircraft taking off.
- Maho Beach is completely devoid of flora, as this area is constantly exposed to jet streams from aircraft
- In October 2008, Hurricane Omar blew away all the sand from the beach, leaving only bare stones. The authorities had to import sand here from other places and refill the beach.
- In September 2017, hurricane Irma already tested Maho beach not strength
Maho beach photo
Maho beach videos
The famous host of the "Heads and Tails" program Anton Ptushkin in this video will show you what a beach with planes overhead is like.
Here! I want to get here for a long time and "grab the plane by the tail." This is not "photoshop" - this is a real place. Cool!
Remember, we have already discussed it ...
There are quite a few interesting facts connected with the island of Saint Martin, located in the Caribbean Sea. Not only is it the smallest inhabited island in the world, but it is also governed by two independent governments, France and the Netherlands, at the same time! However, the main thing that St. Maarten, that when approaching, the planes almost touch the beach and tourists resting on it.
During the whole history Caribbean islands, most of them were inhabited by Indians. Saint Martin was no exception. Saint Martin Island was the home of the Arawak Indians. Of course, as history says, the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus, however, before European explorers reached St. Marty's, the Caribbean Indians attacked the island, capturing the local population, many of whom were killed. Most of the Arawak Indians were taken as slaves by the Caribbean. When the Europeans arrived on the island, it was already under the control of the aggressive Caribbean Indian warriors.
Columbus has never been to St. Martin, but history says that on November 11, 1493, Columbus saw the island and named it after the feast of St. Martin of Tours.
Saint Martin, an island of 37 square miles, is the smallest land mass in the world, divided between two governments. Its dual owners are France and Holland.
And of course the island has two capitals, or administrative centers. These are Marigot, the administrative center of the French side, and the city of Philipsburg, the capital of the part of the island belonging to the Netherlands. These two states have peacefully separated a small piece of paradise island for over 350 years.
Isle of Saint Martin is located, about 150 miles east of Puerto Rico, and belongs to Netherlands Antilles.
French territory, occupying approximately two-thirds of the island's territory, is considered a European territory and community. The Dutch side, belongs to the Netherlands Antilles, and is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and is not considered a European territory. On Saint Martin, there are no real boundaries, just humble monuments and signs.
The island is known for its exotic nature, almost ideal for relaxation. Also its visitors, the island impresses with its beaches and nightlife, and the shops and restaurants of Saint Martin, the best in The Caribbean.
Saint Martin Island is an island with a fast growing economy, home to residents from more than 90 countries around the world.
Saint Martin Island is rich in beaches, there are 37 of them on the island, all of them are open to the general public.
The island will appeal to everyone. And for those who like scuba diving, and those who like to travel on a yacht and those who just like to sunbathe. But you need to remember that the rays of the Caribbean sun burn the skin of the body very much, and therefore, the doctors of the island strongly do not recommend sunbathing without sunscreen.
Also, if you are going to the island of St. Martin to relax with children, then you need to carefully approach the choice of the beach, given that some of the island's beaches are nudist. One such official beach is Cupecoy Beach on the Dutch side of St. Martin.
On the Dutch side, there are beautiful long beaches with golden sand and green mountains, where you can sunbathe, play ball or Frisbee.
Down Beach is one of the best diving beaches. Even swimming not far from the coast, you can see beautiful exotic fish swimming calmly by the coral reefs.
Guano Bay is a beach that is perfect for guys who love surfing, as well as strong swimmers who love a hard kickback.
Bay Long, on the French side, is a beach for the rich and famous. The two-mile beach with the most expensive real estate. Multimillion-dollar homes overlook a picturesque view of a white sand beach.
It is worth remembering that all tourists arriving on St. Martin must have a return ticket. Also, if a citizen arriving on the island has more than $ 11,000 with him, then this must be reported to the customs service and filled in a declaration. If you intend to bring a dog or cat, or any other animal with you to the island, then you must have a veterinarian certificate with you, not older than 6 months.
Saint Martin is in the Atlantic time zone, which is - 4 hours Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4).
Any foreigner wishing to work on Saint Martin must have a work permit before arriving on the island. This must be arranged by an employer wishing to hire a foreigner.
Princess Juliana airport Is one of the largest transport hubs in the Caribbean region. One of the ten most dangerous airports in the world. Located on the island of St. Martin. During World War II, an airfield was built on the island, which is now the Princess Juliana International Airport. Takeoff / landing of medium or high difficulty for the pilot, depending on weather conditions.
The end of the airport runway is located right on the seashore, close to the Maho beach, so that when approaching, aircraft fly at an altitude of 10-20 meters over the heads of tourists relaxing on the beach behind the end of the runway. The place is known as "Spotter's Paradise".
There is an international airport on the island. In 1942, during the Second World War, an airstrip was built on the island. In 1944, the island was visited by Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, landing on this strip. A year later, the Dutch authorities opened a small airport on this site, which later grew into an international one.
Princess Juliana Airport, also known as St. Martin International Airport, serves the Dutch side of St. Martin's Island. In 2007, the airport handled almost 1.7 million passengers and 104 thousand aircraft, which is still its record to date.
The airport serves as the hub for the airways of the Windward Islands and is the main gateway to the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, St. Bartholomew's Island and St. Eustatius Island.
Princess Juliana Airport is one of the most dangerous airports in the world, with a high difficulty of landing. He received such fame because of the very low altitude when landing on the runway, as well as the fact that the Maho beach and the sea are almost adjacent to the runway. History Channel ranked it as the 4th most dangerous airport in the world.
Despite the fact that the airport of Princess Juliana has a high difficulty of landing, there have been two accidents in its history. The first occurred on May 2, 1970, when McDonnell Douglas DC-9CF Flight 980 crashed into the sea near the beach. Killed 22 people out of 57. The weather at that time did not allow landing on the first try, the pilots decided to make several more attempts, but, alas, they ran out of fuel. The second - on December 21, 1972, an Air France De Havilland Canada Twin Otter flight took off from Guadeloupe, but fell into the sea on approach, killing all 11 passengers on board, along with both pilots.
We can say that the island of St. Martin is more popular among photo tourists than among beach lovers. Almost everyone arriving at the Princess Juliana airport, after leaving the airport, do not go to the hotel, but go straight to the beach to photograph themselves against the background of a landing plane that flies overhead.
And here is the airport itself:
Saint-Martin has only one airport, which annually receives tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. The only feature of this airport is its short runway - only 2,130 meters, which is not enough for the landing of wide-body Boeing-747 aircraft. The people of Saint-Martin are certainly not happy about this fact, but somehow it is necessary to receive tourists.
So planes fly from the mainland to Saint-Martin literally over the heads of vacationers. The fact is that the territory of the airport. Princess Juliana begins right behind a thin strip of beach, where locals and tourists lie under the scorching Caribbean sun. Some travel agencies even make special tours for those wishing to view the huge area of the bottom of a Boeing, lying on the warm golden sand.
This is a copy of the article located at
