Leg 18 TNCM - Philipsburgh (Saint Maartens Island) to TAPA - Saint Johns (Antigua)
TNCM - Airport Info
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ICAO code: TNCM
Airport name: Princess Juliana International
Location: Philipsburgh , St- Maartens Island ( Netherlands Antilles )
Useful information
Airport elevation: 13 ’
Time zone: AT (UTC -4)
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: 7535
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
VOR DME RW09
VOR RW09 (CAT AB)
VOR RW09 (CAT CD)
Aiport NAVAIDS:
NONE
Philipsburgh Info
Saint Maarten is one of the most touristed islands in the Caribbean, but despite the large resorts, casinos, fast-food chains and a sophisticated capital, it still has quiet niches to explore. There are powdery white-sand beaches, secluded coves and good diving.
The island is a prime jumping-off point for trips to its neighbours - it's cheap and easy to get to Anguilla, Saba and Sint Eustatius, some of the region's most rural and least developed destinations. And the lower-key French side of the island is a short trip from anywhere in Sint Maarten.
Despite its reputation for touristy resorts, comfortable travel on Sint Maarten is reasonably priced. You can live fairly well on US$150-200 a day, though diving the reefs and the duty-free shops will push that figure up. Moderate travelers can expect to pay around US$100-150 a day. Self catering can keep your costs closer to US$75 a day or less.
US dollars, traveler's checks and credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere.
TAPA - Airport Info
ICAO code: TAPA
Airport name: V.C. Bird International
Location: St-Johns, Antigua
Useful information
Airport elevation: 62’
Time zone: AT (UTC -4)
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: 9003
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
VOR DME RW07
VOR DME RW25
VOR RW07
VOR RW25
Aiport NAVAIDS:
NONE
Antigua Info
Antigua's tourist office boasts that the island has 365 beaches, 'one for each day of the year'. It has great reefs and wrecks for diving and snorkelling. On neighbouring Barbuda you can track the island's fabled frigate birds and visit the Caribbean's largest rookery.
Barbuda is a quiet, single-village island that has less than 2% of the nation's population and gets very few independent visitors, mainly ardent bird watchers and a few yachties enjoying its clear waters and tranquil beaches. Antigua is a touch more happening, but the pace is still deliciously slow.
Antigua's Sailing Week is a major week-long yachting event that begins on the last Sunday in April, attracting about 150 boats. In addition to a series of five races, there are rum parties and a formal ball, with most activities taking place at Nelson's Dockyard and Falmouth Harbour. In June, Barbuda has a celebration of its own called Caribara.
Carnival, Antigua's big annual festival, is held from the end of July and culminates in a parade on the first Tuesday in August. Most Carnival activity takes place in St John's. Calypso music, steel bands, masqueraders, floats and street 'jump-ups' are all part of the celebrations. If you have enough energy by the last day to be up and dancing in the streets at 4am you can jump up during J'Overt, the climax of Carnival. The other major musical event is the annual Antiguan Jazz Festival, which takes place in October.
Downloads
General Caribbean scenery - carib_nd.zip (on flightsim.com )
TAPA scenery - vc-bird2.zip ( on www.flightsim.com )