Maho Beach vs Princess Juliana International Airport

Yikes!

I thought coming into Arcata in the fog was a toughy.. (I heard that was built to test conditions for landing in fog..)

Assuming this is a real situation, I wonder why they don't extend the runway. Maybe something about the shape of the beach, and money to extend it.

And I thought landing at the St. George, UT airport was scary. (it's on a mesa).

Yikes.

I landed there in a 20-seater - yikes is right!

Hope it wasn't windy..

It was a 20-seater. It doesn't matter. I remember drops and rises from air currents. I guess it's easier to level off the top of a mesa than fill in the basin between two of them.

I've landed at that airport in St. Martin/Maarten. And I've been on that beach when the huge Air France MD-11s came in for landings. It's quite a thrill! The exhaust from the planes throws so much sand back out into the ocean that the beach is actually smaller at night. The tide washes the sand back in.

Did I imagine a car stopped to let the aircraft land in the video?!!!!

Maybe they stopped to watch. The fence is more than 6' tall (it looks like).

Yes, it does make drivers rather nervous!

I stayed in a hotel very close to the beach & airport. From my balcony, I watched brave thrill seekers lay down, spread-eagled face up, on the beach whenever big planes approached. The planes would come in about 20 ft. above them.

Now, if the landing in St. Martin/Maarten doesn't get your pulse racing, you can always catch a 12-minute connecting flight to Saba. The landing there is legendary.

Saba is basically a 5 square mile rock in the middle of the ocean. Their runway is only 396 meters long (about 1,300 ft.) It may be the shortest runway anywhere. Pilots compare it to an aircraft carrier. But not only is it short, it's unforgiving. It's surrounded by high hills on one side and sea cliffs on the other three sides. Only one small inter-island commuter service flies into Saba. There is no air traffic control and no fuel available on the island, but they do keep a fire truck next to the runway. Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVdaFv6kbkw&feature=related

Now I want to know more about Saba!

http://www.sabatourism.com/

Saba ("SAY-buh") is really tiny, but gorgeous. Dutch history, but all 1400 residents speak English. Known for handmade lace. Spectacular hiking and scuba diving. Accommodations: only about 100 rooms available on the entire island. For the faint of heart, there's also a ferry from St. Martin/Maarten that runs about three times a week. Great choice if you're looking for a real getaway, not so good if you're looking for lots of nightlife & development.

I haven't been there...yet.

I knew there had to be a boat.

http://www.sabatourism.com/sabafilm4.html

It's a quiet, friendly place. Caribbean lobsters & orchids...no beaches, though. Like I said, it's basically a big rock sticking up out of the ocean. Steep cliffs around most of the island. Watch the video, you'll see.

I've been intrigued with Saba for some time. It's on my list of places I definitely want to see.

eyep, I could spend a week there. No beaches = a good thing, imo.

I would miss having a beach. But if it holds down the tourism, that's a good thing.

I went to Dominica a couple of years ago. No beaches there, either. Off the beaten tourist track...very 3rd world. Loved it. Depp & crew had just finished filming "Pirates II & III" there. Saw wild parrots in the rainforest, traditional Carib dwellings (last intact groups live there), and stayed in a hotel built in an old stone fort. The island was LUSH. I've never seen that many things growing in one place. Will have to post some photos some day, if anyone's interested.

I'd be interested!