Summary
St Jean Airport requires skilled pilots and appropriate aircraft due to its short runway and steep approach path.
St Barth Executive now operates Tecnam P2012 STOL aircraft on this challenging route, improving connections to the island.
Tecnam’s P2012 offers comfort and luxury while meeting the demands of St Barthélemy’s unique airport requirements.
Many of us have seen those TV shows or videos of the World’s Scariest Airports, where short runways, steep approaches or high winds can result in some white-knuckle experiences; think Lukla in Nepal, Maidera in Portugal, Paro in Bhutan, Princess Julia in St Maarten or Juancho E Yrausquin in the Dutch Caribbean.
Right aircraft for St Barth
On that list is St Jean Gustaf III Airport (SBH/TFFJ), also known as St Jean, on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy. It has a steep approach path and a runway just 646 meters (2,120 feet) long, situated at the foot of a hill and runs onto the St. Jean’s beach.
Photo: Tecnam
In short, pilots flying into this airport need the skills and the right aircraft to land safely and avoid hitting the steep upward hill or overshooting and crashing into the sea. French VIP airline St. Barth Executive operates to the airport and last week announced it was now operating its new Tecnam P2012 STOL aircraft on the route from Guadeloupe.
Related Tecnam P2012 Traveller: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Italian Utility Aircraft
This Italian aircraft is the latest piston twin on the market.
The first flight using the Tecnam P2012 STOL was on August 1, 2024, between Guadeloupe Pointe-à-Pitre International (PTP) and St Jean, operated by St Barth Executive under the AIR INTER ISLES brand. Flight LE2080 departed PTP at 08:36 and, after a fifty-one-minute flight, landed at St Jean at 09:27. The return service left Saint Barthélemy at 14:33 and arrived in Guadeloupe at 15:30.
Direct connections to St Barth
St Barth Executive President Vincent Beauvarlet said the airline carried out hours of training and pilot releases, which allowed it to test the performance and operation of the STOL, which met its specifications perfectly. He added:
“The P2012 lands and takes off perfectly in St Barth and offers us an attractive payload. Finally, we have an air vector that allows us to connect our islands with controlled operating costs.”
St Barth Executive has two P2012 STOLs, with a third due to arrive in September, and operates this route three times daily, with up to six flights during the high season. The arrival of the Tecnam service has been eagerly awaited as it connects islands that were previously only accessible by boat, with the P2012 especially suited to the challenging airport.
Photo: Tecnam
It is well suited to Saint Barthélemy because of its 425-meter (1,395 feet) take-off and 360-meter (1,180 feet) landing distance, coupled with a certified “10 degree (17.5%) steep approach,” which gives it outstanding performance over the 646-meter-long (2,120 feet) runway at SBH.
Photo: Tecnam
The P2012 has been built with commuters in mind and comfortably seats nine passengers with one or two crew. It is a new-generation turbocharged, twin-engine, high-wing aircraft that brings a new level of comfort and luxury to Caribbean services. Inside, it has premium interiors, in-seat power, more legroom and under-seat stowage.
Photo: Tecnam
St Barth Executive is a VIP Charter company that connects the island with the US, the Caribbean and Latin America using a fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops and now the Tecnam P2012 STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft. It is an EASA-certified French operator based in St Barth with secondary bases in Guadeloupe and St Martin.
Tecnam is an Italian aircraft manufacturer that was founded more than 75 years ago. It designs and builds a wide range of aircraft for personal use, commercial operations, business travel, flight training, surveillance, law enforcement and other specialized applications. Tecnam is a global business with headquarters in Capua, Italy and subsidiaries in Sebring, Florida and Brisbane, Australia
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66b1b2165c5e40fab5260505aa5501a6&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsimpleflying.com%2Ftecnam-p2012-stol-saint-barthelemy%2F&c=15406673710745869489&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-08-05 17:35:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
