International to Bahamas

Grabo172

Well-Known Member
I'm heading to the Bahamas in July for a little trip in a Saratoga II HP and just wanted to get some preliminary flight planning ideas from you all (almost said "Y'all"... darn south rubbing off on me
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). Anyone done the crossing before?


The flight won't be the big deal I don't think, We'll be coming from Mt. PLeasant SC to probably Palm beach, than over... it's only 75 nm from Palm Beach to Grand Bahamas.

But...
I know customs will be a big deal... but I am wondering if I'll need a passport, or will my Birth Certificate and DL/ Military ID be enough.


Thanks

-Erik
 
You'll have to follow up with MTSU_av8er. I know he is planning a trip in the near future.
 
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Birth Certificate WITH a photo ID is sufficient.

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I believe, however it is in the works that all international travel will require passport (even to Canada and Mexico). I just don't know when it takes effect.
 
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Birth Certificate WITH a photo ID is sufficient.

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I believe, however it is in the works that all international travel will require passport (even to Canada and Mexico). I just don't know when it takes effect.

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I don't think that'll be in effect before the end of the year.
 
It's not that big a deal. Make sure you give customs a good ETA when coming BACK, and be close to it. If you're going on an IFR flight plan, you still need to call them. My first instructor found that one out the hard way.....
 
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Make sure you call Customs and give them a time of arrival prior to departing the Bahamas. They want it within 5 min. Ft. Pierce was the nicest group of Customs people I have dealt with. PBI isn't bad either. But, on a more functional note, on the way back in, everyone is usually hungry when they land back in the US, and the Tiki Hut is right next to Customs at FPR, and they have excellent mushroom and swiss burgers. Self serve fuel at FPR is also decent price.
 
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Ft. Pierce was the nicest group of Customs people I have dealt with. PBI isn't bad either.

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PBI is my vote......I could not disagree MORE with Ft Pierce. Not sure how they treat GA folks, but I hope I never clear there again. They all but disassembled the airplane, drug dog and all (in the airplane).

And the Ft P Air Center doesn't give away T shirts anymore
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Now the nicest customs is in Bermuda Mon!
And you can't beat CANPASS.

Enjoy your trip...wish I can do it in a SEL one day.
 
I'll back NJA on this one. FPR sucks for clearing (at least all the times I've done it). I came in witha Senneca II and they pretty much disasembled the plane. That and the guy inside wasn't very helpful either. Don't even THINK about having a cell phone with you inside (even if it is turned off and inside a bag). Grr. PBI and FLL are both pretty quick and easy places to clearn.

As stated before, make sure you call and let them know you are coming and be as specific as you can. Once you lift off from where ever you are leaving from (in the Bahamas) call up Freeport or Miami (MIA is easier to deal with) radio and either open up a flight plan or create one for the ADIZ. They will give you a transponder code to get through and over to approach where ever you are going.

Getting out isn't nearly so hard. Mostly I would just open up a DVFR flight plan and then once off shore I would drop it with Freeport radio. Make sure you land at a Port of Entry over there first to clear. Their customs are pretty basic. Have fun. It's awsome flying over there. There is a whole lot of traffic back and forth so maintain correct VFR altitudes and watch out for other people who aren't. If you get a chance, Treasure Key is one of the coolest approaches I have done. That and a brand new runway. Also, keep in mind, not all the airports over there have fuel or it can be very expensive. Plan accordingly.

Ethan
 
Thanks for all the info!

I can't wait to get into the flight planning itself. Going to be a very interesting trip, I think!
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Party time, JC style...
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We're just going to be down there for the day,
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but I'd HATE to have something go wrong and have to stay a few extra days... That would really suck!
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Hurricane season is here!

Looks Like Hurricane Dennis might thwart my plans for Sunday's trip to Marsh Harbour! I'll have to keep a very close eye on it and HOPE it turns West ...

Got a trip planned for next thursday too to Treasure Cay... hopefully no hurricanes will interfere with that one!
 
Re: Hurricane season is here!

I think its going west of there. I was in Nassau Today and it was getting windy but the bad was stuff was staying over Florida and the Gulf. Cant really offer ya any GA Bahamas advice since i never did it before, But it really is a blast, and make sure to listen up, they talk kinda funny
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