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Who remembers the old airport?
- Thread starter tim
- Start date
ChasBidd
Senior Insider
I remember it well. Check my photos in the "vintage SBH" gallery. Dated 11/28/05. Pilots would buzz the runway in advance of landing, signaling the shepherd boy to get the sheep and goats clear of the strip.
Also the Winair pilot would smoke his pipe the entire time: taxi to landing.
Also the Winair pilot would smoke his pipe the entire time: taxi to landing.
KevinS
Senior Insider
ChasBidd said:
Chas,
You may be referring to Captain Jose Dormoy, also known as "La Pipe". There's a myspace page that documents part of his life. Perhaps you'll recognize him.
http://www.myspace.com/joselapipe
lloyd
Senior Insider
Tim
We started coming in'85,the year the "new airport" was officially opened( we came on on the "legendary" Air St Thomas ).The airport was was still mostly outside- no second story until just a few years ago.
We'd sit outside on chairs on the side of the runway as we waited. I remember once a guy's hat blew off onto the roof, and the gendarme came with a broom ,and ,after a lot of discussion,and much "twoing and frowing"amongst all of us sitting there, managed to get it down off the roof,using a broom handle.
Once we were landing, and suddenly, we basically did a "touch and go". AS the pilot pulled back on the stick, we heard him say "Il y avait un chiot sur le piste " ("there was a puppy on the runway")
There were so few flights in and out in the '80's that we once had a phone call at the old PLM where we stayed (in itself,quite a rare occurrence -to get a phone call !!) from somebody who knew we had tix,and offering to buy them.
But we also loved the old Montserrat airport(now covered in ash) ,where after he landed the plane, the pilot would go over to the little booth and issue you a temporary Montserrat driver's licence,and then walk over to another little booth,and rent you a car.
We started coming in'85,the year the "new airport" was officially opened( we came on on the "legendary" Air St Thomas ).The airport was was still mostly outside- no second story until just a few years ago.
We'd sit outside on chairs on the side of the runway as we waited. I remember once a guy's hat blew off onto the roof, and the gendarme came with a broom ,and ,after a lot of discussion,and much "twoing and frowing"amongst all of us sitting there, managed to get it down off the roof,using a broom handle.
Once we were landing, and suddenly, we basically did a "touch and go". AS the pilot pulled back on the stick, we heard him say "Il y avait un chiot sur le piste " ("there was a puppy on the runway")
There were so few flights in and out in the '80's that we once had a phone call at the old PLM where we stayed (in itself,quite a rare occurrence -to get a phone call !!) from somebody who knew we had tix,and offering to buy them.
But we also loved the old Montserrat airport(now covered in ash) ,where after he landed the plane, the pilot would go over to the little booth and issue you a temporary Montserrat driver's licence,and then walk over to another little booth,and rent you a car.
noel
Senior Insider
Yes Tim!
That's my wife, Didi and daughter, Joanie. We were flying Pan Am from SXM back to DC via New York that day. When we got to New York for the very short flight back to Washington, we heard the Pan Am people at the counter discussing that they would fill one plane first then cancel the second plane, which was not full. By that time we had $8.00 and one diaper left. We made the flight but it was a long, frustrating day. And it was Joanie's first birthday, April 24, 1983.
Thanks for the memories.
Tim
That's my wife, Didi and daughter, Joanie. We were flying Pan Am from SXM back to DC via New York that day. When we got to New York for the very short flight back to Washington, we heard the Pan Am people at the counter discussing that they would fill one plane first then cancel the second plane, which was not full. By that time we had $8.00 and one diaper left. We made the flight but it was a long, frustrating day. And it was Joanie's first birthday, April 24, 1983.
Thanks for the memories.
Tim
Terrance
SBH Insider
Yes, and Jose Dormoy aka La Pipe's legacy is still being carried on today:
http://www.sxmislandtime.com/index....ribbean-foundation&catid=31:general&Itemid=76
http://www.sxmislandtime.com/index....ribbean-foundation&catid=31:general&Itemid=76
MIke R
Senior Insider
I was pre new airport and loved sitting underneath a palm tree and sipping a beer (which I also took on the plane with me )...those were different times for sure compared to now where some tourists cant even imagine coming and going without hand holding, never mind sitting under a tree waiting for the plane...LOL
JEK
Senior Insider
New board for aviation pioneers of the caribbean foundation Print E-mail
Written by Elizabeth Delien
Sunday, 12 July 2009 16:29
www.sxmislandtime.com
Oranjestad, St. Eustatius – On Saturday, July 11th 2009, the Aviation Pioneers of the Caribbean Foundation elected a new Board.
Terrance Rey was elected as the new president, taking over from Elizabeth (Elly) Delien, founder of the Foundation and partner of Winair’s legendary pilot, the late José Dormoy, affectionately known as “Pipe.
Terrance,congratulations on this honor!
Thanks for the great photo. As an aviation enthusiast, I always appreciate the chance to view an airport as it was meant to be. It's unfortunate to hear about your experiences with Pan Am in the '80's (and anyone that traveled with them during that time would undoubtedly agree) but I count myself lucky as one of the few remaining people that experienced their service during the '60's and shall never forget it.
