anyone been in st.maarten

[aeronautic1]

Princess Julianne

We flew our Galaxy into there for New Years Eve. Was told to expect to hold for 55 minutes-125 NW because there was no room on the ramp for any more aircraft. TIP: Slowed to .73 for about 20 minutes until arrival at holding fix... two turns in the hold then cleared for approach. What a sight to see... all of the corporate jets covering most of the tarmac...

Stayed at the Sonesta Maho... very nice and right next to the airport. Great views of arrivals over threashold from balcony. Fireworks on the otherside of approach end at the Club Bliss.

New Years Day departure, though delayed for maybe 30 minutes went flawlessly. Controllers very professional. Line help is efficient though do not expect a fuel truck at your beck and call. Also, carry a little bit extra ref if the winds are out of 070-080 at more than 15. The wind burbles over the hotels on the left and can make the last 100 feet interesting.

while you are waiting for the fuel truck (better to fuel when you arrive), walk over to the grass and watch the show. Nothing is more exciting than watching an Air France A340 or AA 767 take off and make that right hand turn to miss the mountain.

 

[Wankel7]

SXM is a nice place to operate into. All operations normally to the east. Controllers do a great job considering the mix of traffic they have. Just got radar last fall.

Funny true story. We were talking to a young (23+-) european commuter capt about the operation and life in SXM. He had been there about 6 months, single of course, and has a place on the French side of the island on a nude beach. He was saying the night life was non stop with all the lady tourist wanting to make up for lost time, and then about the women he said...."you know, sometimes you just have to say NO".......maybe you have to be older to appreciate how funny that is coming from a kid. Oh to be 23 again.

Oh wow....clearly I am not living right now.....

 

[rice]

5 Hour fuel delay

Dispatch said yesterday was terrible at SXM. 5 hour fuel delays, ramp clogged beyond belief lots of diverts etc. Don't know how much of this was true or just dispatch exagerating.

Headed down there soon for eight days. The folks at TLC say it won't be nearly as crazy but St. Maarten is holding its first annual Carribean Boat Show beginning on the 16th? and rooms were very hard to come by.

Places to go; Beach time go to Orient Beach (French side), for beer, girls, and planes the sunset is a must and for food go to Grand Case (French side) but be prepared for a big tab. FYI I've been told that the restaraunts on the french side will still give you a 1 to 1 exchange rate on the Euro if you use cash.

 

[sidewinder]

Here's a heads up. Keep heads down when walking on beach. A/C on short final may lead to decapitation.

^ that is no lie!!I go there all the time with my father..

 

[inverted1]

St Maarten

Was just there last week. No problem with Jet as long as you get it early! we had to stay on the other side of the Island which kinda sucked compared to the Maho. Night life was a little weak up there! Other than that it was a beautiful island and easy to get in and out of. The ramp was congested though, be carefull when taxiing in and out. We flew down even farther the next morning to St. Lucia... a must if you can! Even better scenery than Maarten. Lots of fun as others point out, wish I was there now! It is a frigid -6 dep F here now.

Fly safe!

 

[ProPilot5]

Worked on a film there about 4 years ago.

The night of the full moon there is a "Full Moon" party on a beach over on the dutch side, please don't miss this! Every Tuesday night the cruize ships come into the Dutch side, I think, and unload mass quantities of single women all pissed off at there boyfriends etc. Everyone ends up at a bar on the beach called the GreenHouse. Happy hour started at 9pm with two-for-one drinks, quite cheap.

The best bar-night club on the island is the "News" ask the owner about the Speed II crew, great place.

Start the evening on the French side at the outside bar, Sherry(Sp?) across from casino, casino has great odds by the way.

Airport is quite crazy, expect the worst and fuel on arrival. Try not to get arrested.