The Princess Juliana International Airport is the airport of St. Maarten. SXM is the designator code for SXM Airport. St Martens airport is the main airport in the Caribbean. It is named after Juliana of the Netherlands, who as crown princess landed here in 1944, the year after the airport opened. The airport is perhaps best known for very low-altitude flyover landing approaches (world famous) due to one end of its runway being extremely close to the shore and Maho Beach.
There is also an airport on the French side of the island, called Aeroprt de Grand Case or L'Esperance Airport.
There is also an airport on the French side of the island, called Aeroprt de Grand Case or L'Esperance Airport.
The airport was started as a military airstrip in 1942. It was converted to a civilian airport in 1943. In 1964 the airport was remodeled and relocated, with a new terminal building and control tower. The facilities were upgraded in 1985 and 2001.
New airport traffic circle, features three bronze sculptures of our national bird, the Brown Pelican.
Because the approach to Runway 09 is over water, pilots can become disoriented regarding their perceived altitude when operating under visual flight rules. Normal instrument checks, coupled with experience and situational awareness, mitigate potential problems. The departure from Runway 09 presents more "difficulties" than the approach, with a turn required to avoid mountains in the departure path.