Thanks Harvey for that. We have applied for licence verification via the FAA
website, should receive a response in 6 weeks or so...

One of the issues that we are having is minimum number of hours to fly the
plane. We want to have the plane for 4 weeks and can guarantee 40 hours;
however some of the rental agencies are looking for 60 hours minimum. We
want to fly the more modern planes (reliability etc); Cessna vs Piper not a
real issue - don't care which. A good Archer would be fine. A Grumman Tiger
wold be good too, but I guess they are getting a bit thin on the ground...

The Venezuela - Panama section may cause a bit of a problem - some companies
will not allow their planes there - and maybe rightly so with all the
politics that are going on there at the moment. I for one would really like
to get up to the Baja Peninsula and do some diving.

cheers...pix

"Eclipsme" wrote in message
...
Sounds like a great trip. I envy you. I live in central Florida, and have
been here for 15 years. When I moved here, I owned a 182, and briefly had
it
on lease back (available for hire). Other than that one, I have never seen
a
182 for rent here. With Piper based in Vero Beach, there is a definite
preference for Piper product. This may be your biggest problem. The flying
is great, the weather good, as long as you stay away during hurricane
season, and the scenery in the Caribbean is great. Check out Crooked
Island
in the Bahamas, as well as Eluthra. Stay away from Dominican Republic -
red
tape and officialitis. Don't arrive in Puerto Rico after 5:00 PM or you
will
be charged overtime. Good fuel stop at Grand Turk, or at least there was
some years back. Have you checked out what is needed to convert your
license?

Just a few thoughts. Good luck,
Harvey

"pix" wrote in message
...
Looking at a flying trip through the Bahama's from Florida, down towards
Venezuela (hopefully able to go around that and Columbia, thence Panama,
back to Florida. Bare bones in the planning stages so far; looking at
places
to stay budget accomodation, things to do (diving, drinking beer etc),
and
more specifically the do's and don'ts of flying in that area of the
world.

We are from Australia, Denmark and Austria (a real mix!), with
Australian
and European pilot's licence. Looking at flying at least 172SP's or a
newish
182. Experiences vary - from experienced multi engine IFR to 80 hour
newbie.

We hope to be flying around Feb/March next year.

Any idea's and suggestions?

cheers...pix