Comments on: Maho Beach & Princess Juliana Airport

By: Zachary

Zachary — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 12:26:07 +0000

I’ve flown into this airport several times. Its a 7,000 foot runway, which is not short (its like a mile and a half) but for a 747, its relatively short. Short enough that the 747 can land, but if is not able to take off with full fuel.

It is a fairly large island, but it is a very mountainous one, which is why the airport is sitting in the only flat land they have, right next to the beach.

If you search google for TNCM (the airports code) you’ll get some good pictures of planes landing. It has long been a famous airport for the ability to sit on the beach and watch the planes land right over your head.

By: James

James — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:41:25 +0000

No, it wasn’t a joke - those are real photographs.

By: Parker

Parker — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:45:40 +0000

It should be added, apparently, that the line about “none of which are photoshopped” is a joke. At least, I hope it’s a joke. Actually, it may be technically correct, since the quality of some of the pictures on that page looks more like they were done in MS Paint than in Photoshop. It’s like they weren’t even trying to make a convincing image.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:29:45 +0000

Was there last year and it was quite exciting landing and taking off. When you take off from the sea end toward the lagoon there is a Marigot Hill which i wouls say is 1000′ elev. which is evident by the lack of roads.

By: casper

casper — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 06:52:51 +0000

Now search for the runway in saba, (in netherlands antilles other) you take off just over the sea!!

Btw saba is right across from StMaarten

By: chewbaccawokka

chewbaccawokka — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 06:13:06 +0000

Are those people getting blown away on the beach in the video of it taking off?

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 03:28:51 +0000

The runway is just over 7,000 feet, which is relatively short for an international airport but nonetheless long enough to accommodate just about any airliners including 747’s.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 21:48:50 +0000

Woah, that is weird- did they dredge out the sand in a straight line or something?

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 23:56:04 +0000

That there is one short runway. There’s one on Oahu, Hawaii, too (military); the planes look like they’re landing on the water. Fun stuff.

Incidentally, what’s that at the bottom of that lake, just north of the runway? Looks like something manmade’s buried there.