Saba, a Dutch Caribbean Island located 28 miles southwest of Saint Martin in the Lesser Antilles, has several claims to fame. It’s towering volcanic peak, named Mt. Scenery that juts 2,910 feet out of the ocean, is the tallest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It offers some of the best diving anywhere in the world, and its silhouette was as that of Skull Island in the original 1933 movie “King Kong.” It’s also home to a rather famous road. Called simply “The Road,” the 8-mile-long windy piece of pavement, is the only road on the island. It begins at the airport, runs up and over the dormant volcanos peak, and back down the other side of the islands. But, back in 2019, none of those were why I was interested in visiting the tiny island. Saba is also home to the shortest commercial airport runway in the world.
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport – The Shortest Commercial Runway
At only 1,312 feet in length, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport has the shortest regularly served commercial airport runway anywhere in the world. To put that length into perspective, the runway at nearby Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of Saint Martin, which is already considered short, clocks in at 7,546 feet. The USS Enterprise, the famous US Naval aircraft carrier’s desk is 1,101 feet, which means the runway at Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is only 189 feet longer than one of the world’s largest aircraft carriers.
Your Journey Starts at Saint Martin
Anyone wanting to visit Saba first needs to visit Saint Martin. Saint Martin is a half Dutch, half French, Caribbean Island that is widely known in the aviation community, as it is home to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). Arguably the most famous aviation spotting location in the world. Maho beach, more commonly referred to simply as “airplane beach” has fostered aviation enthusiast, spotters, and thrill seekers for many years. If you’ve never heard of Saba, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Saint Martin. Saint Martin and Princess Juliana International Airport serve as a hub for the surrounding small islands, as it is the largest and most well-developed airport in the region. Every day, small Twin Otters, Grand Caravans, and Islanders use SXM to operate to a myriad of smaller islands like Saba and Saint Barthelemy.
Winair Is The Carrier To Get There
Winair, or Winward Islands Airways, is a government owned Dutch airline, that operates daily flights from Saint Martin to Saba and many other airports in the area using their fleet of De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters. The Twin Otter is ideally suited for use on routes like this, as its STOL, or short takeoff and landing, capabilities are legendary. It is one of the few aircraft that can successfully make the approach and landing into Saba.
I Traveled on PJ-WIQ
When I visited Saba in 2019, I flew there on Winair’s Twin Otter registered PJ-WIQ. PJ-WIQ is a 43-year-old De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter. Or at least it was 43-years old when I took the flight. That was over 5 years ago, so the aircraft is now pushing 50-years-old, and it is still in service with Winair today. Talk about a true workhorse. The seating on Winair’s Twin Otters is first come first serve, so if you find yourself taking this flight and you want the best seat in the house, just be sure to board first. Row 1 on the Twin Otter is only two feet behind the completely open cockpit and sitting in row 1 gives you incredible views directly out of the cockpit windows.
Flying to Saba
The flight from Saint Martin to Saba is very short, taking only 12 minutes from wheels up to wheels down. The 7,546 feet of runway at Princess Juliana International Airport looks massive once you’ve seen the 1,312 feet runway at Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport. The airport is located on the only flat surface the island has to offer, and the runway is flanked by sheer drop-offs on each side. There is no room for error when operating here. As such, Winair’s pilots are required to have a special endorsement on their license before they are allowed to operate flights in or out of the airport.
Once the islands unmissable silhouette is filling the cockpit windows, you turn east to line up with the runway, and the pilots carefully approach, planting the main gear of the aircraft as close to the end of the runway as possible. The Twin Otters powerful engines are places in reverse, and hard braking is applied. It is truly amazing how little space the Twin Otter needs to slow land and slow down. The crew then performs a 180 on the runway and back taxis to the small terminal building, and only two aircraft can fit on the ramp at any one time.
Departing Saba – An Epic Ride
When departing the tiny airport, the crew once again uses all available runway. Looking out the window while taxiing, you’ll see those sheer drop-offs front and center as the crew swings the Twin Otter around to face the winds. The brakes are held, full power is applied to the Twin Otters powerful engines, the brakes are released, and at this point there is very little time to abort the takeoff, as the end of the runway will be under the main gear in less than 20 seconds. Before you know it, you’re leaving the tiny island of Saba behind. Having just flown into and out of the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport.
Take The Same Flight I did
There’s very little I can do to convey the thrill of flying in and out of Saba using words. So, I invite you to watch the 10-minute video I’ve put together that is attached to this article. In the video I show parts of Saba, but more importantly, I show the arrival and departure footage I captured in 2019. Both are shown from the cockpit view, and the passenger cabin view.
Why You Should Visit Saba
Visiting Saba was one of the true highlights in all the traveling I’ve ever done. And not just because I’m an aviation enthusiast who wanted to fly to the world’s shortest commercial airport runway. I spent that whole day on Saba, and it was truly a wonderful place. The locals were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they truly loved sharing information about their little island. Still to this day, it is one of my favorite places that I’ve ever visited. If you ever have a chance to visit Saint Martin, carve out at least a day to fly to Saba. Simply ask any of the taxi drivers to give you the grand tour, and they’ll happily show you every corner of their island.
