Most Dangerous Airports: Saint Martin
By Village Mayor • Jun 9th, 2008 • Category: Dangerous, Latest PostPrincess Juliana International Airport (Saint Martin)
Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) is the airport of St. Maarten. It is located 15 kilometers northwest of Philipsburg. The island of St. Maarten / St. Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two nations. The northern side is governed by the French and the southern side is one of the five island territories that make up the semi autonomous country of the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. While English is the main language on both sides, Dutch is the official language on the southern side and French the official language on the northern side. Today PJIA is the second busiest airport in the North Eastern Caribbean, in terms of aircraft movements, behind San Juan, Puerto Rico. PJIA is the single most important strategic asset of St. Maarten.
Here are some videos showing why this airport is so dangerous…
(Image credits: ronnie101)
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January 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
man.. thats insane…
its a good thing those pilots are VERY highly skilled…
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:52 am
Wow! Terrific pics and I have flown into St. Martin on several occasions but never realized the relationship of the beach, landing path etc until I saw it from my very own eyes from the beach. However, if somebody has any photos of the landing strip at St. Barts, I would definitely submit it as the most dangerous. My last trip there was in 1988, and hopefully things have changed since then, but the approach to the landin strip comes in over a hill or rise and then must immediately drop to a lower altitude as the landing strip starts right on the other side. If the pilot isn’t quick enough to touch down, he/she may very well put the plane into the “drink” as it is at the end of the landing strip. There are wrecks of planes on either side of the runway – giving one cause to wonder why he/she chose to fly instead of taking a boat from St.Martin.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’ve been there. When the planes fly over you on the beach is great, the sand rises. there is a bar next to the airport where you can listen to the conversation between the tower and the planes.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
[...] Most Dangerous Airports: Saint MartinPrincess Juliana International Airport (Saint Martin). Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) is the airport of St. Maarten. It is located 15 kilometers northwest of Philipsburg. The island of St. Maarten / St. … [...]
July 5th, 2008 at 9:42 am
[...] Most Dangerous Airports: Saint MartinPrincess Juliana International Airport (Saint Martin). Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) is the airport of St. Maarten. It is located 15 kilometers northwest of Philipsburg. The island of St. Maarten / St. … [...]