Oh No! Its St Maarten time again
Está servira para distraerle.
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Sandblasting the Sunbathers?
What on earth is wrong with this well executed little biddy short field landing and wherein lies the illegality?
I have no doubt that, due to high speed inbound traffic behind him, The Flying Dutchman was trying to make the high speed exit and an expeditious turn off!

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The view from the flightdeck must have been 'interesting'. What instrument approach does that runway have (if any)? If it is an ILS then they must surely have been well below the glideslope.
PP
PP

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My point is, there's a reason you can't get this close to the threshold at any other airport with 747's landing, is it overlooked with St.Maarten because there is no option, and the revenue from Jumbo's full of passengers is too much to lose?
747's passing just feet overhead of cars and pedestrians doesn't seem right to me
747's passing just feet overhead of cars and pedestrians doesn't seem right to me

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I agree with BOAC. It is silly season on St Maarten. These pics appear almost with monotonous regularity. As he says, use search and you will find them. This thread is really unnecessary but we will leave it for a while.
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I am no expert but the first picture has a look of a montage or some sort of Photoshop manipulation. The 2nd one the photographer is standing on a very solid looking structure which looks dangerously close to the runway. The a/c's port wingtip is only just clearing it. Presumably it must be legal but it doesn't look safe - to me
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The photo is real. It was taken by a respected photographer and posted on Airliners.net. The landing is one of closest (to the fence) ever. The PIC lands it extremely short of the numbers. More here: http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...ages=117&page=
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Considering that KLM's skid marks are now the first set of tire marks on the runway and are well before the threshold (I will take a pic if ppl want when I get back to work)...This was an EXTREMELY early touchdown. I wouldn't dare land that short and I fly a plane a fraction of the size.
This pic actually shows the exact point where the left main touches the ground (and the other mains shortly after). It corresponds with the exact place that the tire marks start. http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1078774/M/
This pic actually shows the exact point where the left main touches the ground (and the other mains shortly after). It corresponds with the exact place that the tire marks start. http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1078774/M/
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Always some amusing responses when people see St.Maarten photos for the first time. Yes it is real, yes they do come in low but this was a tad lower than most and touched down short of the threshold.
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
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The main gear looks just a few feet off the tarmac, so it must have passed VERY close to the guy bending over behind the fence. He must have come very close to being decapitated or the 747 was descending very steeply for an almighty touchdown- I would guess he's evacuating his digestive system bending over like that! Still having trouble visualising this- the guy is under the APU, yet the wheels are about to hit the under-run area. Even after 18 years flying 747s, I could never judge it this fine. Definitley an interview in the Flight Managers' Office!
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Originally Posted by Rainboe
I could never judge it this fine. Definitley an interview in the Flight Managers' Office!
Last edited by perkin; 24th Jul 2006 at 18:22.
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Standing by the fence on landing is bad, but takeoff must be worse...!
Check out this video from ebaumsworld. Also gives a good indication just how short that landing was! And yes those are people being blown into the sea! I think it was filmed from the same spot the photo was taken also....
http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/07/planeblow.html
Check out this video from ebaumsworld. Also gives a good indication just how short that landing was! And yes those are people being blown into the sea! I think it was filmed from the same spot the photo was taken also....
http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/07/planeblow.html
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What brought about the change of mind?
This thread was closed on Saturday!!
It's definitely a fix. There's no vestage of shade or shadow under the aircraft, and unless it's totally transparent that would be extremely difficult to achieve!
It's definitely a fix. There's no vestage of shade or shadow under the aircraft, and unless it's totally transparent that would be extremely difficult to achieve!
Originally Posted by cavortingcheetah

What on earth is wrong with this well executed little biddy short field landing and wherein lies the illegality?

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Originally Posted by Kestrel_909
Always some amusing responses when people see St.Maarten photos for the first time. Yes it is real, yes they do come in low but this was a tad lower than most and touched down short of the threshold.
Is it safe?
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Originally Posted by PPRuNe Pop
I agree with BOAC. It is silly season on St Maarten. These pics appear almost with monotonous regularity. As he says, use search and you will find them. This thread is really unnecessary but we will leave it for a while.
how about this video of a take off...
Edit: That link locked up my computer!

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There is no ILS on Rwy 09 (nor 27).
I will try and post another pic later today, (see some on the sticky thread) but west of the airfield boundary fence there is a small twin track road, a thin low concrete buffer to keep the sand off the road and then the beach. The sand on the extended rwy c/l is lower than the remaining level of the beach left & right of centre - it gets blown away and even behind 75 deps the sea ripples for a good 100+ metres.
There is no traffic control on the road - fortunately, apart from the odd school bus, it is lighlt trafficked by cars/4 x 4's.
The "heavies" backtrack full length and the power starts being applied on the turn - and despite the brainless hanging on to the fence.....it is wise to take serious cover away from the jetblast.
Warning signs abound!
Watch Lear Jet arrivals in particular - very flat. As for DHC6tropics - I got one shot where I could just about touch the gear - but hey, you floated.....
There are so many options for photographic locations. There are two timeshare blocks seen in the background of most SXM pics and the Sonesta Hotel resort further back. You can look down on the runway from several vantage points.
Looking forward to my next trip
I will try and post another pic later today, (see some on the sticky thread) but west of the airfield boundary fence there is a small twin track road, a thin low concrete buffer to keep the sand off the road and then the beach. The sand on the extended rwy c/l is lower than the remaining level of the beach left & right of centre - it gets blown away and even behind 75 deps the sea ripples for a good 100+ metres.
There is no traffic control on the road - fortunately, apart from the odd school bus, it is lighlt trafficked by cars/4 x 4's.
The "heavies" backtrack full length and the power starts being applied on the turn - and despite the brainless hanging on to the fence.....it is wise to take serious cover away from the jetblast.
Warning signs abound!
Watch Lear Jet arrivals in particular - very flat. As for DHC6tropics - I got one shot where I could just about touch the gear - but hey, you floated.....
There are so many options for photographic locations. There are two timeshare blocks seen in the background of most SXM pics and the Sonesta Hotel resort further back. You can look down on the runway from several vantage points.
Looking forward to my next trip
