OK. So we recently returned from our first trip to the Bahamas in our RV10. It was a wonderful trip and we'll be back for sure!
Our itinerary was NC to Pompano Beach KPMP to Congo Town MYAK on Andros Island (customs and Bonefishing), to Staniel Key MYES in the Exumas (lunch), to New Bight MYCB on Cat Island (deep chill & Superbowl), back to Staniel (skin diving and more Bones), to North Eleuthra (fuel & customs), to KFPR (customs) and back home in NC.
Have fun! And don't worry about it too much. They're pretty laid back. Get (and read) the Bahamas and Caribbean pilot's flying guide (
http://www.pilotpub.com) and get the paperwork packets. Go to a Bahamas Gateway FBO and they can help you with getting the paperwork done in advance.
I *highly* recommend
App Jet Center in Ft. Pierce, they were extremely helpful, had rafts for rent for very reasonable rates, and US Customs right next door on the way back in was the best and fastest I've ever been to anywhere - From the time I pulled off the runway to the time I exited Customs was less than 10 minutes, and that includes the taxi time!
You can leave the states from anywhere (no customs req'd) but Ft Pierce would seem like a nice place to leave from if you need help of any kind. It definitely is a friendly place to return to. On the return, KFPR Customs is very friendly but their eyes are open, "when does your medical expire?" It doesn't seem like they look at the plane unless you peek back outside while they are not looking at your baggage. Very friendly, just have your stuff in order.
The Bahamian authorities are very friendly and easy. We went to 3 out island AOE airports and though the facilities are spare, they were manned/womanned as scheduled.
Yes, you need to have applied and paid for the decal, print out the receipt if you can. You should have the sticker, but you don't 'need' it if it doesn't come by the time of your trip; it will be in the computer system that you paid for it. Normally they come in the mail in between 4 and 7 days.
Mine took 3 weeks so I didn't have it for the trip. It's online but I had the receipt as well.
They could care less about log books or any of that crap down there. They don't even care if you have a license. Customs is a breeze.
Coming back to the states, better pay close attention to eApis and customs rules.
Yes, Yes and make sure your papers and schedules are in order when returning to states.
One thing to note about the Bahamas, and it's what makes it difficult to rent a plane to go there anymore, is that if you have a problem, you can no longer fly your mechanic and parts over to fix it. You have to use a Bahamian A&P and pay full duty on parts. Not a huge problem really as apparently most if not all Bahamian A&Ps are FAA certified, but it can get costly.
Bahamian A&P sounds right. They have laws about work only being done by Bahamians with properly imported Bahamian goods just like we do in the States except they may be more serious about it. Applies to everything. Non-Bahamian's work is carefully circumscribed.
Does the "pilot's bill of rights" still apply? From what I understand, this means no landing, tiedown fees for single engine airplanes at public airports. The only fees you pay are a $50 per aircraft customs fee and a $25 per person departure tax.
Pilots bill of rights -
http://www.bahamas.com/private-flying-info
Couple folks on airnav were complaining about paying a bunch of fees at Marsh Harbour which is a publicly owned airport in the Abacos.
So I e-mailed them to ask about the fees for a piston single.
PS According to an airnav comment, that processing fee of $50 is in addition to the $50 tax levied by the government.
The legit customs fees are $100 for my trip and then when you add in their fees it brings the total fees to $220.
I didn't know anything about it but found the Pilot's bill of rights posted on official's doors!!
The fees for our trip were calculated at $100 and that's what they were. $50 coming in, $25 per leaving. Govt AOE airports were uniforming smooth surfaced, long and wide. Tiedowns varied with coral playing a big part. Staniel was slightly rougher and shorter. Security looked scarce but seems more than adequate. We quickly abandoned the prop lock and stopped thinking about security in general.
I'm hearing two different messages.
Message one; Go to customs directly in the Bahamas, and clear, then go fly until you leave when you go to customs again directly and pay your exit visa fee and go home.
Message two: Go to an agent/FBO on arrival and have them handle the customs intake, and do the same on departure and pay a fee both ways.
Which is it?
Land at any AOE in the Bahamas. Pay the $50 do the paper work. Go have fun whereever you want. Depart from any AOE in the Bahamas and pay the $25 per head. No hands out anywhere we went, no BS, no static, be friendly and you will be helped. Be bitchy and you will be served as well.
Just clear in and out through a port of entry through the normal channels, the Bahamians are quite friendly. Have cash.
I'm friendly too, I also don't wanna pay $100 in fees just to gain access to the customs folks. Sounds like the guy at Marsh Harbour had his pocket picked. I think if I go I'll just stop in Freeport, do my thing with customs, then go fly around, and stop there on the way out, do the exit fee thing and head home.
The advice we had was avoid Freeport and Nassau. The advice we'd give is don't hesitate to go in or out of any AOE airport, no matter how remote. Can't speak to Marsh Harbour... maybe add to Freeport and Nassau list.
Have cash for everything... not because hands are out but because that's what you pay for things with. Bahamian $$ and US $$ are equivalent except for when you get back, so...
Making plans for a June tour of the Islands.
Ordered my Customs Decal.
Bought the 2014 Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide, Charts, and Forms needed.
We are trying to stay on 3 islands during our trip. It is hard to book rooms now for 4 months out and guess what the weather will be. We will just wait until June 1 and make some calls and take what we can find.
Outside of hurricane season, there's not much weather from what I've heard. Seems true.
I couldn't book all the places I saw online on all the days I wanted them but there is another 'layer' of places to stay when you show up in person. Everything is neat and clean but not necessarily as nice and comfortable as others.
We had the freedom to extend our stay a bit and island hop based on who we met and what we heard. Worked out real well. Island hopping in your own plane is the ultimate is flexibility and speed. There's lot's of islands, many airports and only short stretches of water in between.
PM me if you have specific questions I can answer.
