The TFF General Aviation Thread (those things with wings)

[fishyfun&fans]

SXM is still a full on international, so expect heavy traffic along with the regionals

https://www.sxmairport.com/includes/pdfs/2020-21_Winter_Schedule.pdf

It's a nice airport...split personality island (part Dutch/part French) but very friendly, gets a bit crowded even in hurricane season due to cruise ship calls on a weekly basis

thank you at @wasmewasntit i wasn't aware of this until now

i was under the impression Juliana was shut down to commercial airlines

oh well just one more thing to contend with then

i hope air traffic have smooth voices pmsl

 

[Deleted member 149562]

St Maarten Private Aviation | SXMAIRPORT.COM

SXM Airport’s Fixed Based Operations (FBO) was officially handed over to TLC, Menzies Aviation Services and Arrindell Aviation.

www.sxmairport.com

^^^^ might be of use

 

[fishyfun&fans]

KLM Pilots Must have huge cojones!

 

[Deleted member 149562]

^^^^^ also useful currently....travel restrictions

 

[fishyfun&fans]

oh luckily i should just be able to pass a pcr test and get the all clear

 

[Deleted member 149562]

oh luckily i should just be able to pass a pcr test and get the all clear

UK is on their banned list, regardless of test though.

SXM is undergoing considerable development and enlargement since its the only international on the island and several cruise lines start and finish their cruises there. The airport has been struggling with pax numbers being higher than what the airport was built to handle, it dates back to 1944 when the military airbase was changed to commercial....the private aviation area has been extended in recent years thanks to the rich and famous owning more and more private jet powered puddle jumpers

 

[fishyfun&fans]

hopefully the uk wont be on the banned list within the next few months

there will be ways around this too like being in a country on there low list for a good amount of time first

i havent looked much into all of it yet

i just know its somthing i had planned a while back

 

[Deleted member 149562]

hopefully the uk wont be on the banned list within the next few months

Don't bank on it

Much of the Caribbean region is starting to reopen but not all. Several islands have chosen to remain closed til Spring 2022.

Cruise lines have only restarted in the last 3 weeks after coming to a halt in March 2020. They are a pretty good measure of how the various islands and countries bordering the Caribbean are moving on from pandemic shutdown

 

[fishyfun&fans]

alot of the Caribbean islands major income streams are through tourism and the holiday industry so keeping the bans up will be disturbing there economies pressure will eventually force them to open up

 

[Deleted member 149562]

alot of the Caribbean islands major income streams are through tourism and the holiday industry so keeping the bans up will be disturbing there economies pressure will eventually force them to open up

Unlike many touristy places, you'll find that money is not as important as the health and welfare of their citizens

You can't blame the islands and bordering countries, yes they make a living from tourism but they simply won't rush to open if it means that their residents are placed in any potential danger

Cruises are severely limited on Caribbean destinations til at least summer 2022 and those that are operating have a strict full testing and vaccination policy for guests and crew. The testing has to be done before initial boarding and every 7 days on board and day before disembarkation at homeport. Masks must be worn at all times except when eating/drinking and in cabins. The ships are running at max 45% occupancy restriction.

 

[fishyfun&fans]

i guess ill have to take as many precautions as needed i only need minimum Hours VFR as Experience

 

[Deleted member 149562]

i guess ill have to take as many precautions as needed i only need minimum Hours IFR and a few VFR to as Experience

If you fly via CDG or AMS you might get away with it since both destinations are clear for arrivals at SXM and both have scheduled flights with AF/KLM

You would be well advised to contact whoever is handling your course and ask what the situation is

 

[fishyfun&fans]

ill work things out closer to the time
flying out via CDG does sound like a good route but its a very busy airport and ATC will be manic the flight will be done in a Citation X or similar too because of the distance

was a long night last night and drinking my first coffee of the day haha

 

[Deleted member 149562]

ill work things out plan-wise closer to the time flying out via CDG does sound like a good route

was a long night last night and drinking my first coffee of the day haha

Whenever I have flown longhaul I never used the big UK hubs like LGW or LHR cos they are an absolute shambles

I have always refused to fly BA unless no alternative for the same reason...and when as a youngster I boarded a Trident 3 with duct tape on the doorskin and around the inner window. The last time I flew BA was from NCE to MAN in 2012 on an B737-800 and that had duct tape holding the carpet down!

I always fly with AF/KLM, Emirates or SIA with changeovers at CDG, AMS or MUC

 

[fishyfun&fans]

Crazy!