Caribbean Planning Help
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: hungary
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caribbean Planning Help
Hi, Lucky Caribbean Flyers,
Planning a round trip in the Caribbean (in a "super-midsize jet") I've gathered/read/studied everything available (at least I assume). By now I think I have a reasonable knowledge of this area. One thing is need to be clarified however. It is the customs procedures at airports where the customs/imigration is located in the main terminal far from the local FBO.
I understood that at San Juan PR, (TJSJ) for example, you should taxi first to a certain gate at the main terminal, crew/psgs go to customs and after that you are allowed to go to the FBO. How is it done in reality? You unload all the baggs lock up the plane and go through customs? Then back to the aircraft, fire up and taxi to the FBO? It sounds unbelievably bothersome and time consuming. (If it is so, why should we use the FBO? My passengers could leave the terminal straight away.)
So, the flying part is clear - but a lot of questions on the ground.
Can anybody help?
I appreciate your help
Planning a round trip in the Caribbean (in a "super-midsize jet") I've gathered/read/studied everything available (at least I assume). By now I think I have a reasonable knowledge of this area. One thing is need to be clarified however. It is the customs procedures at airports where the customs/imigration is located in the main terminal far from the local FBO.
I understood that at San Juan PR, (TJSJ) for example, you should taxi first to a certain gate at the main terminal, crew/psgs go to customs and after that you are allowed to go to the FBO. How is it done in reality? You unload all the baggs lock up the plane and go through customs? Then back to the aircraft, fire up and taxi to the FBO? It sounds unbelievably bothersome and time consuming. (If it is so, why should we use the FBO? My passengers could leave the terminal straight away.)
So, the flying part is clear - but a lot of questions on the ground.
Can anybody help?
I appreciate your help
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Londinium village
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome to the USA!
This is the case at many US airports of entry and yes, it is bothersome. My advice would be to call the FBO and ask them the local procedure. As for not using the FBO, you may find that if you uplift fuel from them then you wont pay any ramp or handling fees. So you may not gain anything by not using them.
This is the case at many US airports of entry and yes, it is bothersome. My advice would be to call the FBO and ask them the local procedure. As for not using the FBO, you may find that if you uplift fuel from them then you wont pay any ramp or handling fees. So you may not gain anything by not using them.
Depends on where you're flying. I've flown a lot to the Bahamas from Florida so that's where my comments will address.
There's only a few airports in the Bahamas with an FBO but Customs & Immigration is available at the FBO as well as at the terminal. It's worth every penny of the ramp fee to use the FBO services. If you enter via the terminal you will have to pay cash to Customs then go over to Immigration's desk/office/corner of the room and pay cash to them and, for some airports eg Freeport, go to the airport authority counter to pay the landing fee (at least Freeport accepts CC for the airport fee. Not C & I though.) and submit your departure flight plan (a flight plan to leave an airport with ATC must be submitted even if you've already submitted a plan to US ATC). FBO's, however, combine all fees and accept CC. Much more convenient *and* they have line guys to assist.
Airports with FBOs: Marsh Harbour, Nassau (2 of them) and North Eleuthera.
Marsh Harbour: Cherokee Aviation.
Their taxiway is approx. halfway along the strip (09/27). and is the westernmost of all taxiways. The terminal is at the Eastern end of the strip. There was a parallel taxiway due to be built a year or two ago to remove the requirement to back track**
North Eleuthera: Can't remember the name offhand.
Common taxiway. The FBO is the building on the left as you exit the runway, terminal on the right.
Nassau (Lyndon Pindling Int'l Airport but buggered if I'm going to use such a mouthful)
Name has changed for the one I used the most (it was Millionaire but now is something different). They're in a remote corner of the airport with a taxiway entrance that is prone to traffic jams due to runway layout & crossings. Facilities are quite nice. Someone will meet you at the aircraft and shepherd you through customs, even handling your paperwork for you.
Nassau is a controlled airport so a flight plan will be needed for departure. Hand it to the people behind the counter & they'll submit it for you. ATC are so bloody useless there that it's normal practice to obtain clearance using a radio in their flight planning room before loading the pax.
The other FBO is on the same side of the field as the terminal building so easier to access. Didn't seem to have quite the same level of service the few times I've been there - but then wasn't handicapped by the endemic traffic jam getting into & out of Millionaire. Much handier if you need to get to the terminal for connecting flights.
Freeport: No FBO (unless one has opened in the last two years)
GA flights clear at a set of demountables unless outside the GA opening hours. Customs at one counter, Immigration at the one next to it, airport authority behind the glass next to C & I. There's also a desk at the rear to pay something (facility fee? Can't remember. It might be an FBO-ish 'pay for everything through them instead of separately' thing now)
Weather is available in the demountable next door.
Great Exuma/Governer's Harbour: No FBO, non-controlled however has FISO type service.
Usual thing about paying Customs & Immigration separately.
All the others are non-controlled. Pay Customs & Immigration separately (except for one or two who have a combined position). Remember it's all cash - US or Bahamian dollars.
If you're going to fly to other strips within the Bahamas you'll need to complete a cruising Transire. Basically a form that lists any freight you're shipping with you.
If you're coming into the US then you'll need to make sure you have an inbound flight plan with US ATC submitted and complete the online pax/crew notification with US Customs/Immigration. Registration online is free but their paranoid security makes the process cumbersome. You must use the nearest C&I airport to your route of flight unless you have overflight approval.
You must make sure that you land in the US within 30 or 60 mins of the notified ETA. **Read the requirements carefully**!!! US Customs & Immigration aren't known for their sense of humour.
Unless departing a controlled field you'll contact Miami Centre (er...Center) directly for clearance after departing VFR.
**No parallel taxiway is common in the Bahamas. Backtracking is the norm, as is contra-direction landings vs. take-offs if winds allow.
There's only a few airports in the Bahamas with an FBO but Customs & Immigration is available at the FBO as well as at the terminal. It's worth every penny of the ramp fee to use the FBO services. If you enter via the terminal you will have to pay cash to Customs then go over to Immigration's desk/office/corner of the room and pay cash to them and, for some airports eg Freeport, go to the airport authority counter to pay the landing fee (at least Freeport accepts CC for the airport fee. Not C & I though.) and submit your departure flight plan (a flight plan to leave an airport with ATC must be submitted even if you've already submitted a plan to US ATC). FBO's, however, combine all fees and accept CC. Much more convenient *and* they have line guys to assist.
Airports with FBOs: Marsh Harbour, Nassau (2 of them) and North Eleuthera.
Marsh Harbour: Cherokee Aviation.
Their taxiway is approx. halfway along the strip (09/27). and is the westernmost of all taxiways. The terminal is at the Eastern end of the strip. There was a parallel taxiway due to be built a year or two ago to remove the requirement to back track**
North Eleuthera: Can't remember the name offhand.
Common taxiway. The FBO is the building on the left as you exit the runway, terminal on the right.
Nassau (Lyndon Pindling Int'l Airport but buggered if I'm going to use such a mouthful)
Name has changed for the one I used the most (it was Millionaire but now is something different). They're in a remote corner of the airport with a taxiway entrance that is prone to traffic jams due to runway layout & crossings. Facilities are quite nice. Someone will meet you at the aircraft and shepherd you through customs, even handling your paperwork for you.
Nassau is a controlled airport so a flight plan will be needed for departure. Hand it to the people behind the counter & they'll submit it for you. ATC are so bloody useless there that it's normal practice to obtain clearance using a radio in their flight planning room before loading the pax.
The other FBO is on the same side of the field as the terminal building so easier to access. Didn't seem to have quite the same level of service the few times I've been there - but then wasn't handicapped by the endemic traffic jam getting into & out of Millionaire. Much handier if you need to get to the terminal for connecting flights.
Freeport: No FBO (unless one has opened in the last two years)
GA flights clear at a set of demountables unless outside the GA opening hours. Customs at one counter, Immigration at the one next to it, airport authority behind the glass next to C & I. There's also a desk at the rear to pay something (facility fee? Can't remember. It might be an FBO-ish 'pay for everything through them instead of separately' thing now)
Weather is available in the demountable next door.
Great Exuma/Governer's Harbour: No FBO, non-controlled however has FISO type service.
Usual thing about paying Customs & Immigration separately.
All the others are non-controlled. Pay Customs & Immigration separately (except for one or two who have a combined position). Remember it's all cash - US or Bahamian dollars.
If you're going to fly to other strips within the Bahamas you'll need to complete a cruising Transire. Basically a form that lists any freight you're shipping with you.
If you're coming into the US then you'll need to make sure you have an inbound flight plan with US ATC submitted and complete the online pax/crew notification with US Customs/Immigration. Registration online is free but their paranoid security makes the process cumbersome. You must use the nearest C&I airport to your route of flight unless you have overflight approval.
You must make sure that you land in the US within 30 or 60 mins of the notified ETA. **Read the requirements carefully**!!! US Customs & Immigration aren't known for their sense of humour.
Unless departing a controlled field you'll contact Miami Centre (er...Center) directly for clearance after departing VFR.
**No parallel taxiway is common in the Bahamas. Backtracking is the norm, as is contra-direction landings vs. take-offs if winds allow.
