Flight Training - January/February 2022 - 21

ROAD TRIP
BY JILL W. TALLMAN
FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA
EASY BORDER CROSSING
A WORD (OR 20) ABOUT
PAPERWORK
We're not going to
sugarcoat it-there are
numerous paperwork
requirements to enter the
Bahamas, and COVID-19
protocols are only part of
them. A recommended
strategy is to separate
and assemble what's
required for the airplane,
the pilot in command,
and any passengers. For
example: The airplane
must have:
* A standard airworthiness
certificate.
(The Bahamas
Department of Civil
Aviation has a Standardised
Validation
of a Special Airworthiness
Certificate
for Experimental
and Amateur-Built
Aircraft.)
*
*
JUST 56 NAUTICAL MILES OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA LIES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW
pilot to make a border crossing and cross off a bucket list item while soaking up some sunshine. The
Bahamas welcomes pilots from the United States, including sport pilots as well as those who fly
under BasicMed.
You can depart the United States from any airport. Florida's Treasure Coast International Airport
in Fort Pierce (FPR) and Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) have excellent FBOs that
will ensure you have appropriate safety equipment (flotation vests, rafts) if you need to make any
last-minute purchases or rentals.
You must land at a Bahamas airport of entry to clear Customs, even if you plan to go to other
islands during your visit. We suggest first-timers land at Grand Bahama International Airport (MYGF)
in Freeport, which has plentiful GA parking, fuel, and a customs office-as well as numerous lodging
options. At customs you can complete Form C7A that lets you hop from island to island. A busy tourist
destination, Freeport makes a perfect base from which you can explore some of the other islands,
such as Staniel Cay and its swimming pigs; Great Harbour Cay, where you'll likely run into likeminded
pilots searching for a delicious lunch; or Crooked Island, where you can try bonefishing.
There's more to flying to the Bahamas than what we can adequately cover here, including the
requirements for filing and opening an ICAO flight plan plus clearing Customs and Border Patrol
once you have returned to the United States. Take a deep dive into those procedures at AOPA.org-
but don't be intimidated. The prep work for making this trip is probably the hardest part of the
journey. Once you're in the air, the real adventure begins.
jill.tallman@aopa.org
WHY YOU SHOULD GO
A short over-water hop gets you into one of the friendliest destinations
imaginable-and the Bahamas loves general aviation pilots, frequently offering
fuel and lodging discounts to flyers.
*
A permanent registration
certificate.
* A radio station
license.
Operating limitations
information.
* Weight and balance
information.
A life vest/flotation
device for each
person aboard.
* An ID data plate.
*
*
*
12-inch registration
marks.
Altitude-reporting
or altitude-encoding
transponder.
Aircraft with fuel
tanks installed in the
baggage or passenger
compartments
must have Form 337
on board.
*
121.5MHz and/or
406MHz
See requirements for
pilot and passengers
(aopa.org/bahamas).
AOPA's Bahamas and
Caribbean Guides offer
comprehensive information
for your island
adventures, including
maps with airport data,
Customs & Immigration
information, and more.
The guides are available
in print and app versions.
flytheislands.com
FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
21

http://www.aopa.org/bahamas http://www.AOPA.org http://www.flytheislands.com

Flight Training - January/February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - January/February 2022