Landings, a spectator sport.

[Stonewall]

Saw this on CNN this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAfQwDizpRo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZJc2hyymmc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7s26o4yUn8

Whole bunch of these on youtube from St. Maarten.

[SDF_Specialist]

Wow, that's pretty low. Isn't there a concern about the vehicles in the first one, and people who may be up close watching in the second one? It reeks of the word 'accident' to me. But then again, I'm not a pilot, so I have no clue.

[a2capt]

Thats been going on for years, they take about 10 flights a day.  It's a big draw for plane spotters. I only hope the publicity doesn't ruin it....

I wanna go some day. 

In reality, the video's make it look 'worse' than it is. There is a fence line and approach lighting to clear. The planes can't be mere feet off the ground at that point. As well, the pilots flying in are well aware of what they are doing.

Here's a DVD ...

http://www.justplanes.com/SXM.html $24.95 - pretty good stuff.

Similarly, the beach off LAX is nothing like this, or the top level of the Aladdin Parking complex just off the approach end to RWY 27 at SAN. (Lindbergh Field, San Diego).

Doing UDF in that area is a blast, almost literally, the vortices are very evident, the palm trees whip like mad and the noise from the wind and the powerlines is just really cool. The terrain on the approach there keeps the last couple miles or so almost about the same AGL wise because the terrain slopes downward toward the airport location which for all intents is in a valley or sorts. Check it out on Google Earth.

[SJFedor]

Landing is the most fun you can have with your pants on.

Watching these guys land at St Maarten first hand is a close second.

[bosshawk]

Old saying: takeoffs are discretionary, landings are mandatory.  A primary goal in aviation is to match up the two.

[JohnKachenmeister]

I went frame-by-frame on the KLM 747 landing, and he was way too low.  He barely cleared the fence.  The people in the red car are looking back in abject terror.  He touches down short of the numbers barely on the runway.

[Frenchie]

I went frame-by-frame on the KLM 747 landing, and he was way too low.  He barely cleared the fence.  The people in the red car are looking back in abject terror.  He touches down short of the numbers barely on the runway.

It happens.  Aircraft taking out approach lights is a fairly common occurrance.  The poles for the lights are made of frangible material for that reason.  SXM has a 7,000' runway which is not long by 747-400 standards.  It's not surprising they would try to land as close to threshold as possible.

[♠SARKID♠]

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD I WANNA GO SEE THAT!!!

[a2capt]

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD I WANNA GO SEE THAT!!!

The video I mentioned earlier is pretty loaded with approaches.

[dougsnow]

When I worked at American Eagle airlines Dispatch in DFW, I worked the Carib operation, and jumpseated into/out of SXM...

That approach is a non-precision VOR/DME approach, which provides lateral guidance only, no vertical guidance - including no visual approach slope indications - it's strictly the flying pilot's Mk 1 eyeball and his judgment of the approach.

Yeah, it was a fun jumpseat - I swore that I saw a topless babe when I flew over