Planespotting Sint Maarten — TNCM
Princess Juliana International is the airport behind the most famous aviation photo on earth: an airliner a few dozen metres above sunbathers on Maho Beach, seconds from touching down on runway 10. The single runway, 10/28, is short for the jets that use it, so arrivals cross the beach and the coast road very low, and the steady easterly trade wind means runway 10 is in use almost all the time. That puts both the arrivals and the start of the take-off roll at the Maho end, which is why the fence there is dangerous: jet blast from departing aircraft knocks people off their feet, and a visitor died from its effects in 2017. Traffic is modest by hub standards but concentrated into the middle of the day, peaking in the northern winter, when European widebodies, US mainline jets, island turboprops and a wave of business jets all pass through. Pick your position, check the arrivals board at the beach bars, and enjoy the show from a safe distance.
Conditions right now
Runways
- 09/27 RWY 09 2,349 × 45 m · 7,707 × 148 ft closed
- 10/28 2,299 × 45 m · 7,543 × 148 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 13:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody45%
- Turboprop25%
- Bizjet15%
- Widebody8%
- GA7%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Maho Beach
The icon. Aircraft on final to runway 10 cross the beach low enough to fill a wide-angle lens, with the turquoise water behind. A higher double fence now separates the beach from the road and runway, so the classic overhead shot is from the sand, not the barrier.
- Getting there
- Maho Beach Road at the western end of the airport; parking at Maho village and along the road, taxis from Philipsburg and Simpson Bay. Do not stand at the fence or on the barriers during departures — jet blast causes serious injuries, and local rules prohibit it.
- Best time
- Runway 10 arrivals, which is nearly all of them. Morning to early afternoon has the sun behind you as you face the approach; late afternoon gives backlit silhouettes against the sunset.
- Lens
- 14–35 mm for the overhead shot, 70–200 mm for aircraft on final over the water.
Sunset Bar & Grill, Maho Beach
The beach bar that made Maho famous, rebuilt after Hurricane Irma, with the day's arrival times posted on a board and a deck right under the approach. A slightly elevated angle lets you frame the whole aircraft with the beach below.
- Getting there
- On Maho Beach next to the approach path; walk from the Maho car parks. Buying food or drinks is expected if you use the deck.
- Best time
- Midday wave of arrivals, roughly late morning to mid-afternoon in the winter season.
- Lens
- 24–105 mm.
D's Beach Bar and Grill, White Sands Road
A spotter favourite on the beach side of the runway, near the touchdown zone, with a covered deck for side-on shots of aircraft landing, rolling and departing from both ends. It's close enough that a wide angle is needed for widebodies directly in front of you.
- Getting there
- At the end of White Sands Road, Simpson Bay, south of the runway; by car or taxi. Support the bar by ordering something.
- Best time
- Midday with runway 10 arrivals; the deck faces the runway with the sun mostly behind you in the winter season.
- Lens
- 18–55 mm for aircraft in front of you, 70–300 mm for distant shots.
Mary's Boon Beach Plantation, Simpson Bay
A small hotel at the eastern end with two decks over the turning bay and the end of runway 28. You'll see aircraft backtracking and any 28 arrivals or departures; trees block most of the runway 10 approach.
- Getting there
- South-east side of the airport in Simpson Bay; car or taxi. Staff generally allow visitors on the deck — buy food or drinks. No shade on the decks.
- Best time
- Whenever the wind brings runway 28 into use, and for backtracking traffic any time.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm.
The Morgan Resort rooftop
A hotel next to Sunset Bar with a roof terrace looking up runway 10 and across the approach. Access is for guests only, which makes it calm even on the busiest January days.
- Getting there
- Maho area, beside Sunset Bar; book a stay for rooftop access.
- Best time
- Runway 10 arrivals and departures from morning to mid-afternoon.
- Lens
- 24–200 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
From December to April the schedule fills with European widebodies — KLM from Amsterdam and Air France from Paris — plus American, Delta, United and JetBlue from the US East Coast hubs, and Air Canada and WestJet from Canada. Regional and island traffic is a big part of the day: Winair Twin Otters and ATRs to Saba, St Eustatius, St Barths and Anguilla, plus Caribbean Airlines, interCaribbean and other island operators. Business jets peak sharply over Christmas and New Year, with a mass exodus in the first days of January. Outside the season, and especially in the August–October hurricane months, widebodies thin out.
FAQ
What's that plane over Sint Maarten?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B aircraft around the island with type, registration and route — check it on the beach to see what's lining up for runway 10. Free, no app needed.
Is it safe to stand at the fence on Maho Beach?
No. Jet blast from aircraft departing runway 10 has caused serious injuries and a death in 2017. Standing at or holding the fence during departures is prohibited; watch from further back on the beach.
When do the big jets arrive at TNCM?
Mostly from late morning to mid-afternoon, peaking from December to April. Spotterra can alert you before a widebody is inbound, so you're in place on time.
Which runway does Princess Juliana use?
Runway 10 almost all the time, because of the easterly trade wind, so arrivals come in over Maho Beach. Runway 28 is used only when the wind changes.
Spotterra watches the sky over Sint Maarten
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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