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Warm and sunny holiday greetings to all!

Welcome to the 93rd instalment of the Caribbean Aviation Thread.This instalment is dedicated to the extremely renowned island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin!


Often referred to as the crossroads of the Caribbean, St. Maarten is located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, approximately 150 miles southeast of Puerto Rico. The island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between two nations, a division dating to 1648. The southern Dutch part comprises Sint Maarten and is one of four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands.


The 37-square-mile island of St. Maarten was first settled by the Arawaks and was discovered by Christopher Columbus on behalf of Spain in 1493. Columbus sighted the island on November 11th, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and so named the island after him. For the next 150 years the island was passed between Holland, England, France and Spain. The old stone forts that guard many of the island's inlets are proof of the island's turbulent past. In 1648 St. Maarten was peacefully divided between Holland and France, and today is the smallest landmass in the world to be shared by two sovereign nations.


However, St. Maarten is most famous for its exciting "aviation-savvy" Maho Beach! The short length of the main runway at Princess Juliana International Airport, and its position between a large hill and a powdery white sanded beach inevitably results in some spectacular low approaches.

Thousands of aviation photographers from around the globe flock to this tiny island to capture spectacular pictures as well as experience the euphoria of large aircraft screaming over their heads. The famous Sunset Bar and Grill is always packed with aviation thrill seekers and photographers. Each morning, bar staff write the day's flight schedule on a surf board (original Caribbean fasion) and broadcast air traffic control instead of music. One thing is for sure; if you're a die-hard aviation enthusiast, SXM is definitely on your list of places to visit!


Typical SXM!


The famous "DANGER" sign


Roman Abramovich's B763ER giving the sunbathers a good sandblasting.

View Large View Medium Photo © Timo Breidenstein

View Large View Medium Photo © Manny Gonzalez - Thrust Images

View Large View Medium Photo © Cary Liao

View Large View Medium Photo © Jet Visuals

View Large View Medium Photo © Rotate

View Large View Medium Photo © Trent R Sellers

Long live SXM!!!!!!

******NEWS FEED******
AA's 4x weekly B738 JFK-ANU service successfully inaugurated.
CAL successfully inaugurates 2x weekly GND-JFK upgraded to 3x weekly.
CAL operating JFK-GEO-JFK with NA 763ER for winter season.
GEO poised to begin US$138M upgrade of GEO which includes new terminal and 8 jetway bridges.
Tropic Air of Belize takes delivery of two brand new Cessna 208 Caravans fitted with G1000 avionics.
Tropic Air looking to expand with large turboprop aircraft.
Cessna C152 enroute from POS-GEO crash lands in rich field in Guyana...no fatalities.
Redjet trunk investor says airline needs US$8M to reach set financial targets.
CAL chairman creates confusion over CAL financials with loose statements.
Redjet threatens to pull headquarters from BGI.
Redjet introduces new 2x weekly GEO-ANU service with its MD-82.
Redjet receives 3rd MD-82 aircraft (ex N562AA) named Nickitastic!
LI pilots strike after former LIALPA president Micheal Blackburn is fired. Cripples airline over 2 day period.
CAL inaugurates KIN-MIA service with B738 4x weekly (to go daily in February).
JALPA attempts to strike against CAL but actions are blocked by the Jamaican Industrial Disputes Tribunal.
DAE adds MD-83, initially using it on daily SXM-SDQ service.
CAL obtains route rights TO FLY BGI-GEO and BGI-SLU.
CAL's BGI-GEO service inaugurated with B738.
Six self-checkin kiosks now operational at POS. CAL sole customer thus far.
EZJet of Guyana begins JFK service with leased B762ER 6x weekly. Loads very encouraging.
Thomson Airways (TUI) inaugurates new bi-weekly ARN-BGI service with B763ER.
CAL takes delivery of second ATR-72-600 series (9Y-TTB) Dec.18th, 2011 @ POS.
CAL's BW500/501 service switched from Ryan International 763 to VS A333.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CONTRIBUTORS





Happy Posting!

[Edited 2011-12-18 22:26:24]

Here's a pic of CAL's second ATR, 9Y-TTB ariving at POS courtesy Nigel Steele.

Thanks for Starting the thread BW424!

With the second CAL ATR72-600 delivered, what routes are they currently flying?

Yeyyyy, new post!


CURIOSITY ABOUT ST. MAARTEN: According to a local legend, the french and the dutch made a bet to divide the island: the french would start walking deeper inside the island from Anse marcel (up north) while the dutch would start from pointe blance.... (on extreme south) then they'd need to meet each other and on the MEETPOINT they would imagine a parallel line to divide the island, but the french brought wine with them while the dutch had strong homemade GIN, so the dutch soon felt the booze and slowed down, until the french met them in oyster pond, that's the why according to this "legend" the french side is bigger than the dutch side!

Quoting BW424 (Thread starter): CAL takes delivery of second ATR-72-600 series (9Y-TTB) Dec.18th, 2011 @ POS.

So CAL's Turboprop fleet now stands at 9. Are they returning the two leased ATRs anytime soon?
Any idea on the fate of the Dash8's? I remember there was some talk of them being sold to the TT Air Guard.

Quoting 9YCAL (Reply 2): Thanks for Starting the thread BW424!

Seconded. Thanks @ BW424!

AA1818

Quoting 9YCAL (Reply 2): hanks for Starting the thread BW424!

Quoting AA1818 (Reply 5): Seconded. Thanks @ BW424!

Your most welcome guys!

Quoting windian425 (Reply 3): With the second CAL ATR72-600 delivered, what routes are they currently flying?

At the moment, TTA is doing both TAB and GND runs. Not sure if she has been to CCS yet, but I know she has been in BGI on a proving flight.

Quoting AA1818 (Reply 5): So CAL's Turboprop fleet now stands at 9. Are they returning the two leased ATRs anytime soon? Any idea on the fate of the Dash8's? I remember there was some talk of them being sold to the TT Air Guard.

As for the DHC8s for the TTAG, I really don't know if this is still on. This was a rumour from since 2009 and haven't heard anything since.

Quoting andrefranca (Reply 6):

Great shots man! Looks like you had the classic experience! As foe me, yet to go there though....

Quoting BW424 (Thread starter): ******NEWS FEED******

Forgot to mention that DAE stopped CUR-PTY service.

Some of those Moho Beach photographs are just plain insane. The mom and 2 children didn't know planes landed that close to the beach?

Tropic Air (PM) PM announced locally here today that in addition to starting SAP (5Xweekly March 1) and RTB (1Xweekly March 3), they will also being doing BZE-LCE 2 times a week starting March 4.

Quoting 2travel2know2 (Reply 8): Some of those Moho Beach photographs are just plain insane. The mom and 2 children didn't know planes landed that close to the beach?

They do now. Those kids will be talking about that for years.

Thanks for the post!

I'll be in St Maarten in April for the first time, I'm very excited, I booked the insane 310 EUR round trip fare from Paris on Air Caraibes that was announced in this forum a month ago. I'll be there for 10 days with my girlfriend, and while she isn't into aviation too much she will not mind spending some time on Maho beach and taking some inter island flights. As we both love boat travel too, we will travel to some neighboring islands one way by boat and one way by plane. We're planning to go to Saba, St Barth and Anguilla.

I'm hesitant to book any LIAT flights as I don't trust in them being around much longer, after all the bad news. I think it will be Winair then!

Too bad this area is very expensive when it comes to hotels, flights, food and everything.

Soren   

Thanks BW424 happy holidays to all you guys it was a great year.

Quoting Birdwatching (Reply 11): I'm hesitant to book any LIAT flights as I don't trust in them being around much longer, after all the bad news. I think it will be Winair then!

They will be around since the airline provides a critical service to the region.

Quoting Birdwatching (Reply 11): Too bad this area is very expensive when it comes to hotels, flights, food and everything.

Ain't that the truth.

Quoting Birdwatching (Reply 11):

Yeah as caribbean484 said, they're VITAL to these islands, they can't disappear like that.... but come prepared for delays, winair is no exception! and make sure you have your hotels booked, sometimes immigration can be picky!

Quoting BW424 (Reply 7): Great shots man! Looks like you had the classic experience! As foe me, yet to go there though....

thanks, it's very very nice, SXM might sound tacky but the island still got a lot of surprises!

Quoting yellowtail (Reply 9):

Interesting. Are there close ties between Belize and Honduras?

Thanks for the great start to the thread. St Maarten - a place I have only ever stopped over at on flights continuing elsewhere (KIN - POS) but definitely a must-see. St Maarten must be one of the smallest islands with 2 airports as well - there is a small one at L'Esperance on the French side which handles flights to Guadeloupe. It is shown on the map above.

SXM, though, is one of the busiest airports in the Eastern Caribbean.

Trintocan.

Quoting Birdwatching (Reply 11): I'll be in St Maarten in April for the first time, I'm very excited, I booked the insane 310 EUR round trip fare from Paris on Air Caraibes that was announced in this forum a month ago. I'll be there for 10 days with my girlfriend, and while she isn't into aviation too much she will not mind spending some time on Maho beach and taking some inter island flights.

That's really cool man you have to remember that SXM is one of the most expensive destinations in the Caribbean also, not most people can't afford to holiday there.

This is the busy holiday week
BGI
Seeing an increase by AC with daily 763 as mentioned in the other forum and weekend A319
WS will still be doing their overnight in BGI for an early morning departure.
AA and B6 have not added seats to the island this year from JFK.
http://www.totallybarbados.com/barba..._News/Barbados_News_2011/11507.htm

GND
CAL started its bi-weekly POS-GND-YYZ-GND-POS services
CAL will introduce 3rd weekly high season JFK-GND services

SKB
AC will commence services on 23rd December to the island

Other news
May be A388 can confirm
Two all cargo charter airlines, using the island of Curacao for a fuel stop, are pulling out of Curacao and will make their fuel stop elsewhere in the Caribbean. The first that recently stopped their operations was Lufthansa, which was operating a DC-10 all cargo, flying loads of Flowers from Colombia, with a fuel stop in Curacao, North bound (Europe) . According to well informed sources, Lufthansa will now make the stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
http://www.caribbeanavenue.com/aviation/viewtopic.php?f=252&t=11061

Great thread 424 thanks. I have an associate that part owns a bar in St. Maarten and he always insists we go down. I think it's time to take him up on the offer.

Happy holidays to all.

GUYAIR707

Does anyone have photos of the VS A333 currently operating for CAL on the BW500/501?

Quoting guyanam (Reply 14): Interesting. Are there close ties between Belize and Honduras?

Not any more that any other Caribbean country. For example the Gariganu of Belize came from St. Vincent

Nice to see the ATR's arriving sad the Dash 8's will be leaving will BGI see AC A330 this season?

Quoting caribbean484 (Reply 12): Thanks BW424 happy holidays to all you guys it was a great year.

Quoting trintocan (Reply 15): Thanks for the great start to the thread.

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 17): Great thread 424 thanks.

Your most welcome guys!

Quoting caribbean484 (Reply 16): GND CAL started its bi-weekly POS-GND-YYZ-GND-POS services CAL will introduce 3rd weekly high season JFK-GND services

Hmmm...I'm wondering if GND very well has the potential of being a mini focus city for CAL over the long term? Great to see the increased service levels to the island!

Quoting windian425 (Reply 18): Does anyone have photos of the VS A333 currently operating for CAL on the BW500/501?

Here's a link to a photo of it,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/runway27r/6522196313/lightbox/

Flew into POS last night full.

Quoting BW424 (Reply 21): Hmmm...I'm wondering if GND very well has the potential of being a mini focus city for CAL over the long term? Great to see the increased service levels to the island!

It seems that the GOG is really using up CAL's services, once CAL provides a good product and reliable services GOG should continue to support them.

Quoting BW424 (Reply 21): Flew into POS last night full.

My brother and cousins are travelling on this on the 23rd to POS, I will ask them take some pics of it. PAX must be surprised to travel in the A333, hopefully CAL and lease this for the high season Carnival and Summer.

Quoting windian425 (Reply 18): Does anyone have photos of the VS A333 currently operating for CAL on the BW500/501?

Here it is just before delivery to Ryan Air International


View Large View Medium

Photo © Terence Li


Still painted white with small Ryan Air Logo over first door and tail

Below is an interior shot for another VS A330.


MyAviation.net:

Photographer © StillRedHot

Unfortunately no AC A330 planned for this winter season to BGI. Expect to see Finnair A333 twice in January and February 2012.

Quoting windian425 (Reply 24):

Will these be charters from HEL? Nice to seed some new birds in BGI AB A330 are becoming regulars in BGI for this winter

Yes.. the Finnair flights will be from HEL.

Quoting windian425 (Reply 26): Yes.. the Finnair flights will be from HEL.

That is one destination I wouldn't want to be on (flight from HEL) 

Just kidding, is this the first charter flight of Finnair to the Caribbean. I have never read of this airline flying to the Caribbean. Or do they fly to PUJ already?

A388

Quoting A388 (Reply 27): Just kidding, is this the first charter flight of Finnair to the Caribbean. I have never read of this airline flying to the Caribbean.

Nope. AY did a few charters to BGI with MD-11s back in the 1990s...

On board BW 503 to GEO. Delayed, the lines at security were horrendous. BW had 3 departures 501, 18 and 503, they took up most of aisle 7 with Copa filling in the rest. BW owns terminal 4 with lots of flights all day.

GUYAIR707

X-mass message from Redjet's CEO:

"On behalf of everyone at REDjet I want to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and healthy and prosperous New Year. REDjet’s launch in May 2011 marked the start of the war on high fares and some 8 months later our promise to reduce the cost of travel by up to 60% has been delivered on all the routes we have been allowed fly. The year has turned into a triumph for consumers over technocrats and the evils of protectionism. However, the victories to date are entirely due to you and all consumers who have supported REDjet and it is consumers in other countries that will bring more victories in 2012. We all know that the competitors’ fares have only come down because of REDjet and not because of consumer demand. REDjet has empowered consumers and has introduced new routes within the region. Let’s remember before REDjet announced itself in 2010, there were no direct flights from Port of Spain or Barbados to Kingston, limited flights from Guyana to anywhere but Port of Spain. REDjet, after eight short months, has not only become the favourite airline but the leader of development of air transport within the region.
REDjet has, as promised, revolutionised air travel and will continue to do so. Don’t be fooled by others’ apparent conversion to low fares, it’s a sham, a wolf dressed in lamb’s clothing. REDjet will continue to be the consumer champion as long as you want it to be. REDjet is committed to maintaining our low fares and leading regional integration by uniting family and friends, helping more people travel for education, shopping, leisure, special events or just simply to relax and, in so doing, retaining hard earned dollars in the Caribbean, when other airlines are doing their best for all these dollars to be exported to the US and other countries outside the region. REDjet has brought the focus to the Caribbean and intra-regional travel which will always be the key stimulant to economic and social development of all Caribbean states.
So have a wonderful Christmas and I ask all of us to remember those less fortunate than us and pray that everyone may receive comfort and above all a sense of love and peace that every person deserves as a basic human right.
Happy Christmas Everyone!

Ian Burns"

well I hope 2012 brings more destinations!  

Now capt says engine cowling not shut properly 1hr 10 min delay. Moving us to hardstand. Just spotted Ryan Air A333 working as BW501.

GUYAIR707

[Edited 2011-12-21 07:12:30]

[Edited 2011-12-21 07:14:26]

Great thread and wonderful information!! This is great news that CAL got approval for BGI-SLU. Wonder if they'll ever get approval for UVF-POS or UVF to N America. I see a war brewing with CAL, LIAT and Redjet once all the service gets started. CAL and LIAT will have the advantage of flying into SLU and more frequency but RedJet's fares will ultimately decide!

Quoting A388 (Reply 27): is this the first charter flight of Finnair to the Caribbean. I have never read of this airline flying to the Caribbean. Or do they fly to PUJ already?

AY has been flying bi-weekly charters to PTY for the past few winters. There were rumours Panama Tourist Authority wanted to convince AY to operate weekly scheduled HEL-PTY flights instead.

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 29): On board BW 503 to GEO. Delayed, the lines at security were horrendous. BW had 3 departures 501, 18 and 503, they took up most of aisle 7 with Copa filling in the rest. BW owns terminal 4 with lots of flights all day.

You can always count on NAA to have delays lol

From tomorrow they will have 11 flights out of JFK
BW 425(738), 18(738), 10(738), 12(757), 521(738), 503(767), 500(A333), 18(757), 426(738), 14(757), 525(738).
Total 2062 seats with over 90% load factor.

Quoting caribbean484 (Reply 34):

Very impressive. Still on the ground, a/c being looked at.

GUYAIR707

Seems 503 will not be going with this a/c. Another a/c is inbound to replace this one.

GUYAIR707

Bad start to JFK GEO. But better to be on the ground waiting to go into the air than in the air waiting to land.

GUYAIR707

Quoting caribbean484 (Reply 34):

Wow that is a lot of flights how much do they have from YYZ ? Are they CAL f/a on board the flights operated with the Ryan A330?

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 37):

Will you be doing a trip report?

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 29): BW owns terminal 4 with lots of flights all day.

I was in POS back in November/December 2009 and also expected to see lots of Caribbean Airlines 737 tails lined up but I was unpleasantly surprised to see so few 737 flights arriving/departing in the afternoon on that. This is because about 90% of those flights depart in the early morning bank and arrive back in POS in the late afternoon and evening. The only aircraft I saw constantly was their Dash-8's. That is their only aircraft that you will see throughout the day. The 737's are barely seen in daylight except for a few odd-ball flights as I call them. The flight from KIN arrived in the afternoon back then (around 4PM?).

Even so, for a Caribbean based airline, Caribbean Airlines operation is quite large.

A388

Quoting baje427 (Reply 38): Wow that is a lot of flights how much do they have from YYZ ? Are they CAL f/a on board the flights operated with the Ryan A330?

YYZ tomorrow
BW 607(738), 78(738), 611(762), 601(783) total of 661 seats to the Caribbean.

MIA/FLL
BW 30(738), 21(738), 34(738), 483(738), 32(738), 487(738), 36(738) for 1078 seats.

Quoting caribbean484 (Reply 34): From tomorrow they will have 11 flights out of JFK BW 425(738), 18(738), 10(738), 12(757), 521(738), 503(767), 500(A333), 18(757), 426(738), 14(757), 525(738).

WOW, that's a lot! I wonder why suriname bound flights take off so late?

Quoting A388 (Reply 40):

Very true, BWIA used to have a lot of tails in the afternoon and Morning, now CAL has most of their flights arrive in the early morning from YYZ and JFK, departing flights to the US between 5:30am to 10am and arriving from 7-11pm. During the peak periods they try to maximize the use of the terminal so now we are seeing after arrivals from the US/Canada. The wide-bodies all arrive in the afternoon bank from 4-6 and leave between 6-9.
They also try to make the POS-KIN flights leave in the early afternoon to make connections for KIN-MBJ flights.

Quoting A388 (Reply 40): Even so, for a Caribbean based airline, Caribbean Airlines operation is quite large.

Yeah I just realized that too, looking at the PANYNJ stats CAL is no 12 at JFK and is the second largest airline at T4 after VS. They are now the 6th largest foreign airline at JFK.
JFK.PDF" target="_blank">http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/OCT2011_JFK.PDF

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 37): Will you be doing a trip report?

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 37): Bad start to JFK GEO. But better to be on the ground waiting to go into the air than in the air waiting to land.

I hope so I'm not sure we ever read a trip report to and from GEO.

Quoting baje427 (Reply 39):

Taking some pics, will see how it goes.

GUYAIR707

Still on the ground ETD 18:30. BW did good we got vouchers all day and a rep was at the gate all day answering questions.

GUYAIR707

Wow BW just gave us vouchers $400 towards next BW ticket.

GUYAIR707

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 46): Wow BW just gave us vouchers $400 towards next BW ticket.

Wow nice, has your a/c arrived yet?

Quoting caribbean484 (Reply 47):

Onboard, using same a/c seems they solved the problem, thanks for asking.

GUYAIR707

Quoting GUYAIR707 (Reply 46):

I guess they dont want Guyanese to toss Trinis off any flights tomorrow like they did last summer. Good for them. I didnt expect a new a/c...but as you said better drama on the ground than in the air.
Did the Guyanese behave themselves by the way?

[Edited 2011-12-21 16:28:55]