Yrausquin Airport

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (IATA code SAB) is the only airport on the Caribbean island of Saba, in the Netherlands Antilles. It is well known among experienced fliers for the way in which airplanes must approach or take off from the airport.

Information:

Yrausquin Airport covers a relatively large portion of the small island of Saba. Some aviation experts are of the general opinion that the airport is one of the most dangerous in the world, despite the fact that no major tragedies have happened at the facility. The airport's sole runway is marked with an X at each end, to indicate to commercial pilots that the airport is closed for commercial aviation.

The danger arises from the airport's physical position. It is flanked on one side by high hills, and on the other side and at both ends of the runway by cliffs dropping into the sea. This creates the possibility that an airplane might overshoot the runway during landing or takeoff and end up in the sea or on the cliffs.

Despite the fact that the airport is marked as a non-commercial facility, airlines are able to land there by obtaining waivers from the Netherlands Antilles' Civil Aviation Authority.

Facilities:

Large jet aircrafts are unable to land at the airport, because the runway is too short. However, smaller airplanes (DHC-6, BN-2 and helicopters) are common sights there. There is a small ramp and terminal on the north side of the runway. The ramp also has a designated helipad. The terminal building houses offices for Winair, immigration and security, a fire department with one fire truck and a tower. The tower is an advisory service only and does not provide air traffic control. Aviation fuel is not available on the island of Saba.

Airlines and destinations:

The only airline currently serving Yrausquin airport is locally owned Windward Islands Airways, which operates daily flights to St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and St. Kitts aboard a DHC-6 Twin Otter. The flight to St. Maarten takes about twelve minutes.