Back again from Bahamas

[bahama flier]

I just got back from a flying experience with bad weather off the coast of Fl. Had to fly around a 50 mile bad a-- storm and was glad I had room to do it.

There were many bad storms developing off the coast of S. E. Fl, and it was just like flying around mountains and canyons.

The only good thing about flying around storms in the Bahamas, is that you can see them and are free to change direction and altitude without much problem from any ATC. When you get into Fl., no changes without permission, but that is for safety with many more aircraft than you find in the skies over the Islands.

I keep flight watch handy on my radio, they will take time to get you to the best vector's to your destination.

Nice few days in the Bahamas, no rain ,just hot... beach time and much napping and no phone calls or stress... just peace.

 

[eman1200]

glad you're back safe. was the wx unexpected? I'm not questioning your decision to fly home but should you have waited or you felt comfortable with the information you had?

 

[Bill Watson]

Nice few days in the Bahamas, no rain ,just hot... beach time and much napping and no phone calls or stress... just peace.

After making a trip earlier this year, we were thinking of spending a few days or a week somewhere in the out islands before the end of the month.

How's the weather this time of year - hotter I hear but how much so?

We went to Andros (fishing), Staniel (playing) and Cat (chilling). All three had handy airstrips. Any personal suggestions?

 

[bahama flier]

The weather in the Islands is very hot, like Florida, but the humidity is high, you sweat very easily . Not much rain, but rain comes in cells over there, rains hard, then its gone.

I have been renting in Great Harbor Cay for the last two years, don't get to any other Islands much, most have great beaches and places to stay.

You can Google Earth and see pictures of many places you would like to visit, and there are many sites on the internet to give you places and prices of different places to eat as well as to stay.

As far as flying weather, fly as early as you can, over and around and back. Nassau and Freeport give weather advisories and forecast, but they are seldom up to date or accurate . If you see rain, just fly around it or thru it if its just light rain, just watch out for lighting and the very dark ones.

Flying back to Fl, is just a crap shoot, the summer storms form so fast flight watch can barely keep up, the ATC in Miami constantly ask for PIREPS to aid flights crossing over. But you can see them and can easily fly around most of them. Miami flight service can only give what they see, and what is predicted, but it changes often.

Its not as bad as you might think, I have just finished my 81st trip over, and I just try to get as much information as I can, if it seems bad, I just wait, if it looks flyable I go take a look with it understood, I will land and wait if needed be. The weather is usually worse in Fl than the Islands.

Get all the information you can, then its your call, good luck and have fun.

 

[Bill Watson]

The weather in the Islands is very hot, like Florida, but the humidity is high, you sweat very easily . Not much rain, but rain comes in cells over there, rains hard, then its gone.

I have been renting in Great Harbor Cay for the last two years, don't get to any other Islands much, most have great beaches and places to stay.

You can Google Earth and see pictures of many places you would like to visit, and there are many sites on the internet to give you places and prices of different places to eat as well as to stay.

As far as flying weather, fly as early as you can, over and around and back. Nassau and Freeport give weather advisories and forecast, but they are seldom up to date or accurate . If you see rain, just fly around it or thru it if its just light rain, just watch out for lighting and the very dark ones.

Flying back to Fl, is just a crap shoot, the summer storms form so fast flight watch can barely keep up, the ATC in Miami constantly ask for PIREPS to aid flights crossing over. But you can see them and can easily fly around most of them. Miami flight service can only give what they see, and what is predicted, but it changes often.

Its not as bad as you might think, I have just finished my 81st trip over, and I just try to get as much information as I can, if it seems bad, I just wait, if it looks flyable I go take a look with it understood, I will land and wait if needed be. The weather is usually worse in Fl than the Islands.

Get all the information you can, then its your call, good luck and have fun.

Thanks for the insight from 81 trips(!!)

I'm pretty familiar with FL flying so the comparison makes sense.

 

[marcoseddi]

Sounds fun I need no stress and no phone calls.

 

[Captain]

If y'all heading to the Bahamas be aware all gps approaches have been cancelled UFN except Freeport and Nassau. ATC won't clear you for the approach. They tell you 'approaches are pilot discretion' whatever that means.

 

[Brad Z]

If y'all heading to the Bahamas be aware all gps approaches have been cancelled UFN except Freeport and Nassau. ATC won't clear you for the approach. They tell you 'approaches are pilot discretion' whatever that means.

Why would you need to fly an approach?

 

[Bill Watson]

Why would you need to fly an approach?

That's what I was wondering... and I've only been there once. Outside of fog, which I don't have a clue as to whether it's common (not), IMC would seem to be limited to convective cells. If I had a cell blocking my way into a destination, I'd change islands and wait. Everything out there is 20 to 30 mins apart. No problem from what little I've seen.

Florida can get tough, the Bahamas, not so much outside of a tropical storm. Corrections?

 

[bahama flier]

You got it right...

 

[dell30rb]

Why would you need to fly an approach?

Last time I flew to Marsh Harbour I would have loved an approach and ATC radar service. It was a zoo and the weather was poor. 800-1200' ceilings about 60% light/moderate rain shower coverage. Same when I left 4 days later.

With an approach I could have flown right in vs. screwing around over the ocean at 800' and yapping on the CTAF to figure out how to get in.

Sure made me appreciate the great ATC service and approaches we have here.