The Airchive - St Maarten Planespotting

	St Maarten St Martin is the smallest island in the world shared between two countries. In this case, the Netherlands and France. From an airline afficionado point-of-view, it is also home of the world famous approach over Maho Beach on the Dutch Side. If you can deal with the maddenning traffic, this is planespotting Nirvannah! It is served by major North American airlines such as Air Canada, Air Transat, Continental, American, US Airways, and Delta. European traffic is provided via KLM and Air France of course. Interesting regional airlines such as LIAT, Winnair and other small players are featured here as well.
	Jet Blast Sign It is rare, but possible to experience dangerous jet blast on the beach, usually when a fully laden heavy begins its take-off roll.
	Princess Juliana International Airport 2006 Terminal On the Dutch side of the island, this facility is the most modern in the Carribbean. The new facility opened in November, 2006. These photos were taken in December, 2006. SXM is the 2nd busiest international airport in the Carribbean, behind San Juan. From Islanders to Boeing 747s, SXM sees it all!

	New Terminal Ticketing

	Departures Monitor As this monitor indicates, afternoons are peak time for departures and arrivals, particularly those from beyond the Carribbean.
	SXM ramp
	SXM Tower
	Princess Juliana International Airport Old Terminal By the time you see this, these December 2006 photos will no longer be accurate as this small, outdated terminal is nearly demolished. It was repaced by the new facility in November, 2006.
	Winair HQ St Maarteen government based Winair flies 3 Britten-Norman Islanders and 4 DHC Twin Otters to Statia, Saba, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Barths, Tortola,and Santo Domingo.
	Sunset Beach Bar at Maho Beach This is ground zero for planespotting. Airliners approach over the beach at heights of 60 feet at less on finals! This world famous beach bar boasts the superb views made famous by photographers worldwide, approach control over the PA system, a surfboard with today's jet arrival and departures, and of course refreshing cold beer and eats! Watch live feeds from the beach at www.sunsetbeachbar.com/livecam

	Sunset Beach Bar Webcam Watch live feeds from the beach at www.sunsetbeachbar.com/livecam
	Boeing 747-400 Corsair Tui owned Corsair, along with Air France and KLM, fly the largest aircraft into SXM. At 50 feet and 180 miles per hour approach speeds, 747 arrivals are the climax of the day!


	American Airlines Boeing 757-200 AA mainline operates from Miami International and New York JFK.

	US Airways Boeing 757-200 US Airways operates at SXM to and from Philadelphia and Charlotte.

	Carribbean Star DHC Dash 8 Carribbean Star is based in Mirimar, Florida but its operational base is San Juan. After experiencing turbulence including the 2007 shutdown of sister carrier Carribbean Sun, Star is on its way to a merger with LIAT.

	Sunset Beach Access Road

	Canadair Executive Jet
	LIAT Airlines Dash 8 Barbados based LIAT is the largest regional airline based in the Carribbean. It is currently in the process of merging with LIAT. From SXM, it serves Antigua, Anguilla; St. Kitts, Nevis and Tortola.


	Metro III Cargo
	Roblex Aviation Shorts 330 Skyvan Cargo

	American Airlines Boeing 757 AA operates to Miami and JFK from SXM.
	Continental Airlines Boeing 737 Continental serves SXM from Newark. Here it begins the pulse quickening takeoff roll from 7,708 foot long runway 9/27.



	LIAT Crosswinds

	DHL Caravan
	Cessna 208 Caravan
	Dassault Falcon Executive Jet
	Gulfstream G-4

	American Eagle ATR-72 American Eagle operates ATRs to its Carribbean hub at San Juan.


	Winair Otters and Islanders St Maarteen government based Winair flies 3 Britten-Norman Islanders and 4 DHC Twin Otters to Statia, Saba, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Barths, Tortola,and Santo Domingo.