Aviation Specials – May 2018

CARIBBEAN

76 // Extreme Airports

Island paradise

Beautiful Saint Barthélemy, smaller

and more exclusive than many of its

neigbours, is a paradise for the rich

and famous. It covers just 9.7sq miles

(25km^2 ) and its permanent population

numbers fewer than 10,000. The

island, nicknamed St Barths or St

Barts, is 22 miles (35km) southeast

of St Maarten and 150 miles (240km)

east of Puerto Rico. It is an overseas

French département, uses the Euro

for currency and its main language is

French. A tiny airport near St Jean, the

second largest town, opened in 1945.

When a new terminal was completed in

1984 it was named Gustaf III after the

SAINT

BARTHÉLEMY

SUN, SEA AND SKYLINERS

CARIBBEAN

King of Sweden who reigned when St

Barths was a Swedish territory. Annual

passenger throughput at the facility now

typically amounts to more than 20 times

the population, a major achievement

given that the largest aircraft using it are

19-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-6

Twin O ers.

Gustav III’s facilities are

small, functional and

modern. Check-

in desks line the

western end of the

building, which is open to the elements,

while car rental desks, a departure

lounge with fewer than 50 seats, and

a baggage reclaim area with customs

and immigration facilities are to the east.

The upper fl oor features a pleasant café,

airline offi ces, a gift shop, a small enclosed

viewing area and even a hair salon. There

is li le else in the way of facilities, but the

busy shops, bars, restaurants and banks

in St Jean are just across the road.

The size of the runway may limit access

to small aircraft, but there are no plans

RIGHT: Winair de

Havilland Canada

DHC-6 Twin O er

PJ-WIJ makes a dive

for the runway.

BELOW: The fi nal

approach over

Tourmente passes

very low over a

busy public road.

RIGHT: The small

terminal is

adequate for the

Twin O ers and

Cessna Caravans –

the largest aircra

to use the airport.

RIGHT: The

perimeter is lined

by a two-feet high

log fence.

FAR RIGHT: Landing

from the east

involves a steep

descent.

FAR RIGHT: Pilots

prepare for a chal-

lenging landing.

(Dennis Janssen

Photography)

BOTTOM RIGHT:

Watching arrivals is

a popular pastime.

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