Barbados 2019
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Barbados 2019
I have had a couple of people ask about flying in the region and Barbados specifically.
Yes, there are airplanes available to rent here - many more than a few years ago - up from 2 to 4 maybe 5
They fall into two groups US Registered and Barbados registered.
US registered a Chrome Six and my Archer II; Barbados registered a 172 and a 152.
To solo the US one needs an FAA licence (a 61.75 is good so long as with the current originating licence and medical); the Barbados ones can be solo'd with EASA, FAA, JAR etc in Barbados airspace (the 2 out of 3 thing).
With mine one needs 100 hrs total time and a 30 minute CFI check for the insurance, the Six one needs the complex and I understand a similar number of hours. The Barbados registered ones seems to be fluid, yes a checkout and a minimum number of hours, it seems hard to track down how many - may go with the insurance so changes.
The US airplanes are privately owned, the Barbados ones by the airplane club.
Rates - the Six about US$225 per hour local to about US$275 per hour international; the Archer II US $200 per hour; the 172S US$225-275 per hour depending on whether a full club member; the 152 a little under $150 per hour. Hours are generally all Hobbs but do double check when you rent. There are no landing fees and in Barbados, so fly circuits with the big jets all day if you like.
Becoming a member of the airplane club is a good a deal if one is planning more than a couple of hours on the club planes - about US$150.
Instructors between US$30 and US$50 per hour.
Availability on the planes is generally not a problem, the Six flies lobsters a couple of days a month, the Archer flies a couple of times a week, the club planes are used for training and so weekends can be busy, but nothing like a UK flight school.
Taking a plane away for a day trip to another island is not a problem (avoid weekends for club planes - you would need to get a Barbados licence anyway for international), generally you're asked to put an hour a day on the plane - nearest island is an hour away so not likely to be a problem.
The Archer has a couple of wear all the while jackets, a 4 person raft and a GPS PLB - not sure about the others.
No issue with flying to other islands except Mustique (one must get special training), Union Island landing one may want to avoid as it is "interesting" - other than that all airports have long, good condition hard surface runways - there are no uncontrolled airports.
OTHER airplanes - sometimes there is a 140 PA28 here US registered. There was another Archer II here but that was written off in an off airport landing a couple of years back. The Coconut Airways Tomahawk and the Arrow have been languishing in the hangar on Bequia for five years since the death of Chris Gibbson, just too expensive to get then out of there. Also there is a microlight here that one can go for a flight around the island in.
So that's it for flying in Barbados for the coming season.
Yes, there are airplanes available to rent here - many more than a few years ago - up from 2 to 4 maybe 5
They fall into two groups US Registered and Barbados registered.
US registered a Chrome Six and my Archer II; Barbados registered a 172 and a 152.
To solo the US one needs an FAA licence (a 61.75 is good so long as with the current originating licence and medical); the Barbados ones can be solo'd with EASA, FAA, JAR etc in Barbados airspace (the 2 out of 3 thing).
With mine one needs 100 hrs total time and a 30 minute CFI check for the insurance, the Six one needs the complex and I understand a similar number of hours. The Barbados registered ones seems to be fluid, yes a checkout and a minimum number of hours, it seems hard to track down how many - may go with the insurance so changes.
The US airplanes are privately owned, the Barbados ones by the airplane club.
Rates - the Six about US$225 per hour local to about US$275 per hour international; the Archer II US $200 per hour; the 172S US$225-275 per hour depending on whether a full club member; the 152 a little under $150 per hour. Hours are generally all Hobbs but do double check when you rent. There are no landing fees and in Barbados, so fly circuits with the big jets all day if you like.
Becoming a member of the airplane club is a good a deal if one is planning more than a couple of hours on the club planes - about US$150.
Instructors between US$30 and US$50 per hour.
Availability on the planes is generally not a problem, the Six flies lobsters a couple of days a month, the Archer flies a couple of times a week, the club planes are used for training and so weekends can be busy, but nothing like a UK flight school.
Taking a plane away for a day trip to another island is not a problem (avoid weekends for club planes - you would need to get a Barbados licence anyway for international), generally you're asked to put an hour a day on the plane - nearest island is an hour away so not likely to be a problem.
The Archer has a couple of wear all the while jackets, a 4 person raft and a GPS PLB - not sure about the others.
No issue with flying to other islands except Mustique (one must get special training), Union Island landing one may want to avoid as it is "interesting" - other than that all airports have long, good condition hard surface runways - there are no uncontrolled airports.
OTHER airplanes - sometimes there is a 140 PA28 here US registered. There was another Archer II here but that was written off in an off airport landing a couple of years back. The Coconut Airways Tomahawk and the Arrow have been languishing in the hangar on Bequia for five years since the death of Chris Gibbson, just too expensive to get then out of there. Also there is a microlight here that one can go for a flight around the island in.
So that's it for flying in Barbados for the coming season.
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Thanks Ebbie - is that 100 hours PIC1 or total (you have said total but just checking). Would still need another 40 hours in 6 months but not beyond the realm of the possible.
Hang on - English winter.
Ok no chance, but I am sure you would be a gracious host! Speak closer to the time...
Hang on - English winter.
Ok no chance, but I am sure you would be a gracious host! Speak closer to the time...
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100 Hours total time - it's an insurance thing albeit an illogical one.
So a PPL at 50 hour person cannot fly it with 40 hours post PPL whereas a 95 hour PPL with six hours post PPL can.
They use to not have that stipulation so we could do initial training on it too - the normal US insurers do not cover airplanes here so mine is insured with a syndicate direct out of Lloyds, so they have lots of 747's Airbusses and the like and my PA28 - I only got it because my professional indemnity insurance broker has a contact with them. It costs a fortune but is iron clad - other get it much, much cheaper but using accommodation addresses in the us, works fine for ramp checks but not so sure in the event of an accident.
So a PPL at 50 hour person cannot fly it with 40 hours post PPL whereas a 95 hour PPL with six hours post PPL can.
They use to not have that stipulation so we could do initial training on it too - the normal US insurers do not cover airplanes here so mine is insured with a syndicate direct out of Lloyds, so they have lots of 747's Airbusses and the like and my PA28 - I only got it because my professional indemnity insurance broker has a contact with them. It costs a fortune but is iron clad - other get it much, much cheaper but using accommodation addresses in the us, works fine for ramp checks but not so sure in the event of an accident.
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I think a 100 hours requirement for solo quite fair, especially as they will be new conditions for a novice such as myself.
Will see how I get on in the next few months - it's a good target to aim for!
Will see how I get on in the next few months - it's a good target to aim for!
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Hello TCAS Fan
No not 8P-JOY that is still here though I fear it will never fly again.
This 172 is a 172"S" - relatively new packed full of computerised gizmos - it was bought by the airplane club by Bernie Weatherhead - a local business magnate - he got the taste for planes and went out and bought a King Air for himself
No not 8P-JOY that is still here though I fear it will never fly again.
This 172 is a 172"S" - relatively new packed full of computerised gizmos - it was bought by the airplane club by Bernie Weatherhead - a local business magnate - he got the taste for planes and went out and bought a King Air for himself
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Sam, yes lots of airports here in the region - each island has at least one, but not small strips, most are quite long - Bequia is around 3,500ft (it has an "interesting approach"), Union Island is short and had a very, very interesting approach. Most islands one can land an wide bodied jet St. Vincent, Barbados, Tobago, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique (FdeF), Canouan etc within an hour and a half of here. Mustique need special training like St Barths. Dominica has an interesting approach on one of the airports. Guadaloupe and Martinique, the French islands, have lots of small airports. St.Kitts and Nevis have one each, Nevis is quite short, Antigua long runway bumps approach - SLN and Antigua are about two and a half hours way in my PA28.
Yes, we have brilliant beaches here in Barbados and in the region generally.
I always thought a rally around the islands would be fun but it is a long way from anywhere over 1,500 miles from Miami so not close at all - usually take 20+ hours of flight time to get down here - I did it is under 15 a year ago but I took a slightly more adventurous route.
Was thinks for the golf nuts - a single club golf tournament - one hole per airport (seems to be a gold course near most) would be interesting. Flying around down here is fun and even in hurricane season the weather is good - from end of November to late May near on perfect.
If you're thinking of organizing something let me know how I can help.
Yes, we have brilliant beaches here in Barbados and in the region generally.
I always thought a rally around the islands would be fun but it is a long way from anywhere over 1,500 miles from Miami so not close at all - usually take 20+ hours of flight time to get down here - I did it is under 15 a year ago but I took a slightly more adventurous route.
Was thinks for the golf nuts - a single club golf tournament - one hole per airport (seems to be a gold course near most) would be interesting. Flying around down here is fun and even in hurricane season the weather is good - from end of November to late May near on perfect.
If you're thinking of organizing something let me know how I can help.
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Apologies for the autocorrect running amok on some of my posts, if I could figure out how to turn it off I'd really be ahead of the game.
Also I was asked about costs in Barbados associated with flying in.
The no landing fees for light singles applies to ALL airplanes not only those based here. Same thing goes for parking fees, there are none for light singles either, a big saving when looking for somewhere to base from. For those with heavier stuff from a Baron to a G550 there is a simple way to get a 90% reduction in the landing and parking fee - just park on the south rather than north ramp. A lady I know tells me it pays for the fuel down for her month or so visits - nothing the super rich like better than a freebie.The cost of fuel about US$7.75 per usg, from RUBIS, the truck comes to you if you're parked on the north ramp (mine is the only one of the airplanes that is on the north), if you're on the south you go to the truck on the north (so make sure other planes are fuelled to your needs before you hire or end up with a 0.3 of Hobbs taxying around the airport rather than flying). Oil and other common consumables, brake fluid etc. cannot be easily obtained in the region so flying in bring a few bottles of oil, fluid etc.
There is a departure tax here for passengers - so book as many people as possible as crew if going international.
Also I was asked about costs in Barbados associated with flying in.
The no landing fees for light singles applies to ALL airplanes not only those based here. Same thing goes for parking fees, there are none for light singles either, a big saving when looking for somewhere to base from. For those with heavier stuff from a Baron to a G550 there is a simple way to get a 90% reduction in the landing and parking fee - just park on the south rather than north ramp. A lady I know tells me it pays for the fuel down for her month or so visits - nothing the super rich like better than a freebie.The cost of fuel about US$7.75 per usg, from RUBIS, the truck comes to you if you're parked on the north ramp (mine is the only one of the airplanes that is on the north), if you're on the south you go to the truck on the north (so make sure other planes are fuelled to your needs before you hire or end up with a 0.3 of Hobbs taxying around the airport rather than flying). Oil and other common consumables, brake fluid etc. cannot be easily obtained in the region so flying in bring a few bottles of oil, fluid etc.
There is a departure tax here for passengers - so book as many people as possible as crew if going international.
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Ebbie I plan on coming to Barbados next May/June for the Sol Barbados Car Rally, I would be interested in doing some local flying while there, I have a FAA ticket and more than enough hours to meet the insurance requirements.
If you don't mind I will contact you nearer the time for a little more assistance in rental options.
If you don't mind I will contact you nearer the time for a little more assistance in rental options.
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Yup, no problem - annual due in May so with any luck it will have the fresh annual by the time you get here.
I did my first Wingly here yesterday - I fly around the island most weekends and take random people with me so I put myself of Wingly to give visitors a go as well as the locals and airport staff (once got a bollocking from the ATC for infringing the approach path (I didn't) they called me to the tower 5ft up and in the flare, good news the chief controller was with me and could confirm we were three miles north of it
A couple from Austria - I think they were a little surprised that it cost so little as I charged them the cost of 2/3rd the fuel and it only takes half an hour to zip around the island - they were luck, middle of the rainy season but the clearest skies and low winds I think I've ever seen here, you could almost (almost!) see St Vincent.
Afternoon I flew a friend and his son who has plans to join the RAF.
Only a couple of more hours and I will have 300 in my log book and will be fully qualified to become an accident statistic, I've read lots of stuff that says 300-350 hours is the time of biggest risk
I did my first Wingly here yesterday - I fly around the island most weekends and take random people with me so I put myself of Wingly to give visitors a go as well as the locals and airport staff (once got a bollocking from the ATC for infringing the approach path (I didn't) they called me to the tower 5ft up and in the flare, good news the chief controller was with me and could confirm we were three miles north of it
A couple from Austria - I think they were a little surprised that it cost so little as I charged them the cost of 2/3rd the fuel and it only takes half an hour to zip around the island - they were luck, middle of the rainy season but the clearest skies and low winds I think I've ever seen here, you could almost (almost!) see St Vincent.
Afternoon I flew a friend and his son who has plans to join the RAF.
Only a couple of more hours and I will have 300 in my log book and will be fully qualified to become an accident statistic, I've read lots of stuff that says 300-350 hours is the time of biggest risk
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https://youtu.be/8dguNZCtyFs
that should be a link to the video my Wingly people made.
it covers the take off, right turn out, climb to 2,000ft and crossing of the approach to 09 at Grantley Adams.
you can see nice blue skies and puffy white clouds, bottoms at around 2400 tops around 4,000
hope the link thing works
that should be a link to the video my Wingly people made.
it covers the take off, right turn out, climb to 2,000ft and crossing of the approach to 09 at Grantley Adams.
you can see nice blue skies and puffy white clouds, bottoms at around 2400 tops around 4,000
hope the link thing works
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Track from video - the left part - video covers what can be seen - the right hand part is the return after the circuit of the island - whole circuit is on the elevation track at the bottom.
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Hi Ebbie.
I was in Barbados earlier last year (March 2018) and hired the Flying Clubs 172 and an instructor for a couple of jollies around the Island with friends, great fun.
I am now spending more time in Barbados and I have been in conversation with the Barbados Flying club regarding hiring their 172 to fly to other Islands, but they tell me I must have an instructor with me, even if I have passed the check ride, had my license validated by the Barbados CAA and joined the club after the committee have processed my application to join! With the intention of taking my wife and two children on the inter island trips, taking an instructor along would not work.
I am very interested to hear about your PA28. I have both a UK license and a US one (on the back of the UK one). I fly regularly in the UK and Europe and own a Grumman AA5 and a RV7. I did own a PA28 Archer 3 for many years.
If I wished to hire your PA28, would it be a case of meeting up the next time I am around, do a check ride and fit in around your schedule? It would be great to create an ongoing plane relationship.
It would also be great to meet up the next time I am in Barbados to chat about flying out there. Beers on me.
Any advise would be appreciated.
I was in Barbados earlier last year (March 2018) and hired the Flying Clubs 172 and an instructor for a couple of jollies around the Island with friends, great fun.
I am now spending more time in Barbados and I have been in conversation with the Barbados Flying club regarding hiring their 172 to fly to other Islands, but they tell me I must have an instructor with me, even if I have passed the check ride, had my license validated by the Barbados CAA and joined the club after the committee have processed my application to join! With the intention of taking my wife and two children on the inter island trips, taking an instructor along would not work.
I am very interested to hear about your PA28. I have both a UK license and a US one (on the back of the UK one). I fly regularly in the UK and Europe and own a Grumman AA5 and a RV7. I did own a PA28 Archer 3 for many years.
If I wished to hire your PA28, would it be a case of meeting up the next time I am around, do a check ride and fit in around your schedule? It would be great to create an ongoing plane relationship.
It would also be great to meet up the next time I am in Barbados to chat about flying out there. Beers on me.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Morning
I'm coming out to Barbados with wife and a couple of friends in March. I have a UK ppl but probably no time to get a US licence.
I'd like to check out in something and take them for a lap of the island.
I messagemetheny Barbados light aeroplane club on Facebook but no reply.
Is there a better way to get hold of then or another option?
advice much appreciated
Thanks
I'm coming out to Barbados with wife and a couple of friends in March. I have a UK ppl but probably no time to get a US licence.
I'd like to check out in something and take them for a lap of the island.
I messagemetheny Barbados light aeroplane club on Facebook but no reply.
Is there a better way to get hold of then or another option?
advice much appreciated
Thanks
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I have sent some direct messages to those who raised queries on here.
Airplane is available.
To rent you need an FAA PPL and a CFI check out in a PA28-181 (I am awaiting the insurance company to confirm that this can be done in UK before coming - they have ok'd for one, just double checking it applies to all) getting a CFI here can be difficult!
OK to fly it way for a week or so, nominally a 2 hour per day minimum; US$200 per Hobbs (wet - fuel here costs just under US$8/usg, away we reimburse at US$8), hull & liability covered for renters but there is a $5,000 excess (if you can get a renter policy to cover the excess it may be worth it - but needs to be US or UK as not for sale here).
Airplane has about 4,500 hours, 600 ish on the engine and had a six figure refurb five years ago (yes, the world's most expensive Archer II!), I fly it a couple of times a week.
Airplane is available.
To rent you need an FAA PPL and a CFI check out in a PA28-181 (I am awaiting the insurance company to confirm that this can be done in UK before coming - they have ok'd for one, just double checking it applies to all) getting a CFI here can be difficult!
OK to fly it way for a week or so, nominally a 2 hour per day minimum; US$200 per Hobbs (wet - fuel here costs just under US$8/usg, away we reimburse at US$8), hull & liability covered for renters but there is a $5,000 excess (if you can get a renter policy to cover the excess it may be worth it - but needs to be US or UK as not for sale here).
Airplane has about 4,500 hours, 600 ish on the engine and had a six figure refurb five years ago (yes, the world's most expensive Archer II!), I fly it a couple of times a week.
