SXM..gotta love it!

[Lil' Pilot]

This pic doesn't need any comment

WOW (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=781416&WxsIERv=Vfenry%20VNV-1124%20Jrfgjvaq&WdsYXMg=Hagvgyrq&QtODMg=Cuvyvcfohet%20%2F%20Fg.%20Znnegra%20-%20Cevaprff%20Whyvnan%20%28FKZ%20%2F%20GAPZ%29&ERDLTkt=Argureynaqf%20Nagvyyrf&ktODMp=Wnahnel%2030%2C%202005&BP=0&WNEb25u=Xnmvz%20Nyvxuna%20-%20g.qbg%20cubgbtencul&xsIERvdWdsY=A705NP&MgTUQtODMgKE=Guvf%20thl%20pnzr%20vf%20irel%20ybj%20bire%20Zn ub%2C%20naq%20chyyrq%20hc%20whfg%20rabhtu%20gb%20pyrne%20gur %20pnef%20naq%20gur%20srapr%20ng%20Cevaprff%20Whyvnan%20Vagr eangvbany.%20Gur%20cynpr%20jnf%20ohmmvat%20sbe%20n%20tbbq%20 ybat%20juvyr%20nsgre%20guvf%20fpnel%20ynaqvat%21&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=4719&NEb25uZWxs=2005-02-21%2001%3A06%3A13&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=&static=yes&sok=JURER%20%20%28qngrfgnzc%20%3E%20qngr_fho%28ABJ%28%29%2C% 20VAGREINY%2024%20UBHE%29%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20ivrjf%20qrfp&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=781098&size=L)

[Mark Lewis]

Too bad that will all be gone next year :(

[Lil' Pilot]

Stupid question probably, but what's going to happen next year? :O

[con-pilot]

What will be gone next year? I was there in January for 10 days and heard nothing about anything going away.

[Mark Lewis]

Airport expansion and the construction of new taxiways mean that "the" beach is set to be no more.

[PaperTiger]

Maho Beach is not affected by the Phase II expansion at SXM. Parts of Simpson Lagoon will be filled, that's all.
http://www.pjiae.com/masterplan.htm

[Mark Lewis]

Ahh thats alright, Phase 3 is not quite as confirmed as I was lead to believe. :D

[seacue]

Somehow people will continue to need to get to the hotel and nice homes on the southwest side of the airport. The only access at present is by means of the road in the picture. Do they intend to run a new road along the south side of the airfield?

[Added after looking at the master plan.] It looks as though they would intend to tunnel the access road (mentioned above) under the runway extension in Phase III. Let's hope it is well sealed and the pumps work:O

[PaperTiger]

Phase III is still a big IF as I read it.
Don't understand the need for a runway extension, are any SXM departures currently payload-restricted ? Aircraft performance is getting better not worse and I can't imagine fully-loaded A380s ever putting in an appearance. And I know the mountain precludes extending it at the other (E) end.

Anyway I would expect an environmental hue-and-cry over the destruction of Maho Beach. Or maybe the Dutch don't worry about such things.

[seacue]

From what I've seen in much of the (Dutch) Caribbean, money talks.

As far destroying Maho Beach - would it even be possible to convince the ocean to NOT rebuild the beach. Over the years it's gone and come back of its own accord. Unless fences were put up and a policeman stationed, you'd find people on the beach when it returned.

Does the Caravan.... (can't spell it) Hotel have any other beach?

[PaperTiger]

The Caravanserai shouldn't be affected, the noise might even be less with the extension.
http://www.sxm-hotels.com/map_sb.html