Windward Express
| |||||||
| Founded | 2000 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating bases | Princess Juliana International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 1 | ||||||
| Destinations | 27 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Windward Express Airways is an airline based at Princess Juliana International Airport in the island of Sint Maarten. It provides air charter and cargo services throughout the Eastern Caribbean.
Services and Fleet
[edit]Windward Express operates chartered and cargo flights to 27 destinations throughout the Caribbean.[1] The airline flys routes primarily to the Islands of St Barthélemy and Saba from Sint Maarten. Additionally, Windward Express offers day trips to Anguilla and Sint Eustatius.[2]
As of summer 2024, Windward Express currently operates a single Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (Registered PJ-WED). Thanks to its STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capabilities, the type is ideal for operations at airports with short runways in the Caribbean such as Saint-Barthélemy, Baillif, Les Saints, and Saba.[3]
Windward Express is one of only three airlines certified to land at Saba's short runway.[4]
Former fleet
[edit]Windward Express's fleet has contracted in recent years. The airline used to operate the following additional aircraft:
| Aircraft | No. of Passengers | Regristration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander | 9 | PJ-WEA | Destroyed in Hurricane Irma 2017[5] |
| Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander | 9 | PJ-WEB | Under possible rebuild after crash in Feb 2023. |
| Piper PA-23 Aztec | 4-5 | PJ-WEC | Last confirmed flight: Jan 2020[6] |
Accidents
[edit]On the 13th of February 2023, a Windward Express BN-2B-20 Islander (registered PJ-WEB) sustained substantial damage while landing at the Saba-Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB / TNCS). The aircraft struck the ground to the left and approximately one meter before the threshold of runway 12. With the main landing gear severely bent, the aircraft subsequently made a hard landing on the runway. The pilot, two passengers, and a dog exited the aircraft unharmed.
Weather was ruled as the main factor in the accident. Rain showers were reported in the area at the time of accident, and a heavy downdraft likely forced the aircraft into the terrain.[7]
The airframe of PJ-WEB was subsequently dismantled on the apron of the airport suggesting an attempt to transport and/or rebuild the aircraft. Satellite data from March 2024 shows the pieces of the airframe still at Saba airport.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "baggage". www.windwardexpress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ "airport". www.windwardexpress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ Airport Information
- ^ reporter (2018-08-07). "SXM Airways Now Able to Execute Saba flights". BES Reporter. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ "OT Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander PJ-WEA,". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ "PJ-WEC/PJWEC aviation photos on JetPhotos". JetPhotos. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ "Accident Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander PJ-WEB,". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2024-06-06.