Andreas Rohde takes us island-hopping on Air Flamenco
In the Spanish Virgin Islands, the tiny tropical island of Culebra poses special challenges for aircraft and aircrews alike, making it an ideal habitat for the Britten-Norman Islander. Around the world, few places can count more visits by Britain’s iconic little aircraft in different airline colours than this little-known paradise with a population of just 1,800 residents.
Our Culebra experience started aboard an Islander operated by Vieques Air Link on a flight from San Juan Isla Grande in Puerto Rico. As flight V4-627 approached the island, a beautiful tropical panorama unfolded beneath the Islander’s wings. The eight passengers on this fully booked flight were pressing their noses on the windows while we passed over Flamenco Beach, a pristine stretch of white sand around a bay of crystal-clear turquoise Caribbean waters. Meanwhile, the pilot’s attention was focused on the impending approach to Culebra’s runway 13.
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