TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Small Plane Is Circling Airport

Sitting on the balcony at Royal Islander Club la Plage and there is a small plane that keeps circling the runway and coming in low and at odd angles. At first I thought it was going to land but then it pulled up and continued to fly over the runway at low altitude and different angles. Not sure what it is doing but never seen before. I assumed they had the runway closed but a different small plane just landed. Very odd to see. Newsflash--looks like maybe it just landed (out of my site). Wish I knew what it was doing.

Student pilots often practice approaches like this with an instructor.

Was wondering the same thing but this was unusual in that it often flew perpendicular to the runway at low altitude. Flew over our building several times and to be honest, I was ready to run inside and hide. It was not circling in a normal way. Maybe this is how they train but not what I would expect to see at an "international" airport.

I once saw a small plane, (smaller than a regional jet but bigger than a Piper Cub) doing weird fly arounds at our airport a few years ago. Was told they were doing something with the radar. Testing it or setting it or something. Maybe they were doing that.

Sounds like they were practicing simulated loss of engine power approaches. And there is a flight school there. Small planes use that airport like any other airport. Not like they have many choices. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Dustin

hi..you are on vacation...try to RELAX!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />