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This crap has been going on for years at SXM and many intoxicated tourists have ended up in the hospital. I know, they're being stupid and should know better, but why not take away the opportunity in the first place?

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This crap has been going on for years at SXM and many intoxicated tourists have ended up in the hospital. I know, they're being stupid and should know better, but why not take away the opportunity in the first place?

Stupid people will always find a way to be stupid. Unfortunately, diving head first into a concrete block probably won't do much to improve her brain functioning.

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Interesting...not sure why the f/o had the window open..and a little malicious the crew needed to do the power runup before brake release knowing that are people hanging on the fence..premeditated???

Was down there last fall with a dive group and despite being warned of the dangers, 2 of the group decided to "try it out"..lucky one guy only lost his Maui Jim sunglasses...

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Interesting...not sure why the f/o had the window open..and a little malicious the crew needed to do the power runup before brake release knowing that are people hanging on the fence..

Was down there last fall with a dive group and despite being warned of the dangers, 2 of the group decided to "try it out"..lucky one guy only lost his Maui Jim sunglasses...

Agreed, not sure how long that runway is but it's not a great idea unless absolutely necessary. It tends to vacuum-cleaner all the sand although that may save them money on compressor washes...

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There is no need to do that type of run-up prior to taking off at SXM in an A320. It is not even mentioned in the Airbus SOP for a performance takeoff.

So there's basically a pair of a$$holes up front then?

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But the engine manufacturers will tell you that sitting still with significant thrust applied increases your risk of FOD, which is why rolling takeoffs are recommended and performance calculations are based on same.

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St. Maarten airport to boost security after jet blast injures woman

By Laura Bly, USA Today

St. Maarten's Maho Beach, a strip of sand just a few yards from the end of a short runway at the island's Princess Juliana International Airport, has long been a draw for plane-spotting tourists - many of whom ignore prominent warning signs about getting too close to a 100-m.p.h. blast from nearby jets.

But officials say they'll boost security even further after a

showed one particularly clueless thrill seeker losing her grip on the airport's chain link fence and being slammed into a concrete barrier during a JetBlue takeoff. The video clip - among many taken at Maho over the years - has generated more than 4 million views since it was posted last week.

"We acknowledge the obvious attraction by visitors of planes landing so close to the beach, which has added to making the destination quite popular," noted an airport press release. (Indeed, the adjacent Sunset Bar & Grill broadcasts air traffic control conversations in lieu of music, and asks would-be patrons, "Where else can you enjoy an ice cold beer as a huge KLM Jumbo Jet soars right over your head?")

"Nevertheless," the airport press release added, "no amount of excitement or thrill can justify putting one's life in danger. Measures currently in place include double fencing, warning signs, and brightly-painted guardrails. Incidents such as this unfortunate one emphasize the need for all our visitors to heed the clear warnings, (and) the airport is considering heightened security in that area."

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  • 5 years later...

It was an accident waiting to happen:  

Sint Maarten jet engine blast kills New Zealand Woman

  • A New Zealand woman has died on the Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten after the blast from a powerful jet engine knocked her to the ground.

    The incident happened at the famous Princess Juliana International Airport, which is just metres from the beach.

    Beachgoers can walk up to the airport fence as planes take off.

    Police said the 57-year-old woman had been holding on to the fence before the force of the jet engines threw her backwards, causing serious injury.

    She was taken to hospital for treatment, but died later.

    Danger signs

    The particular stretch of beach on the Dutch territory is popular with tourists, partly because the planes fly extremely low over the sand before landing.

    The beginning of the runway is just 50m (160ft) from the fence on Maho beach, and about the same distance to the waterline.

    There are prominent warning signs in the area instructing beachgoers not to stand near the fence because of the dangerous air blasts.

    Despite the danger, a number of videos circulating online show tourists clinging to the fence to prevent being swept away - and in some cases, almost being lifted off the ground.

    The island's tourism director, Rolando Brison, told the New Zealand Herald he had spoken to the family of the dead woman.

    "I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognised that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that risk they took turned out in the worst possible way," he said.

    The newspaper also said the plane taking off was a Boeing 737, a commercial jet. A number of local media reports said the woman struck her head on concrete when she was blown back from the fence line.

    In a statement, Sint Maarten police said they visit the area daily to discourage tourists from clinging to the runway fence.

    "The landing and taking off of all types and size of aircrafts at the international airport of Sint Maarten is well known worldwide as major tourist attraction," police said.

    "Many tourists come to the island to experience the thrills of the landing of approaching aircrafts flying low above their heads and the holding on to the airport fence and standing in the jet blast of large aircraft taking off. Doing this is, however, extremely dangerous."

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3 hours ago, DEFCON said:

Stupid to us for sure, but without risk there wouldn't be too many adventures worth pursuing either.

I guess that might be true but I don't know of any other airport in the world where this is permitted or tolerated. The beach at SXM is attached to a beach bar so I suppose normal behaviour is reduced 

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I agree Blues, for security reasons the beach area should probably be closed to pedestrian traffic; leave it open and sooner, or later some idiot will find a way to hurt an arriving aircraft.

 

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I seem to remember making at least a few reports of people on the breakwall behind us at Montego Bay.  In one case they looked like they were directly in line with the CL.  We delayed the takeoff until someone moved them.  I got the impression that they didn't get called to move the folks too often..

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