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Interesting afternoon at Sunset Beach
#294086
01/16/2023 03:29 PM
01/16/2023 03:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,086 Massachusetts
boucharda
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,086
Massachusetts
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We figured with only two large ships in port it would be a good day to go to SSB...and...a few days ago the beach was huge. Well....duh....weather was a MAJOR issue. Significant wave action washing the sea into the road and removing the sand from the previous few days.
But then the rain came....and came.....I originally went to get a pic of AF landing at145p and ended up taking shelter at SSB bar to wait. As scheduled AF came in but approached right over the bar instead of the normal path and then aborted landing....figured it would just make a circle and return but it did not. Also an AA flight came in and also aborted and another AA flight never came in
As we were driving away from SSB AF made another aborted attempt to land
As I type this AF just landed (322p) after circling for over 90 minutes. Both AA flights are still in the air. Guess AF had enough fuel to hang out for that long....
So much for the pic
Ok...so an edit as typing....The 145p AF(AF538) flight actually diverted to Guadeloupe and the one that just landed was another scheduled AF flight for 315p
AA from Miami was diverted to ST. Kitts
AA from CLT ended up in SJU
Last edited by boucharda; 01/16/2023 03:40 PM.
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Re: Interesting afternoon at Sunset Beach
[Re: boucharda]
#294088
01/16/2023 03:58 PM
01/16/2023 03:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646
Brookfield, CT.
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Wow! Any explanation as to what happened?
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Interesting afternoon at Sunset Beach
[Re: boucharda]
#294090
01/16/2023 04:04 PM
01/16/2023 04:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,524 Grenada
Zanshin
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,524
Grenada
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One flight just took off (in the wrong direction) 5 minutes ago, so the airport seems to be functioning now. IFR long-haul flights need at 90 minutes reserve at destination. I've been here in Simpson Bay and those rainclouds are just nimbostratus rainclouds and no CuNim (thunderstorms) which might threaten flights. I wonder if SXM's systems might have gone down and prevented arrivals? Although they could have done a daytime VFR landing given the benign conditions, perhaps it was something physical to do with the runway?
Last edited by Zanshin; 01/16/2023 04:08 PM.
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Re: Interesting afternoon at Sunset Beach
[Re: Zanshin]
#294092
01/16/2023 04:16 PM
01/16/2023 04:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,086 Massachusetts
boucharda
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,086
Massachusetts
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Since the aircraft actually approached the runway three times at low altitude I would assume it was pilot decision to divert....
...and the weather is no better now....
Flight that left an hour ago ("wrong way") was a delayed United flight
Last edited by boucharda; 01/16/2023 04:20 PM.
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Re: Interesting afternoon at Sunset Beach
[Re: boucharda]
#294098
01/16/2023 05:38 PM
01/16/2023 05:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 288 Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
PrairieGirl
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 288
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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We watched all the action from our perch on the porch at Karakter. Straight line view down the runway. It was quite something to see - first the AF on approach and then as it aborted, a graceful arc out over the water. A reasonably sharp bank, looked like it was trying to show us its belly.
Many other diversions followed over the next hour, both large and small aircraft. Finally a private jet landed, reverse thrusters on full, looked like zero braking. Perhaps standing water on the runway was a contributing factor.
Then aircraft started to leave and the spray they threw was tremendous. We were all joking that we needed to get out there with squeegees to do our part.
But who really knows. The viz was very low at times, the cloud cover dense and the rain coming down hard. Better safe than sorry.
LeAnn url=https://www.tickerfactory.com] [/url]
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Re: Interesting afternoon at Sunset Beach
[Re: boucharda]
#294109
01/16/2023 08:41 PM
01/16/2023 08:41 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,575 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,575
St Maarten
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Forecast is for rain all week. The surfers were having a field day today
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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