With school holiday season approaching I thought I would update people on airplanes in Barbados.
As things currently stand there are four airplanes in Barbados available for hire;
1) A Cessna 172S (with a very wizzy, wizzy panel!), it is Barbados registered and is operated by the light airplane club, flying out of the south ramp. As it is a Barbados registered airplane one must have a Barbados licence to fly it solo outside of Barbados airspace (to other islands). However it can be solo'd inside Barbados airspace with any ICAO licence, subject to checkout. It has an autopilot for those flights to other islands. This airplane I understand rents for B$480/hr
2) A Cessna 152; again, operated by the light airplane club, Barbados registered and flying out of the south ramp - other comments as above. It is the primary training airplane in Barbados. This I understand rents for B$280-300 per hour.
3) A US registered Cherokee Six, operated by Art Taylor and Ryan Roach, it is the airplane that fly the lobsters in for Lobster Alive and other restaurant on the island. It is a complex and 200HP+ thus one needs complex and high power endorsements on ones FAA licence. To the best of my knowledge there is not currently on the island an FAA instructor who can sign off those endorsements - so come prepared if you want to solo the Six. On the two out of three rule if you want to solo the Six you will need an FAA PPL as a minimum (a 61.75 piggyback on an EASA, JAR etc. will do plus the endorsements). The Six has a roll autopilot for the inter island flights. I do believe that there may be some minimum hours requirements on the Six, I will confirm and post an update. This airplane has two rental rates, within Barbados airpace I beleive B$480/hr and B$580/hr if leaving the airspace (going to other islands).
4) An Archer II, owned and operated by me, it just came off a horribly expensive refit and I still await bits falling off in its first 50 hours of operation. It is US registered, rules for licences as with the Six except no endorsements needed. It has a full autopilot with altitude hold, also life jackets, a four person raft and GPS PLB. It rents for B$450/hr.
Other costs etc.
The good news is that Barbados has no landing fees for any of these airplanes, so yes you can fly circuits all day playing dodge 'em with the wide bodied jets and no extra cost. Other islands all have very complicated fees for landings, departures etc. you can get advice on that while here.
If staying in Barbados airspace you will be needing a local flight plan even to fly circuits - not a difficult proposition, a simple phone call (it's not a full on ICAO flight plan).
It leaving - yes, the ICAO flight plan, CARICOM eAPIS and thing called an Asycuda number (something to do with Customs - they cost hard cash - I have never figured out what it does, I even think it is not needed but why take the risk). These all seem daunting, but when you have done it one it is quite simple.
Insurance - I believe all of the airplanes are insured for what they do, but it is up to you to check - BUT, do not assume that there is a subrogation waiver in place, see that there is - otherwise or maybe do it anyway buy renter insurance with adequate cover before you come here (so far as I am aware it cannot be bought here) - for US residents the Avemco, AOPA etc do 'work' here.
Licences, yes, they must be up to date, yes, you must have the current medical for any licence you rely on (61.75 users take note!), yes, if 61.75 BOTH the base licence and the 61.75 must be within flight review.
Bring your headset as you may have problems borrowing one here.
Do come and fly in Barbados the weather is flyable 350+ days of the year and flying to other islands is not only great fun but a lot, lot cheaper than the Twin Otters etc.