IFATC at Home 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten/Saint Martin 🇨🇵
Hello and welcome, as you all are aware that this sunday is another edition of IFATC at home, where IFATC members are encouraged to open their home airport. So here I go welcoming you to the beautiful Caribbean island of St maarten/Saint Martin and its twin airports Princess Juliana International Airport, TNCM and GC-Espérance Airport, TFFG
Wiki facts about PJI and SFG
Princess Juliana International Airport, is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. The airport is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten.
The airport began as a US military airstrip in 1942 during World War II. The following year, first commercial flight landed on December 3, 1943 . In 1964 the airport was remodeled and relocated, with a new terminal building and control tower . The facilities were upgraded in 1985 and 2001. And since September of 2017 it has been under reconstruction after being devastated by hurricane Irma.
L’Espérance Airport , also known as Grand Case Airport French, is a public use airport in Grand Case on the French side Saint Martin of the Caribbean island of [Saint Martin]. The airport is mainly used for flights by regional passenger aircraft flying to Guadeloupe and Saint Barth, as well as used by private aircraft.
Why I chose SXM
Well I was born and raised on the french side of the island, lived there for most of my life and here is where I ound my love and passion for aviation. From a very young age as far back as i can remember going down and spending the weekend around the airports, on maho beach watching everything from c-172s to B747s land and take off and even “fence surfers”. Being a St maartener it fills me with alot of pride and joy to be able to present to you my beatiful home island and its unique airports
TNCM Airport Information
Princess Juliana International Airport, is located on the south-western part of the island in the maho district. The airport is a hub for the Winward island Airways (WINAIR), that provides flights to the surrounding islands such as Saba, St Eustatiusand Tortolla, other services include Seaborne and Tradewind from San Juan, Caribbean Airlines from Trinidad and Jamaica, also International flights from North America with American, Delta, WestJet, Air Canada…etc and ofcourse mainland Europe with AirFrance-KLM. The airport is also a General Aviation Hotspot and many business jets can be seen parked on the apron at any giving time.
NOTAMS
All jet aircraft B767 and heavier landing runway 10 must roll out to the end of the runway
All jet aircraft B757 and heavier departing runway 10 are not to taxi on ALPHA, must back taxi from BRAVO
All propeller driven General Aviation aircraft shall make use of the General Aviation ramp via twy FOXTROT unless otherwise instructed.
Apron FOXTROT is not connected to main apron
All aircraft must make an immediate right turn after take off
TFFG Airport Information
L’Espérance Airport is located on the north of the island in the grand case district. The airport is mainly regional with flights to Saint Barths and Guadeloupe being the most common flights out of the airport, the rest consists of General Aviation local and charters from the other surrounding islands. Air Caraïbes ATRs servicing the other french departments such as Martinique and Guadeloupe. It’s mainly used for flight training as it poses a real challenge for student pilots due to wind and terrain.
NOTAMS
Aircraft larger than a DASH8 are prohibited from operating out of this airport
Aircraft are advised to maintain runway heading until 1000 Ft due to terrain
Controller details
2020-06-21T08:00:00Z → 2020-06-22T06:00:00Z
The airport will be opened throughout the day, hope to see you there. Thank-you to the crew over at IFATC for another edition of ATC at home. Thank you all for reading hope everyone is doing fine and staying safe as things start to return to “normal”, and remember Wash your hands, wear your masks.
See you Sunday Happy Flying
