St Maarten Airport: A Compact Aviation Hub

Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, is the main airport of St. Maarten. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, a year after the airport opened. It is the second busiest airport in the hemisphere, serving as a hub for Winair and a crucial gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands. The airport features 40 shops and food and beverage units, unique to St. Maarten, and offers VIP service and storage to private charters. While the exact size of the airport is not mentioned, it handled 1,829,543 passengers and around 60,000 aircraft movements in 2015, with annual passenger traffic continuing to exceed expectations.

The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands

Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The airport is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon. It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region.

The airport has undergone several upgrades and modernisations since its opening. In 1964, the airport was remodelled and relocated, with a new terminal building and control tower. Further upgrades were carried out in 1985 and 2001. The new air traffic control tower and radar station commenced operations in 2004, and the current terminal building was inaugurated in 2006 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Princess Juliana International Airport is known for its low-altitude flyover landing approaches, as one end of its runway is extremely close to the shore and Maho Beach. This makes it a popular spot for plane-spotters, who gather at Maho Beach to witness the thrilling landings and take-offs. The airport has also become a hub for private aircraft, with a fixed-base operator building offering office space and private lounges with dedicated customs.

It is located on the Dutch side of the island

Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. The airport is close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon and Maho Beach. Named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed at the airport in 1944, the year after it opened, it is the main airport on the island.

The airport is known for its picturesque and thrilling landings at Maho Beach, where the runway is just a couple of kilometres away from the beach, resulting in very low-altitude flyover landing approaches. Many people flock to the beach to witness these landings. The airport is also a major hub port within the region, serving as a crucial gateway for the island and the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy and Sint Eustatius.

In addition to its stunning location and functional importance, the airport also boasts a variety of shops and food and beverage outlets, some unique to St. Maarten, promoted under the retail theme "So Much More". It is equipped with VOR/DME and NDB and has two radar systems with ranges of 50 nautical miles (93 km) and 250 nautical miles (460 km). The airport's official operating hours are 07:00–21:00.

The island of Saint Martin has two airports, with the second, smaller airport, L'Espérance Airport or Grand Case-Espérance Airport, located on the French side in the town of Grand Case. The Franco-Dutch treaty of 1994 allows for joint border controls on "risk flights", requiring valid travel papers for both sides of the island.

It is the second busiest airport in the hemisphere

Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin, is the second busiest airport in the hemisphere. The airport, with the code SXM, serves as a major gateway to the island of Sint Maarten and the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. It is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed at the airport in 1944 when she was the heir presumptive, a year after the airport opened.

The airport is known for its low-altitude flyover landing approaches due to its proximity to Maho Beach and Simpson Bay Lagoon. In fact, its runway is just a couple of kilometres away from the beach, providing thrilling views for tourists and plane-spotters alike. The airport's unique location has made it famous, with many flocking to witness the landings or take off of aircraft. The airport also offers picturesque landings at Maho Beach, and visitors can check the daily arrival schedule to catch these exciting views.

Princess Juliana International Airport is a crucial hub, especially for those travelling from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Central America. With seamless connections from key gateway cities in the US, the airport provides an easy 2 to 3-hour commute from most cities on the US East Coast. Additionally, jumbo jets arrive from European cities like Paris and Amsterdam, with flight times of around 9 hours.

The airport is well-equipped to handle international and local traffic, including private aircraft. It features a fixed-base operator building, providing office space and private lounges with dedicated customs facilities. The new control tower is equipped with two radar systems, ensuring a range of up to 460 kilometres. The airport also offers a VIP service and storage for private charters.

It has very low-altitude flyover landing approaches

Princess Juliana International Airport, the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, is best known for its very low-altitude flyover landing approaches. This is due to the unique location of the airport, with one end of its runway being extremely close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon and Maho Beach.

Maho Beach is directly in the flight path of aircraft landing at the airport, and as a result, the airport has become a popular destination for plane spotters. The proximity of the beach to the runway has made Princess Juliana International Airport one of the world's favourite spots for plane spotting. The beach offers thrilling views of aircraft landing and taking off, with planes appearing to drop onto the runway and then bouncing before touching down again. It is also common for pilots to wave to those on the beach as they taxi to the terminal.

However, the low-altitude flyover landing approaches and the proximity of the runway to the beach have also raised safety concerns. Local airport rules prohibit aircraft from flying lower than 500 feet (150 m), but despite this, there have been incidents of dangerous behaviour by tourists on the beach. In 2017, a New Zealand woman died from injuries sustained by jet blast from a departing aircraft, highlighting the potential dangers of the low-altitude approaches and the importance of adhering to safety guidelines.

The airport handled around 1,829,543 passengers and 60,000 aircraft movements in 2015, serving as a major gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944 when she was heir presumptive, just a year after the airport opened.

It is also known for its picturesque landings at Maho Beach

Princess Juliana International Airport is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. It is known for its picturesque landings at Maho Beach, which is just a couple of kilometres away from the airport.

Maho Beach is famous for being adjacent to the airport and is a popular site for tourists and plane watchers. The beach offers a unique opportunity to witness low-flying airliners arriving and departing from Princess Juliana International Airport up close. It is one of the few places in the world where aircraft can be viewed in their flight path just outside the end of the runway. The beach is also known for its clear blue waters, soft sand, and bars and restaurants lining its shores.

The airport's runway is extremely close to the shore, resulting in aircraft making low-altitude flyover landing approaches. This proximity to the beach and the water makes Maho Beach a popular location for photographers and videographers, and thrill-seekers. Many flock to the beach to witness the landings or experience the blow of a jet engine. The daily arrival schedule for the airport is often posted at bars and restaurants on the beach, and on boards at the airport, allowing visitors to plan their visits accordingly.

While the beach is a stunning and exciting location, it is important to exercise caution. The local government warns that standing too close to the aircraft during take-off or landing can be dangerous due to the jet blast, which has resulted in serious injuries and even deaths in the past. An additional fence has been erected to prevent people from hanging onto the main fence surrounding the runway. Visitors are advised to follow warning signs and maintain a safe distance from the aircraft to avoid accidents.

Maho Beach has also experienced its share of challenges, including damage from hurricanes. In 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the island, causing significant damage to the airport and the surrounding area. Despite these occasional setbacks, Maho Beach remains a popular destination for aviation enthusiasts and those seeking a unique Caribbean experience.

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