Flying a private plane around the Caribbean in spring 2004

Hi everybody

We are two Danes and two Austrians who have thought of flying around
the Carribean for about a month in late winter/wpring 2004. Just from
looking at the map we figure it should be possible to do some loop
around the Caribbean Sea (Cuba - Haiti - Domenican Rep. - Puerto Rico
- Venezuela - Panama - Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Honduras). Maybe even
extend it to cover the Mexican Gulf as well (going through Texas, the
southern US states and coming down Florida back into the Carribean
loop). It looks doable to us - the longest stretch of water seems to
be no more than about an hour of flight.

I (Klaus) have a PPL and have already done a big trip of that
magnitude (2 1/2 months, 115 flying hours actually) around Australia
(www.bucka-lassen.dk/flacroz). Experience is about 200 hours as PIC.
Wolfgang, the other pilot also has a PPL and a little less experience.
We'd be looking into hiring a plane like a Cessna 172, a Grumman
Tiger, Piper Archer II or any similar sized plane (maybe slightly
bigger) that can carry about 300kg of passengers and luggage in total.

ANY suggestions on the route, hints on what to see and what not, what
countries to look up and which to avoid, tips on where to hire a
plane, administrative stuff that has to be sorted out (visas for
instance) etc. would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Wolfgang, Eva, Linda, and
Klaus Bucka-Lassen

"Klaus Bucka-Lassen" wrote in message
m...
Hi everybody

We are two Danes and two Austrians who have thought of flying around
the Carribean for about a month in late winter/wpring 2004. Just from
looking at the map we figure it should be possible to do some loop
around the Caribbean Sea (Cuba - Haiti - Domenican Rep. - Puerto Rico
- Venezuela - Panama - Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Honduras). Maybe even
extend it to cover the Mexican Gulf as well (going through Texas, the
southern US states and coming down Florida back into the Carribean
loop). It looks doable to us - the longest stretch of water seems to
be no more than about an hour of flight.

I (Klaus) have a PPL and have already done a big trip of that
magnitude (2 1/2 months, 115 flying hours actually) around Australia
(www.bucka-lassen.dk/flacroz). Experience is about 200 hours as PIC.
Wolfgang, the other pilot also has a PPL and a little less experience.
We'd be looking into hiring a plane like a Cessna 172, a Grumman
Tiger, Piper Archer II or any similar sized plane (maybe slightly
bigger) that can carry about 300kg of passengers and luggage in total.

ANY suggestions on the route, hints on what to see and what not, what
countries to look up and which to avoid, tips on where to hire a
plane, administrative stuff that has to be sorted out (visas for
instance) etc. would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Wolfgang, Eva, Linda, and
Klaus Bucka-Lassen

I don't think you will be able to go to Cuba if you are using a US plane or
are starting or ending your journey in the US.

There is a bit of politics involved, a 45 year grudge (something to do with
commie *******s) so you would need to adjust your itinerary.

Dave wrote:



I don't think you will be able to go to Cuba if you are using a US plane or
are starting or ending your journey in the US.

There is a bit of politics involved, a 45 year grudge (something to do with
commie *******s) so you would need to adjust your itinerary.

The Cubans would love to have you, you just need to go there from a
country other than the USA. And you would need to go to a country other
than the USA on your first leg out of Cuba.

Klaus Bucka-Lassen wrote in message Just from
looking at the map we figure it should be possible to do some loop
around the Caribbean Sea (Cuba - Haiti - Domenican Rep. - Puerto Rico
- Venezuela - Panama - Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Honduras).

I had lunch in the Bahamas this afternoon.

You can do the route without being more than 50 miles from land at any time.
However, I recommend taking a life-raft with a survival kit for
single-engine over-water flying. The weather is generally good all year
round. Credit cards are NOT accepted at most airports. The US dollar is the
tender of choice. Air Traffic Control is ICAO standard throughout the region
although you may have to ask some controllers to say again if you aren't
accustomed to Spanish accents.

An excellent resource is the "Bahamas and Caribbean Guide for Pilots". The
website is
www.pilotpub.com (It shows the year 2002 but there is a more recent
edition).

If you arrive in the US on a major airline, you will likely be issued a
green form in lieu of a visa. Keep the green form with during your trip
around the Caribbean or you won't be allowed back in the US. Enjoy your
trip!

D.

On Sun, 02 Nov 2003 03:40:22 GMT, Capt. Doug wrote:

If you arrive in the US on a major airline, you will likely be issued a
green form in lieu of a visa. Keep the green form with during your trip
around the Caribbean or you won't be allowed back in the US. Enjoy your
trip!

If you plan such a trip (Cuba etc.) then you should have a tourist visa.
Foreigners have a hard stand these days, esp. in the US.

#m

--
http://www.refuseandresist.org/

Martin Hotze wrote in message If you plan such a trip (Cuba etc.) then
you should have a tourist visa.
Foreigners have a hard stand these days, esp. in the US.

I am thoroughly familiar with immigration issues as pertains to the
US. This month marks 25 years that I have been flying the Caribbean. A visa
waiver is valid for re-entry into the US for 90 days from the
date of first entry from anywhere in the western hemisphere. To prove the
date of first entry, the person(s) must present the green stub of the I-94
form which was validated at their original entry along with their passport.

D.

"Capt. Doug" wrote in message
...

If you arrive in the US on a major airline, you will likely be issued a
green form in lieu of a visa. Keep the green form with during your trip
around the Caribbean or you won't be allowed back in the US. Enjoy your
trip!

As Martin suggests, I think it's more difficult than that. I've heard from
UK pilots who got into trouble presuming that they would be allowed to use
the visa waiver program when, after a trip to the Bahamas or similar, they
arrived back in the US in a light aircraft. You may need a full B-2 visa.

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...spect/vwpp.htm

"When Must I Obtain a Visa Instead of Using the VWP?
If you intend to arrive in the United States aboard a non-signatory air
carrier, you must obtain a nonimmigrant visa prior to boarding the
aircraft."

Julian Scarfe

On Sun, 2 Nov 2003 12:47:03 -0000, Julian Scarfe wrote:

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...spect/vwpp.htm

"When Must I Obtain a Visa Instead of Using the VWP?
If you intend to arrive in the United States aboard a non-signatory air
carrier, you must obtain a nonimmigrant visa prior to boarding the
aircraft."

well, I once planned a trip to the Bahamas and checked with the local US
embassy. The lady there told me something about a special agreement valid
for the Bahamas, yadda yadda .... well, finally I cancelled the Bahamas
trip because of other factors. But for sure I will try to avoid any
possible hassles with an immigration-homeland-security-officer.

(as for now I avoid all problems by cancelling any plans for visiting the
US)

#m

--
http://www.refuseandresist.org/

On Sun, 2 Nov 2003 12:47:03 -0000, "Julian Scarfe"
wrote:

"Capt. Doug" wrote in message
...

If you arrive in the US on a major airline, you will likely be issued a
green form in lieu of a visa. Keep the green form with during your trip
around the Caribbean or you won't be allowed back in the US. Enjoy your
trip!

As Martin suggests, I think it's more difficult than that. I've heard from
UK pilots who got into trouble presuming that they would be allowed to use
the visa waiver program when, after a trip to the Bahamas or similar, they
arrived back in the US in a light aircraft. You may need a full B-2 visa.

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...spect/vwpp.htm

"When Must I Obtain a Visa Instead of Using the VWP?
If you intend to arrive in the United States aboard a non-signatory air
carrier, you must obtain a nonimmigrant visa prior to boarding the
aircraft."

Julian Scarfe

I have a FAA Certificate and UK licence and twice flown to the
Bahamas.

First time no hassle, even when I had to divert to West Palm Beach due
to weather.

Second time I got the most awkward immigration guy you could imagine.
He wasn't pleased I gone out of the hall back to the aircraft
unaccompanied to get my passport.

He complained about me stepping over the line when nobody else was
ahead of me

He decided my permanent Visa was no longer valid as the regulations
had changed so he cancelled it! This was despite being accepted on my
arrival to the US a week earlier.

He asked why I had not checked with immigration on departure (not
possible, nor suggested, at Titusville, Florida). He said I should
have contacted them anyway though the first time I went to the Bahamas
no comment was made.

He wanted the address where I was staying but as I was late back I
still needed to find a hotel.

Despite recommendations of ease of customs/immigration I won't ever
use Fort Pierce again.


David

Piper Warrior G-BHJO
Scotland, UK

E-mail (Remove Space after pilot): pilot

On Sun, 02 Nov 2003 16:44:33 +0000, wrote:

Second time I got the most awkward immigration guy you could imagine.
He wasn't pleased I gone out of the hall back to the aircraft
unaccompanied to get my passport.


well. their rules; you may find them silly, but it is their game.

He complained about me stepping over the line when nobody else was
ahead of me


another rule. you broke it.

He decided my permanent Visa was no longer valid as the regulations
had changed so he cancelled it! This was despite being accepted on my
arrival to the US a week earlier.


maybe the regulations changed within this week?

He asked why I had not checked with immigration on departure (not
possible, nor suggested, at Titusville, Florida). He said I should
have contacted them anyway though the first time I went to the Bahamas
no comment was made.


you did ADCUS? you informed them of your planned arrival time?

He wanted the address where I was staying but as I was late back I
still needed to find a hotel.


then tell him "I will check in at the Holiday Inn (or whatever chain)"

Despite recommendations of ease of customs/immigration I won't ever
use Fort Pierce again.


David

#m

--
http://www.refuseandresist.org/