Awesome and can't wait!!! Thank you for sharing that view with us 1st timers!!

One evening I played on Google Satellite and "flew" into STT, across the island - visiting many beaches along the way, and into STJ. In fact, my girlfriend Pam was on the phone with me, she at her house, and the two of us spent about 2 hours traveling around the world together using the Satellite. It was a blast and a way to kill a rainy Friday night.

Coden, were you using "Google Earth"? If so, I have done that and I agree about it being fun. Though, I've tried to Google Earth STT and had trouble getting up close. Maybe I need to try again.

Blu - I was under Google Maps and at that point I just hit Satellite. I don't know if this was Google Earth or not. I got down right on top of the runway. I could have been walking on it I was that close, saw the stripes and everything and I ran the whole length of it. Awesome!

That night we went to Russia, Asia, Italy, California, Illinois, Indiana, etc...we were world travelers!! 🙂

Sometime in May/June Google Earth improved its images of the USVI so if you haven't tried it in awhile you might be pleasantly surprised!

it's a good thing we flew in at night and that I didn't see that, or else I'd have to have been medicated for my flight more than I was. 😉

ha ha Gari. Yeah, first-timers often think they're going down into the water since you cannot see land on the sides of the plane on approach i it is because you are lansing on this strip. Actually, what was really scary were the days before this extended runway into the water was built - and planes had to slam on the brakes to stop before the mountain or climb very sleeply immediately upon takeoff - and there were some very tragic incidents. So, this runway, as scary as it looks, is really a blessing for us all and is a result of what went wrong in the old days.

Much better now!

My question would be....When did they build this runway....& how long do they expect it to last?
Hopefully after we land in November!!

I use to fly in and out of STT on a USCG Helo back in the 70s all the time. Then the runway was much shorter and there was a mountain at the end of the runway. The smart traveller always flew into SJU or STX and took a small plane over to STT. I think 727s & 737s were the biggest planes in and out then.

The runway was less than 5000 Ft - Not good for a heavy jet either landing or taking off. If I remember correctly both American and Eastern lost planes to the mountain.

The mountain had a huge cistern on the side of it to catch water. It was pretty amazing. At some time in the 80s I think - I had left the islands by then they decided to tear down the mountain. They used the rocks to backfill the ocean and extend the runway. Now much larger jets can get into STT.

But if you do not like the approach into STT you should try SXM. One of the best things to do on SXM is go to the Sunset Beach Bar and watch the big planes land. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/547792236/2735689520082606958cAZBVG

Grab drink and watch the show!

Where is that? I've seen pics of planes landing there before, but I can't remember where it is.

Kind of reminds me of flying into/out of San Diego. Flying in, I thought we were going to land on the freeway or on someone's house! Flying out, I thought we were going to fun off into the water! 😉

I'm not a good flyer at all, can you tell? 😉 Thank goodness for wine and xanax. LOL

St Maarten/St Martin = SXM

Landing on this runway freaks me out every year. I guess it's coming in over those jagged rocks at the end of the runway over the water. Then the hard deceleration! Oh boy!!! Life is an adventure all around!

Here are some pics of the old runway in STT before it was redone.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5690323
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5690322
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5687270

Enjoy!

And the old mountain, too! Thanks DL. Didn't the mountian get blasted back - sometime after the '76 American crash? Or was it later?

Also, the old hanger - fond memories of that place!

Looking at that picture of the plane just over the beach at SXM, reminds me of another place with which I am quite familiar - Gravelly Point Park in Alexandria, VA. Gravelly Point is only 400 feet past the end of the runway at Reagan National - just off the GW Parkway. It's quite a rush seeing huge jets rise from the ground only 150 feet over your head!

Picture from ground level:

WOW - I've never seen a plane from that close underneath. thanks WH.

I have been planning a little visit to SXM, St Barths and Anguilla and someone pointed me to this photo of how low the planes fly over Maho Beach on SXM. I was thinking "now that doesn't seem at ALL relaxing!!" Sure, lay on the beach and get blown over by jet blast every so often. Actually, I think the people who stand on this part of Maho (not to be confused with the Maho on STJ or the Mahoe on Virgin Gorda) make a game out of standing as close to the runway as they can and seeing if they can remain standing as they get blasted with jet blast. There's a sign warning them that it can be deadly to do.

Ths guy has a cool (and sometimes really funny) blog on SXM with photos - www.joslinsrock.blogspot.com

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled program - USVI!

One final comment on SXM and then as BLUWATER sad back to the regularly scheulde show....

The takeoffs are as much fun as the landing to watch. 10-15 years ago the kids would hold on to the chain link fence when the planes rev'd up for takeoff. In an instant flat their feet would be off the ground as they were sand blasted from the engine jet wash. VERY DANGEROUS - but a real sight to watch. Simply walking down the beach one would find themselves getting blown into the water.

OSHA would never approve.