Col de la Tourmente Webcam – St. Barts Airport From Above

The Col de la Tourmente Webcam looks down on Gustaf III Airport on St. Barts from the hillside above Saint-Jean, facing roughly north across the island’s 646-meter (2,119-foot) runway. The red gables of the terminal fill the lower right of the frame, with a car park and a row of red roofs in front. Past them, Cessna Grand Caravans and other small turboprops wait on the apron, and the runway crosses the full width of the picture below a scrubby hillside topped by a bare rock face. The operator calls this camera Avions au decollage, French for planes taking off, and departures usually roll from left to right before climbing out over the beach at Saint-Jean. In late afternoon the low sun turns that rock face orange.

About Col de la Tourmente and the Airport

Col de la Tourmente is the hilltop pass on the road between Gustavia and Saint-Jean, and the small district around it. A traffic circle sits at the top, and aircraft landing on runway 10 cross it before dropping steeply to the threshold. Between 2003 and 2005 the hilltop at the end of runway 10 was lowered and the road climbing it was moved. This camera does not look down that approach. It watches the runway side-on from the south, so arrivals typically appear as they touch down at the left end and roll out, while departures cross the whole frame.

The runway, 10/28, sits at an elevation of 15 meters (48 feet). It handles small turboprops such as the Cessna Grand Caravan, Pilatus PC-12, Twin Otter and Britten-Norman Islander, and pilots need special training before they may land here. The largest aircraft ever allowed in was the de Havilland Canada Dash 7. The History Channel series Most Extreme Airports ranked it the third most dangerous airport in the world. In 2023 it handled 203,841 passengers and 41,271 aircraft movements.

Since 2015 the airport has officially carried the name of Remy de Haenen, who made the first airplane landing on the island in 1946 and later became its mayor. The older name, Gustaf III, recalls the Swedish king after whom Gustavia was named while Sweden held St. Barts from 1784 to 1878. The present terminal opened in November 1984.

Weather and Climate in St. Barts

The climate is essentially arid. At Gustavia, the nearest long-term record, average highs run from 27.9 C (82 F) in January to 31.1 C (88 F) in September, and average lows stay between 22.4 C (72 F) and 25.3 C (78 F). The dry season lasts from December to April. February is the driest month, with 46 millimeters (1.8 inches) of rain, and highs sit around 28 C (82 F) through late winter before reaching 30.4 C (87 F) in May.

The rainy season runs from May to November and overlaps the Atlantic hurricane season. Highs hold close to 31 C (88 F) from June through October, with average lows of about 25 C (77 F). Rain peaks in October at 126 millimeters (5 inches), and the yearly total is about 984 millimeters (39 inches). Hurricane Irma struck the island in September 2017, and by early 2018 transport and electricity were largely back.

Things to Do Near Col de la Tourmente

The beach at Saint-Jean begins at the eastern end of the runway, and departing aircraft pass low over the sand. The Eden Rock promontory, topped by the red and white Eden Rock hotel, splits the bay in two: one side stays calm enough for swimming and snorkeling, while the other catches the waves and looks straight onto the runway. Back up the road, the traffic circle at the top of the col is where arrivals pass overhead on their final descent.

Gustavia lies over the hill to the west. In town, the Wall House holds the Musee Territorial, and three forts from the Swedish period survive: Fort Oscar, Fort Karl and Fort Gustav. Shell Beach, also called Anse de Grand Galet, is about five minutes from the center and is one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset. Flamands is the largest beach on St. Barts, and from Petite Anse beyond it a rugged path leads in about 30 minutes to Anse du Colombier, which can otherwise only be reached by boat. Inland, Morne de Vitet is the highest point at 286 meters (938 feet).

Similar Webcams You Might Like

These cameras cover the next airport on the commuter route and two more views of St. Barts.

• Sint Maarten Airport Webcam
• Gustavia Webcam
• St. Jean Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Col de la Tourmente located?

Col de la Tourmente is on St. Barts (Saint-Barthelemy), a French overseas collectivity in the northeastern Caribbean. It is the hilltop pass on the road between Gustavia and Saint-Jean, at the western end of the island’s airport runway.

What can you see on the Col de la Tourmente Webcam?

The camera looks across Gustaf III Airport from the hillside to the south. The terminal and its car park sit in the foreground on the right, the apron with parked Cessna Grand Caravans and other light aircraft runs across the middle, and the runway spans the frame below a green hillside with a bare rock face.

Does the Col de la Tourmente Webcam show planes landing over the roundabout?

No. The traffic circle at the top of the col, where arrivals make their steep descent, is outside the frame to the left. The camera picks up landing aircraft at touchdown and through their rollout, and it shows the full takeoff run.

Why is St. Barts airport considered dangerous?

The runway is only 646 meters (2,119 feet) long, arrivals on runway 10 descend steeply over the hilltop traffic circle, and departures climb out low over the beach at Saint-Jean. Pilots need special training to land here, and the History Channel ranked it the third most dangerous airport in the world.

Can you fly directly to St. Barts?

Only on small aircraft from nearby islands. Commuter airlines connect St. Barts with Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Anguilla, San Juan and St. Thomas, which is why the apron holds turboprops rather than airliners.

What is the weather like in St. Barts?

Warm all year. Average highs at Gustavia range from 27.9 C (82 F) in January to 31.1 C (88 F) in September, with lows of 22 to 25 C (72 to 77 F). December to April is the dry season, and rain peaks in October.

Does the camera show Gustavia or the beach at St. Jean?

No. Gustavia is over the hill to the west, and the beach at Saint-Jean lies beyond the eastern end of the runway, out of the frame on the right. Both have their own cameras, linked above.

Is the webcam live at night?

Yes, the stream runs around the clock. After dark the runway goes black, while floodlights keep part of the apron and the parked aircraft visible. Traffic is easiest to follow in daylight, and local time is four hours behind UTC all year.

Source: St-Barth LiveCam