Caribbean Air Cruise 2021 Oct 7 Nov 16
Routing:
OCT 7 / KBDN KAPA KHAM KFXE 8.8 HRS
Great stops at TAC Air - TOP GUN BANYAN FBOS ALL CAA for great fuel prices and basically zero other charges. Banyan FBO has probably the Worlds best Pilot shop worth the visit just for that.
OCT 8 / KFXE MYBC .7 HRS
Filed EAPIS only an hour before departure. Busy airport, think we were 7th for takeoff. IFR departure up to 2,000 feet with great views of the spectacular coast, city, and marinas. Top altitude was 13,000feet but short flight all with Miami Center. Would be with Miami center on all IFR flights until leaving Puerto Rico. Cancelled IFR leaving 7,000 feet on descent into our first Bahama stop, Chub Cay in the Berry Islands. This airport and all others except Nassau and Freeport are uncontrolled and operate as in the US. All are on 122.8 with the usual reporting and pattern joining all traffic is left hand in the Bahamas.
Chub Cay has a beautiful resort, whitewashed colonial style with very nice beachfront cottages. A great marina. But it is a tiny island and if you want more that simply relaxing to get into the Island vibe or fishing is your passion then probably Bimini or one of the other islands may be a better first stop.
The airport has a small building housing: Immigration, Customs and Ops. You will need your passport, General Declarations and Bahamas Covid approval (all done on the internet). All this is checked, you get your cruising permit stamped, and for all domestic flights in the Bahamas this (cruising permit) is all you will need to show and get stamped at each stop.
The hotel picks us up via Golf Cart and we spend a couple days, checking the island out, swimming in the warm waters, relaxing on the beach, enjoying cocktails, and generally slowing down to the Island speed.
No other aircraft came or went during our stay.
Cost was $50 landing, $50 for aircraft entry and that was it. No fuel or any services
OCT 10 / MYBC MYAM .8 HRS
All our flights within the Bahamas were VFR low level; 500-3,000 feet. Never filed a flight plan or got flight following only the usual monitoring and announcing positions on 122.8. These services are available if you want. The flights throughout the Islands were truly spectacular- the ever-changing colors of the seas from almost white of the shallows where you can often sport marine life cruising about, to deep navy blue in the depths. Puffy white Cus overhead and the ever-present trade winds make for perfect aerial sightseeing.
Landing at Leonard Thompson airport is again uncontrolled, but it is a busier and larger airport with scheduled flights and even a passenger terminal. Cherokee FBO operates here and provided a follow me golf cart, which once parked helped take our luggage to their office. Again, show and get stamped your cruising permit. Then a cab to your hotel. Abaco was the worst hit of all the islands from the 2019 Hurricane and is still in the process of recovery. This along with somewhat overcast and rainy weather had us ready to head to the next island. We put on 100 US gallons here at $6.17 per usg. Landing $10, parking $25 per day. That was all.
OCT12 / MYAM MYEH .8HRS
On departure flew a little north up the coast to Scotland Cay a private resort with its own airstrip looks beautiful and worth a look next time.
Another beautiful low lever run down to Eleuthera Island and Governors Harbor airport. The fueler here marshalled us in and helped us get a rental car, again show and get stamped the cruising permit. Then off to the wonderful La Bougainvillea boutique hotel. A wonderful small hotel set on a slight bluff above an Atlantic side private beach, which assures that wonderful cooling trade breeze.
We drove the full length of the island and enjoyed the beauty of the island and the wonderful hotel.
Parking and landing $11. Put a little fuel in at $6.45. A $60 tip to the fueler for all his assistance, not required or asked for but he had marshalled us in, arranged for a rental car assisted with luggage both in and out. Very nice fellow.
OCT 15 / MYEH MYAK .8HRS
Another VFR low level to Congo Town airport on Andros Island. Could not go direct because of active restricted areas so angle to the south of the island then up the east coast. This is the largest Bahaman Island and is intersected by mangrove lined inlets cutting the island into three parts. This is the most isolated place we stayed. The Andros Beach club is pretty basic but a very friendly small family run place, right on a long empty beach. No restaurants or other entertainments here so its all-inclusive. It is renowned for Bone fishing and diving. I tried the Bone fishing and although did not have too much luck it was a great and interesting morning.
Diving is the other draw. I did two dives. The most spectacular was diving the wall that drops from about 100 to 6,000 feet vertically. It is not to be missed by any keen diver.
No services or fuel here, but with offices for Customs, Immigration and Ops.
Landing and Parking $11.
OCT 18 / MYAK MYLS .9HRS
Another low-level run, first across to the Exuma chain, then down that gorgeous group of islands, so many of which have public or private airports.
Would have stopped at Staniel Cay but told everything was closed.
The views as on all the flights truly spectacular.
Stayed at the Stella Maris resort which is basically rental houses and cabins. Due to the low occupancy got upgraded to a gorgeous 4 bedroomed ocean fronted house, with its own swimming pool.
Departed here directly to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Stella Maris is an international airport so checked out with Customs, Immigration and paid the fees:
Landing & 4 nights parking $80
Customs departure fees $58 (two crew)
Fuel took 50 usg, not needed but try to put on fuel even if just minimal, $6.75 per usg.
Filed an IFR flight plan with Miami via telephone. Departed VFR and picked up our IFR clearance out of about 7,000 feet with Miami center, with them until start of descent into Provo.
The Bahamas are so easy, inexpensive, and welcoming. The weather is almost always balmy VFR. The paperwork minimal and the islands each with a slightly different character gives loads to do whether its just relaxing or diving, fishing, sightseeing, sailing, etc. The Commander is a great aircraft for this type of trip with its phenomenal visibility, economy, and airport flexibility. There are of course many more islands to visit in the Bahamas so plan on several trips if you can.
Will continue with the rest of the trip later, if there is interest, as this is already quite long.
Rest of the trip
OCT 20 / MYLS MBPV .9HRS
OCT 23 / MBPV MDPP .8HRS
OCT 26 / MDPP TJIG 1.3HRS
NOV 1 / TJIG TFFR 1.4HRS
NOV 3 / TFFR TNCB 2.6HRS
NOV 6 / TNCB MKBS 2.7HRS
NOV 10 / MKBS MCZM 2.3HRS
NOV 13 / MCZM KBRO 2.7HRS
NOV 13 / KBRO KTUS 1.8HRS
NOV 14 / KTUS KCMA 2.9HRS
NOV 16 / KCMA KCVO.2.9HRS
