Posts Tagged ‘embraer business jets’
10 Months -100 Takeoffs (and 100 Landings) Part 2
Of the many fun reasons to pilot new Embraer Executive Jets, one of the best is St. Martin. Located in the Lesser Antilles island chain, the French/Dutch Island of St. Martin (or St. Maarten) is a convenient stop when ferrying aircraft out of South America. The clear, blue Caribbean Sea is the perfect backdrop for this European tropical oasis. 
Located on the more raucous, Dutch side of the island; Princess Juliana International Airport is famous for its runway which begins just a few steps from the Caribbean. Tourists like to hold onto the airport fence when jumbo jets depart, letting go at full throttle up for a brief flight of their own backwards into the surf. And the Dutch brew Heineken…here it is half the price of your neighborhood package store. On the opposite, French side of the island, are restaurants and hideaways well known for French cuisine and quiet honeymoons. But here on the Dutch side, casinos and lively night life are the norm.
After a long day including three technical stops; the ground crew of Arrindell Aviation Services, www.arrindellaviation.net is a welcome sight. Henke is there to meet us with a very short ride in a gleaming white van over to the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.
At the Sonesta, we all enjoy a quick clean-up prior to falling into a chair at Cheri’s Café just across the road. Cheri’s is “island chintzy” but is just what we’re looking for with smooth tropical drinks in a very casual island setting. The local band preys upon the tourists who take a willing part in the evenings shenanigans.
If you are lucky enough to arrive before sunset, I recommend you watch the water, airplanes and the sunset from the Sunset Beach Bar. Just a short walk from the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, the Sunset Beach Bar offers just the right elixir to rub off a full day of flying. www.sunsetbeachbar.com
