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Re: Take off direction at PJIA
[Re: torch]
#59875
06/29/2015 04:26 PM
06/29/2015 04:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 102
genio67
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 102
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torch said: Take-offs to the west over Maho Beach are not uncommon and the following is the main reason. Twin engine aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 have to have the capability to clear the Cole Bay Hills if they lose an engine on take-off. When they are heavily loaded, some of them do not have that capability and therefore they request a runway 28 departure over Maho Beach, even with a tail wind. Note that the tail wind has to be below 15 knots or they cannot use 28. I have never heard a request denied by the Controllers at Juliana - they are very accomodating even though a runway 28 departure gives tham lots of work. I watched 2 US Airways flights this past March stuck at PJIA because they were too heavy for runway 10 departures and the tail wind for 28 was almost 20 knots. They sat on the taxiway for several hours hoping for the wind to slow to less than 15 knots. It didn't and they returned to the Terminal and waited for the next day When we were returning home from SXM in March on JB, we had to make a stop in SJU because the pilot wanted a full load of fuel in case we needed to divert when we approached JFK as an ice storm was expected upon our arrival there. He said he could not take off from SXM with a fuel load of fuel and I guess taking off in the other direction was not an option. Despite the annoyance of having to make a stop in SJU, we arrived relatively on time and we were not diverted.
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Re: Take off direction at PJIA
[Re: sxmojo]
#59878
07/01/2015 01:25 PM
07/01/2015 01:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,862 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,862
Central Florida!
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There are several theories represented in this thread, if you have read through it. What I will say is that in the years that we have been staying at Beachside Villas--5 or 6 years now--I have seen several planes take off the 'wrong' way. I have NEVER seen KLM 747 (or Corsair before they stopped flying 747's) take off the 'wrong' way, so the 'heavier' theory is not correct, I don't believe.
Carol Hill
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Re: Take off direction at PJIA
[Re: january]
#59881
07/01/2015 07:05 PM
07/01/2015 07:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27 NC
KandG
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
NC
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On Monday 6/29 we had reservations on the 2:25 flight from SXM to CLT. During an extensive delay at the gate, a representative of US Air (American) circulated the waiting area offering an incentive for eight (!) passengers to get off the flight: $625 pp toward a future flight plus a fully paid night at Sonesta Maho with all food and drinks: "You won't have to open your wallet." There were a few takers; we were not among them, though tempting. My wife and I silently expressed contempt about overbooking, but it wasn't that at all. After the doors to the plane were closed, the pilot explained that the plane was overweight and they needed to lighten the plane by expelling passengers. He said that under normal circumstances, they could take off "the wrong way", west over Maho, but the easterly tailwinds over 20 knots prevented that this day and that the current weight prevented the plane from clearing the mountains to the east on takeoff! At that point, more than one passenger pressed the flight attendant assistance button in an attempt to get off the plane, to no avail. Note: we cleared the mountains, as usual with room to spare. That, however, was not the worst part of the trip. The customs backlog in Charlotte was worse than it has been in the ten years we've returned from SXM. We missed our connecting flight (as did dozens if not hundreds of others) and are considering the Global Entry option for the future.
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Re: Take off direction at PJIA
[Re: Bahston]
#59883
07/01/2015 10:28 PM
07/01/2015 10:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,862 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,862
Central Florida!
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You are correct--I personally have never seen a landing at PJIA toward the sea.
Carol Hill
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Re: Take off direction at PJIA
[Re: wilsonck]
#59889
07/03/2015 12:44 PM
07/03/2015 12:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088
Massachusetts
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Well the previous couple of pics show the beast turning and getting ready to take of to the east...but...a lot of work to shop it for what purpose?
..and then there are the videos that confirm a similar takeoff
Whenever I post my KLM pic of a landing there is always someone who just says "photoshopped" but I was there and took the pic...
Last edited by boucharda; 07/03/2015 12:48 PM.
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