REFLECTOR: Flying to the Bahamas

Sun Oct 4 07:39:59 CDT 2009

Flying to the Bahamas, continued

Navigation:

GPS is the preferred way to navigate.  I used a Garmin 496 with weather. 
Suggest updating the aviation database if this has not been done in a while. 
There are a few VOR's in the Bahamas with DME.

Radio Communications:

When possible, most pilots prefer to deal with Miami Radio when opening and 
closing flight plans.  Miami Radio monitors several discrete frequencies - 
one for the northern islands and one for the southern.  Altitude is 
important when communicating with Miami, especially the further eastward you 
travel.  On my trip to N. Eleuthera I cancelled with Nassau Radio without 
problems.  Most of the outlying airports are non-towered and use a common 
Unicom frequency.   Just jump in and announce your intentions.

Clearing customs:

I can't speak for how this works at every airport of entry - at N. Eleuthera 
we taxied to the FBO and was greeted by someone with a golf cart to help 
carry your personal luggage to the customs desk.  Aircraft luggage (safety 
equipment; covers; tie downs; charts, etc can stay in the airplane). 
Clearing customs in the Bahamas was a laid back experience - just like in 
the USA you will clear customs and also clear immigration (sometimes two 
different desks; sometimes performed by the same person).  If you have 
completed the forms ahead of time (3 copies; sometimes 5-copies) the process 
is done in minutes.  If not, they of course have the forms there.  Good luck 
if you need help in completing the forms, however.  Some of the forms are 
designed for a combination of marine and aviation use.  Sometimes the 
customs officials themselves are not sure what information goes where!  The 
key to clearing customs is to be patient and simply be friendly.  There are 
no customs fees getting into the Bahamas when you use a government customs 
office.  Some private islands have contract customs offices, which do charge 
a customs processing fee.

Getting around the Bahamas by air

If you used Bahamian customs Form C7A for entry, a copy of this form also 
serves as your "cruise permit" to visit all Bahamian islands.  It simply 
serves as evidence that you have already cleared customs when you first 
entered the Bahamas.  If you used Form C7, then a separate Transire form is 
used.

The arrival and customs procedures in the Bahamas is akin to landing at a 
non-towered airport in the USA - meeting the person at the FBO - and filling 
out a form for fuel service.  Really, it's that easy and convenient.

Cell phone coverage in the Bahamas is spotty.  Your phone, depending upon 
the service provider, may or may not work.  Pay phones from the Bahamas are 
expensive.  I mention this because you are required to telephone US Customs 
with 24-hours of your intended arrival back in the USA.  US Customs has a 
central telephone number, but it is best to call the Customs office directly 
at your US Airport of Entry.  The call simply serves a confirmation to 
Customs officials of your expected arrival time.  I was at a hotel outside 
of my cell telephone coverage and needed to use a land-line call to the 
states ($10).  The hotel did have wireless internet.  In retrospect I think 
having a Skype account would be a neat thing to have to call home; US 
Customs; and FSS to file the return flight plan.

Getting home -

Since I was leaving first thing in the morning, I elected to file an 
international flight plan the evening before.  I elected to call St. 
Petersburg FSS to file.  You can also file with a Bahamian FSS or a US FSS 
using special telephones at most Airport of Entry offices.   Be sure you 
have filed a eAPIS form at least 1-hour prior to departure.  Note: you may 
file the return eAPIS form days in advance if you prefer.

Departing Customs - Involves processing a customs declaration form and 
paying a $20/person exit tax.  Again, this is a simple process.  A few 
minutes and you are out the door walking to the aircraft.

Departure - VFR              Simply take off and go.  Once you get to 
altitude or once you get closer to the ADIZ, contact MIAMI Radio to activate 
your flight plan and get a discrete customs transponder code.  This MUST be 
done before crossing the eastern ADIZ (note there are two ADIZ's . one that 
is a few miles off the US coast line, and another that is around 50 nm off 
the coast).  Squawk the assigned code and continue with the flight.

Deviating for weather is not a problem - as long as you are still planning 
to make your initial landing at the planned airport of entry, customs 
officials understand that you might need to get around weather and that your 
estimated time of arrival might be off a bit.  If you are forced to deviate 
to an airport of entry other than the one you have planned, then give FSS a 
call and ask them to telephone customs.  Let's say that you planned to land 
at Ft. Pierce as your filed airport of entry - but weather forces you to 
deviate closer to Ft. Lauderdale . if you are then able to continue your 
flight without landing to Ft. Pierce, do so - even though you will be 
passing over other airports of entries.

Upon landing at the US Airport of Entry, be sure to taxi to and shut down in 
the area designated by Customs.

Clearing US Customs -    Similar routine to the Bahamas.  Bring personal 
baggage into the customs office.  Complete the required forms.  Present your 
Passport.  Baggage may or may not be screened.  eAPIS report is already in 
their files.                Process takes 15-minutes at most.

Other:

Be sure to write or call the Bahamas Tourist Office to ask for their Private 
Pilot Guide.  Great info, including a map.  Describes everything you need. 
Also comes with a DVD.

954-236-9292

Bahamas Tourist Office

1200 Pine Island Road, Suite 750

Plantation, FL 33324

Hope you have a great time!

Scott B

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry Miles" <terrence_miles at hotmail.com>
To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 11:01 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Flying to the Bahamas

> Dear All,
>
> I have to go to a family wedding in S. FL in November and I am thinking
> about taking the Velo down for the wedding, and then take a couple more 
> days
> off and head out to the Bamahas.  I know there are likely ICAO forms and
> customs issues that I have to figure out.  Has anybody done this?
>
> There is an outfit that acts like a tour guide and takes groups of
> airplanes.  I heard his presentation at Osh back 2 yrs ago.  It is these
> folks.  http://www.airjourney.com/  I am thinking I can do it some cheaper
> on my own, but maybe it's better to have someone hold your hand the first
> time through?
>
> Thanks for any input.
>
> Terry
>
>
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