Touring South Florida and the Bahamas

[EK380]

Mid November, I'm off for a 10 day flying holiday tour of South Florida and the Bahamas. Renting a C172 G1000 with Palm Beach Flight training in Palm beach county park airport (KLNA).

Flying together with my wife, who has a PPL (myself ATPL), we are looking for interesting airports with a real GA feel. Especially in the Bahamas we want to go to the smaller airports. Not a big fan of the large resorts, casinos, etc...

Anybody been to the Kennedy Space center by aircraft... Good airports to land at and then go across?

Thanks for all recommendations?

Thanks,
Fly safe:)

[alphaLaura]

Call in to Indiantown airfield on a Sunday morning and go to the town (it's really just one road through a vaguely populated area) for a good fry up! And don't forget Pizza On The Patio on Saturdays at noon in North County Airport (SunQuest Aviation, South Florida Flight School, Aircraft Rentals and Travel Charters (http://www.sunquestaviation.com/)).

[KeyPilot]

Do you have the guide to flying in the Bahamas produced by the Bahmanian tourist board? If I recall correctly they have a map and associated guidebook. They used to have a stand at Oshkosh every year (may still do). It seemed very helpful and really got me motivated to try the trip some day!

[Pilot DAR]

Without addressing any issues with respect to permission to fly a rented aircraft to the Bahamas, or required emergency equipment, it's a great flight to Freeport. Expect to have to show evidence of a hotel reservation to the immigration people, we were delayed, because we did not have the required reservation.

I asked permission to land at the Kennedy Space Center, but was denied. I think it is Titusville airport which is closest (but check I could be wrong). It's still quite a land trip from there.

Airports to visit in florida for a nice GA feel, would include: Fernandina Beach in the very north, St Augustine, which is a wonderful town to visit, Deland, in the middle, lots of parachuting there, Kissimmee in the middle - warbirds, Boca Raton, business jet central, but lots of GA too, Marathon, in the middle of the Keys, and Key West, which is well worth the visit, but assure you have a room if you're thinking to stay the night. Watch out for the big cable one key north. If you can get to Pensacola in the west, the Naval Air Museum is magnificent. There's a small airport not too far away (you can't land at the museum, I asked there too!). Avoid Perry, in the middle, I landed there once, and was stuck with no services or fuel available.

Have a nice trip

[HighFlyer75]

This is the guide that KeyPilot is referring to;

Bahamas and Caribbean Pilots Guide (http://www.pilotpub.com/)

It contains details on all the airports in the Bahamas and is pretty much invaluable if you plan on visiting here. You can order it online but if you are going to be in Florida before you head to the Bahamas then you can probably pick it up at any pilot shop (any of the ones I have been to sell it).

As far as smaller airports in the Bahamas are concerned, anything outside of Freeport and Nassau will fall into this category and there is a lot to choose from. My favourites at the moment include;

> North Eleuthera - Take the ferry to Harbour Island from there
> Staniel Cay - Nice small island where you can have the whole beach to yourself and has some awesome snorkelling.
> Great Harbour Cay - Great beaches and great snorkelling again

Pretty much anywhere along the Exumas is nice though and there are quite a few airports to choose from. Cat Island and Andros are also nice. I haven't made it to Freeport or Abaco yet but hopefully soon.

I would avoid Nassau if possible. Expensive handling and the island itself is not very nice unless you are staying in one of the fancy hotels.

Just a general thing as well. We are in the middle of hurricane season at the moment and the weather has not been nice for pleasure flying. By mid November it should have cleared up so you should be fine but from talking to the locals it has been known to go into December on occasion. Hopefully you have an IR - this may even be a requirement from your rental company if you want to fly to the Bahamas.

I am still in the process of exploring the islands myself (or at least I will be when the weather stabilises) so feel free to drop me a PM if you want any more details.

HF

[Red Leader]

Marsh Harbour International Airport on Great Abaco is actually a nice little GA airfield, but has customs so you can fly there direct from Florida. Only a few small commercial aircraft go in there - I flew there from Miami Int'l in a Beech 1900 about 15 years ago - but it is used by a good range of private planes.

Recommend then getting the water taxi (goes twice a day) over to Elbow Cay and staying at Hopetown Harbour Lodge (the only hotel on the island, see hopetownlodge.com)

Hopetown on Elbow Cay is in a gorgeous little bay with a red and white striped lighthouse. There are less than 300 people on the island, and no cars, just a few golf buggies. Everyone is so friendly. You'll need to book the hotel as it can get busy. You can also hire speedboats there which I can thoroughly recommend, so you can sample cocktails at a few isolated beach bars on nearby islands. It's a little paradise down there - I went on a friend's recommendation, stayed for 4 days and didn't want to leave.

[Morgo]

To avoid the mass tourism, make your way down to the Out Islands. As per one of the suggestions above, hit Staniel Cay and stay at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. You get a boat with your room enabling you to tour the cays and see some great sights, such as swimming pigs, an island full of iguanas and your own desert island that you can lunch on.

Initially though, I'd recommend flying down to Stella Maris (has customs) on Long Island. Stay at Cape Santa Maria which is a tiny resort with a scattering of bungalows along the most beautiful beach. It's a real dreamland.

You'll love your trip. We did it last January and are going back next March for a week.

[Morgo]

Oh,and as a recommendation for South Florida. Go and fly to Venice to have lunch at Sharkeys. Sharkeys is a fun, relaxed restaurant on Venice beach, on the gulf coast. PLus they run a regular and free minibus between the FBO and the restaurant.

[172driver]

Just a word of caution re the formalities. You don't say where you are (although your handle suggests a certain sand pit...) or which passport you hold, but if you are visiting the US on the Visa Waiver program, AFAIK you cannot depart and return on a private a/c. There was a thread here re this a while ago. Suggest you look into this to avoid being stuck in limbo in the Bahamas (there probably are worse places to get stuck, but still).

Enjoy!

[Private jet]

Re what 172driver has said;

The visa waiver programme is only good for entry/exit at certain airports with approved airlines. If you want to go in on a private aircraft you will need a visa on your passport. For example, its also the same for driving across the border into Canada, without a visa you won't be able to get back into the States.

Another point perhaps worth mentioning is that when i did the island hopping thing in the Bahamas a dozen years ago, there were occurences of light aircraft having fuel stolen while parked overnight at the small remote airfields (not Freeport or Nassau). The perpetrators would leave enough in to get you to the nearest airfield with fuel facilities, still a risky business as its tricky to know exactly what is left in your tanks after an unknown amount has been drained out! It didnt happen to us but we were warned about it.

[140KIAS]

Dont Overfill is a regular visitor to the Bahamas. Im sure he'll be along soon with some good suggestion.

[EK380]

Thanks guys for all the great suggestions.... keep them coming please!

The things about the VISA waiver program is new to me. Can anybody else confirm this to me? I do have a US VISA, my wife does not.

Please keep it coming, need all the info available!
:ok:

[dont overfil]

Hi EK380,

OK, I'll take the bait. You are permitted an "excursion" out of the USA on a visa waver so no problem there.

The Bahamas pilot guide is a must and is worth getting before you leave as all the proceedures for arrival and departure are there. It is also an encyclopedia of places to visit. Register for eAPIS before you go and be sure to take your laptop with you.

Morgo has some good suggestions but why go to Stella Maris to stay at Cape Santa Maria? There is a 2000ft strip walking distance from the resort.

I would add Fernandez Bay as an excellent place to stay. Owner Tony Ambrister is also an AOPA rep. Oh! and they have an honesty bar here, and at Hawks Nest at the end of the Island. I just love Cat Island.

D.O.

[172driver]

OK, this now got me intrigued. Had a rummage round the relevant website(s), but the info there isn't too clear. It appears that you are indeed permitted an 'excursion' to Canada, Mexico or 'adjacent islands' (there's a list and the Bahamas are on it), but I couldn't find anything regarding the mode of transport, i.e. scheduled carrier vs. private (hired) a/c.

Staring point here (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html)

[Gomrath]

EK380 - what country are you from - as that dictates if your country even has a VWP in place with the United States.

[dont overfil]

Oh yes. I was writing from a UK perspective.
D.O.

[Morgo]

I'll call BS on the visa waiver. When I flew to Bahamas in January I specifically went to the US Customs at Fort Pierce, which is next door to the FBO, (top tip: depart the US via KFPR... the FBO there is top notch, can do all your bahamian paperwork on your behalf and also have an awesome restaurant) and asked them. They had no issue with the visa waiver and were more than happy to see us head off over to the Bahamas for a week. If you have any reservations then I strongly recommend phoning the customs team at Fort Pierce and having a chat with them.

BTW - 'dont overfill' is right, there is a strip next door to Cape Santa Maria. but if you want fuel or customs, then Stella Maris is your best bet. If you are renting you will also need to make sure you are aware of any insurance limitations. From the places I've rented, there has been a 3000ft limitation (which is amusing from a UK perspective!), which will rule out a few strips in the Bahamas.

As a second BTW - highly recommend a PLB and/or SPOT device. You'll hardly get any radio service when flying VFR between the islands so will want the reassurance of a 406Mhz PLB.

[EK380]

Dont overfil, Gomrath and 172driver; I'm from Belgium and yes we are entitled for the VWP.

Dont overfil, do you think the excursion thing is limited to UK citizens?
Can I ask you if you,ve personally done it that way in the past?

There seems to be a lot of different opinions on the subject....


Thanks for further feedback

[dont overfil]

I have no reason to believe an excursion on the visa waiver program is limited to UK citizens.

There was a thread on here earlier this year where someone smarter than me with a computer provided links to the actual document. Perhaps a search will bring it up.

Only on arrival at both the USA and the Bahamas do you need to visit customs and immigration. In recent years I have favoured Cherokee Aviation at Marsh Harbour for arrival as you are already effectively in the out islands.(The out islands are the real Bahamas). I have never been asked for proof of accommodation although there is a line on the immigration form for the name of the resort.

I have used a visa waiver for flying to the Bahamas for the last 10 years.

Remember to carry your crewcard or licence with you for whacking pilot discounts in the USA and the Bahamas.

D.O.

[Katamarino]

I can confirm that an excursion by private airplane on the VWP is fine. I've done it, and two of my friends (English and Belgian) have done it. Don't listen to the nay-sayers earlier in the thread, they have no idea what they're talking about!

[KeyPilot]

Thanks guys for all the great suggestions.... keep them coming please!


You're welcome, EK380.

Actually I'm glad you opened this thread, as I have long beenn interested in doing this trip and may try to make it happen in next 12m or so.

Can I ask you a few questions: how much are they charging you per hour for the C172 G1000? Wet or dry? Any minimum number of flying hours per day? Any other requirements (e.g. that you hold an IR; minimum field length; etc. etc.)?

Many thanks in advance to you for info.

[dont overfil]

I know it's a hundred and fifty miles away but Air Orlando at KORL have C172SPs G1000 at $146 with 2 hr per day minimum and C172SP with the KMD550 map at $137ph.
No IR reqired.
D.O.

[B2N2]

Some more interesting links;
Private Flying - Bahamas | The Bahamas (http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/private-flying)
and surprised nobody has mentioned this one;
Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Information - Welcome to The Islands of the Bahamas (http://www.fly-bahamas.com/page.aspx?type=welcome)