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#1
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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 |
#2
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"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. |
#3
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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. |
#4
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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. |
#5
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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/ |
#6
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On 1 Nov 2003 14:52:55 -0800, Klaus Bucka-Lassen wrote:
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 check for VISA requirements. in all countries you plan to stay (and all those you select as alternate). 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 well, doable and reasonable are 2 different things. :-) 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. well, some of the above countries are on an evil axis, according to the current US administration. Also you should check with your Austrian and Danish embassy about travel warnings. I (Klaus) have a PPL and have already done a big trip of that you all are planning to fly on basis of which national certificates? And you plan on flying N-reg planes? magnitude (2 1/2 months, 115 flying hours actually) around Australia (www.bucka-lassen.dk/flacroz). Experience is about 200 hours as PIC. well. are you instrument rated? Wolfgang, the other pilot also has a PPL and a little less experience. instrument rated? 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. 4 plus fuel plus luggage plus survival gear in a C172 or an Archer? nice idea. ANY suggestions on the route, hints on what to see and what not, what _always_ unload your plane totally before leaving a country and search for drugs. 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! well, _I_'d look into an instrument and multi rating and min. 100 hours intensive training. But this is only me. #m -- http://www.refuseandresist.org/ |
#7
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"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 |
#8
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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/ |
#9
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Martin,
instrument rated? While I agree on your other comments: What for? To Klaus: Many of the countries you mention are classic drug runner countries. Cut your list down a little bit and you'll save a lot of trouble. -- Thomas Borchert (EDDH) |
#10
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"Martin Hotze" wrote in message ... .. | | well, some of the above countries are on an evil axis, according to the | current US administration. Also you should check with your Austrian and | Danish embassy about travel warnings. Really? I seem to recall only three countries being mentioned in the 'Axis of Evil' speech, none of them in the western hemisphere. |
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