Another day at SXM

Flutter around the Dutch Antilles
Another day at SXM
by Jan Koppen

Early morning rise at Mary's Boon Hostel, to make good use of the day!

Back at one of the best spotter places in the World... and the Sunset Bar is playing Ne-YO today. Enjoy!

Winair Twin-Otter, PJ-WII, over Maho Beach for runway 10, with some storm clouds brewing.

Blue skies and turquoise waters are welcoming the passengers of this Trans Anguilla Airways BN-2A Islander.

Anguilla Air Services BN-2A VP-AAC is taxiing out for take-off at St. Maarten, on February 16, 2020.

This, 1982 manufactured Islander, flew, before Anguilla Air Services, 29 years with Carib Aviation from Antigua and Barbuda.

Islander, VP-AAC, leaves runway 10 at St. Maarten on February 14, 2020 with a full load of holiday-makers bound for Anguilla.

St. Maarten February 2020 - Winair DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter PJ-WII hold and wait for line up.

PJ-WII DHC-6 Twin-Otter. Originally delivered to Brymon Airways in the UK in April 1980 as G-BGZP, the Islander passed through a succession of owners, including Jersey European Airways and Skytrail Safari Club from Tanzania, before ending up with Winward Islands Airways International in March 2012.

Ready to roll. Winair DHC-6-300, PJ-WII, waits for take-off clearance at St. Maarten before departing to a faraway island in the vast caribbean archipelago.

VP-AJR is the sole Trislander in the Anguilla Air Services fleet.

The sheer length of the 757 accentuated in this view of Delta Boeing 757-200 N6707A, as she is seen here, heading purposefully towards the runway thresholdflight.

Departure back to JFK as DL300.

Delta using every bit of runway 10! These pilots pulled right up to the fence at Maho!

One of the most unique spotting locations must be the deck of Sunset Bar and Grill located in Maho Beach. A perfect view of arrivals while enjoying a nice cold beer in paradise and loving the best hobby in the world !

F-OSBC is seen here taxiing at St. Maarten-Juliana, prior to departing on yet another flight.

Cessna Grand Caravan 208, F-OSBC, stands illuminated under a rain laden sky.

St. Barth Executive Pilatus PC-12, arrives at the picturesque island of St. Maarten.

A steep approach to St. Maarten is unusal for the Pilatus PC-12.

Anguilla Air Services BN-2A VP-AAC from The Valley Clayton J. Lloyd Int'l Airport (AXA) approaches runways 10.

This Islander started her career in 1982 with broker Jonas Aircraft & Arms Co. Inc. in the USA.

Madhouse at Maho Beach!

Green Bird WM804 from Willemstad, Curacao, is seen here on finals to runways 10.

31-year-old Windward Express Islander PJ-WEB on approach to St. Maarten's runway 10, on February 15, 2020, whilst on a charter from St. Jean Gustaf III airport.

The, so called British Islanders, were primarily manufactured in Romania.

Cessna 414A Changellor N414MK of Nordwind Airlines, on a wet St. Maarten ramp.

This Windward Express Islander is hiding herself behind some cargo.

Classic Bizzer N481NS is an IAI-1124 and was build in 1982. She is owned by JP Flying Westwind.

Beautiful classic ground equipment is pushed aside in a corner of St. Maarten airport.

Rows of Biz-jets are 'washed' after a tropical shower pour down.

St. Maarten island is certainly favorite with the average capitalist.

Gulfstreams and Bombadiers can be seen in great numbers at St. Maarten.

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, PJ-DOM, is owned and operated by JetBudget.com

Bright light glints off this Citation Mustang.

Lining-up on the paradise runway!

Winair, vintage DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter, PJ-WIP, on short finals to land at St. Maarten with a another load of vacationers.

Flying into the sunset of its career, is this vintage SXM Airways Islander PJ-SAB.

Meticulous maintenance keeps ‘em flying.

Just 15 minutes later, she is seen taxiing out for take-off.

Line-up and hold.

You can feel the power of the PT6A-114A turboprop engine!

Here she launches herself into the sky against the backdrop of St. Peters hill.

Two Green Birds hurry along the taxiway of St. Maarten.

During the 1980's, French aerospace company Aérospatiale and Italian aviation conglomerate Aeritalia merged their work on a new generation of regional aircraft. For this purpose, a new jointly owned company was established, ATR, for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, and marketing their first airliner, which was later designated as the ATR 42. On 16 August 1984, the first model of the series, designated as the ATR 42-300, performed the type's maiden flight.

To date, all of the ATR series have been completed at the company's final assembly line in Toulouse, France; ATR benefits from sharing resources and technology with Airbus SE, which has continued to hold a 50% interest in the company.

The number "42" in its name is derived from the aircraft's standard seating configuration in a passenger-carrying configuration, which typically varies between 40 and 52 passengers.

The ATR 42-500, like this F-OIXD, is a further upgraded version, the first delivery of which occurring during October 1995. It has many improvements for performance and passenger comfort including new engines, new propellers, a newly designed cabin, and increased weight. It has six-bladed propellers powered by PW127E engines rated at 2,400 shp (1,800 kW) for improved hot and high performance and increased cruise speed. The engines are flat rated for +45C. Propellers are electrically controlled and are made from composite. It has an increased maximum takeoff weight, allowing for more cargo and greater range. Due to the six-bladed propellers and better insulation, it has reduced noise levels. The newest version have CATII capability and dual Honeywell HT1000 FMS installation.

Our mentioned Green Bird ATR-42-500 is seen here banking to the right after a runway 10 departure.

An American Boeing 757-200 N193AN hurries along a taxiway.

.... and maneuvers herself onto the number 10 runway of St. Maarten.

Anguilla Air Services, BN-2A VP-AAS, approaches St. Maarten on a clear February day in 2020.

Ready to roll. A Winair Twin-Otter, PJ-WIP, waits for take-off clearance at St. Maarten before departing for a faraway island.

Trans Anguilla Air Britten Norman BN-2A Islander VP-AAA, lines-up to depart for St. Jean.

Sole, Anguilla Air Services Trislander VP-AJR, inbound from St. Jean, Anguilla.

There's nothing quite like standing on a perfect beach and having a classic Trislander make a low approach in front of you.

A JetBlue Airbus A320 approaches St. Maarten over a packed Maho Beach.

St. Barth Commuter Cessna Grand Caravan 208 approaches St. Maarten on Ferbruary 15, 2020.

February 15, 2020, was a clear day, as is shown in this photograph.

Heat shimmers on St. Maarten's ruway 10, as this Cessna Caravan is captured milli-seconds away from touchdown, under the intense Caribbean sunshine.

Here, Winair Twin-Otter, PJ-WIP, is just commencing its take-off roll from runway 10 at St. Maarten.

Classic pic taken from Maho Beach. Another Green Bird is seen taxiing towards the holding point of runway 10.

3S/104, SJU-SXM-DOM-FDF, entering runway 10 before departure on the second leg.

F-OIXO ATR-42-600 (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale). This regional liner rolled—off the Toulouse production—line in September 2013. With construction number 1010 she was delivered to Air Antilles Express in December of that same year.

Props on and ready to go.

Green Birds departing from runway 10 with some storm clouds brewing.

Anguilla Air Services is a regional airline based at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) in Anguilla.

Jet blast of departing and arriving aircraft can cause severe physical harm resulting in extreme bodily harm and/or death.

American Boeing 767-300 N393AN taxied out for take-off at St. Maarten.

The Boeing 767; - The perfect blend of beguiling beauty and brutal shattering power.

Resplendent in its semi natural metal finish, the broad-shouldered 767 bounds across the St. Maarten taxiway.

Restriced Area - Unauthorized access prohibited.

Navaid SAINT MAARTEN (PJD) VOR/DME has frequency 113.00.

Time to relax in the Sunset Bar. They serve ice-cold "Presidente" beer.

This is the favourite airline in the Sunset bar?

Arrival of Airbus 330-300 "Potzdammer Platz" from Amsterdam as KL725.

Blue skies and turquoise waters welcoming Dutch tourists to the friendly island.

Over the fence of Princess Juliana (RIP) Airport.

The most popular spotting location at St. Maarten Princess Juliana International Airport is the "Maho Beach". It is located directly under the approach path of runway 10. Coordinates: 18°02'21.6"N 63°07'13.5"W.

Cessna 750, N789XJ of Mistral Aviation, during line-up on this gorgeous day.

Several aviation-spotters were present at Maho Beach, like the Colombian, Ocean Hernandez, seen here on the left side of the pic.

JetBlue A320 "Absolute Blue" and a LIAT ATR, are departing Sint Maarten.

JetBlue, N864JB, taxi for take-off from SXM.

The JetBlue 320 pilots love to pull up close to the fence.

"Absolute Blue" turning onto runway 10, in afternoon sun.

JetBlue's founders had set out to call the airline TAXI and therefore have a yellow livery to associate the airline with New York. The idea was dropped, however, for several reasons: the negative connotation behind New York City taxis; the ambiguity of the word taxi with regard to air traffic control; and threats from investor JP Morgan to pull its share of the airline's initial funding unless the name was changed.

Leeward Islands Air Transport Services from Antigua, on final for runway 10.

Classic pic taken from Maho Beach. Another LIAT ATR-42 is seen taxiing towards the holding point of runway 10.

V2-LIG is one of many ATR's in the LIAT fleet.

Sharp turn to line-up for departure.

V2-LIG ready to depart.

LIAT early afternoon departure from St. Maarten.

LIAT 313, climbs away from runway 10, with destination Basseterre.

Winair, PJ-WIQ, passing high over the crowd at Maho Beach.

Anguilla Air Services is a regional airline based at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) in Anguilla.

PJ-WIU is named after Gerrit Draai. Mr. Draai is a member of Winair's supervisor board.

The bright colors of Winair DHC-6-300, caught by the camera, on a busy sun-drenched day at St. Maarten.

Winair 535, climbs away from runway 10 with destination St. Eustatia.

Bright light glints off this Grand Caravan on approach to St. Maarten.

St. Barth Commuter, F-OSBM, about to land on runway 10.

Steep approach to St. Maarten.

Anguilla Air Services BN-2A Islander VP-AAS.

Cessna 525B Citation Jet CJ3, N706RR, of Mez Aviation of Wilmington, North Carolina.

'Eight-Five-Mike' high speed approach.

United N13773 ready to heading home to EWR from SXM.

The pilots on board this United 737 taking advantage of all 7,546ft of runway that Princess Juliana has to offer.

Lining-up for departure.

De Havilland Corp. DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter PJ-WII, is seen here on short finals.

N992DC from the USA, on final for runway 10, over a packed Maho Beach.

F-GFLL, an Eurocopter of West Indies, is doing a sightseeing flight from her base at Grand Case, Aerogare de L'Esperance.

A tranquil moment .... in the Sunshine Bar it's time for Ne-Yo.

Dassault Falcon 2000EX N215FH is owned by Wade Aviation from Newark, Delaware.

Approaching in bright sunshine.

Winair from St. Eustatia (EUX) performed a nice approach on runway 10.

Joon Airbus A340 approaches St. Maarten on a bright February day in 2020.

Joon Airbus 340 F-GLZP flashing past the Royal Islander beach club on short final to runway 10.

Anguilla Air Services Trislander, VP-AJR, arriving for the 3rd time that day.

Coming in extremely low, is this St. Barth Executive Pilatus PC-12.

Beach landing?

With the relaxing musical companiment of Bob Marley, this Air Antilles ATR-42 departs runway 10 of St. Maarten, in the late afternoon of February 16, 2020.

Time to go home!

SXM Airport will remain under construction this year (2020) and it will return to its former glory, however for now the travelers will experience some inconvenience's. SXM Airport are taking all measures to minimize any inconvenience.

The low angled light of the late afternoon, highlights the enlarged bypass duct collar passing around the ‘chest’ of the right engine of this Bombardier BD-700-1A11.

American Airlines Boeing 737 on push-back at St. Maarten.

Air Century, HI-1034, taxies to its gate at St. Maarten, on the late afternoon of February 16, 2020.

Dominican Republic-owned, CRJ-200 HI-1034, noses-up to the gate at St. Maarten airport.

A head-on view of CRJ-200 HI-3014, in the late afternoon of February 16, 2020.

Air Century, S.A., or ACSA is a Dominican Republic Air Charter operator that offers local and international services from the Santo Domingo La Isabela International Airport. The company was founded by Captain and Pilot Omar Chahin. Air Century commenced operations in Santo Domingo on March, 1992