Flying in the Caribbean   

Date of Visit = Oct 1998

Pilot: = Michael Haseloff

e-mail = Michael.Haseloff@t-online.de

Field Report = Barbara and I went on 30.10.98 to Naples, FL, to escape the grey and wet November. There I did two days later the BFR and ICC with Naples-Air-Center within a 2½ hours flight.

Letting tropical storm "Mitch" after his devastating tour over Central America pass Southern Florida - with one day of incredibly pouring rain - we took off in one of the brand new C172 to Key West. Inbound south along the Everglades to Key Largo and than following the Keys to Key West. One shall contact Key West APP CON 124.45 20 NM east and stay well south of NAS Key West Military airfield. Next I was requested to report right downwind abeam the tower and no sooner cleared to land on 09 at KEYW.

Turning final to 09 Key West

After spending a few hours in sunny and lively Key West, I filed an IFR Flight Plan back to Naples via V 539. If you mention as NAV equipment GPS, Miami Center will clear you "Direct Naples" after passing KARTR, an Intersection on V 539. Fort Myers APP CON gave us Radar Vectors for the Visual Approach on 05 at Naples.

Turning final to 05 of Naples

Now we prepared for our "adventure"! First we bought "Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide 1998" a valuable investment of U$ 45.95. After giving practical tips as to aircraft requirements, navigation aids, and other equipment recommended, it lists all airfields on the Bahamas and Caribbean with an arial photo view of all airfields giving a description of runway conditions, location of windsock, COM and NAV frequencies as well as traffic pattern. Richard Gentil of Naples Air Center gave us an extensive briefing for our trip and provided us with all necessary forms for entering the Bahamas, as well the US on the return trip.

On 11.11.98 we took off in a C172 from Naples, equipped with two GPS - one panel mounted and my own Garmin GPS 90 yoke mounted with updated database - one inflatable dingy as well as two live wests. An international VFR flight plan was filed on "1 800 wx brief" and activated once airborne. We climbed to 9,500ft and established on a direct routing to Marsh Harbour (MYAM) on Abaco Island a 259 NM trip. There are no customs or emigration procedures in the US while leaving the country. Due to a 10 - 15Kt headwind it took us a little over 3 hours to reach Marsh Harbour. We closed our flightplan while still in contact with Miami Center since we were told that Nassau Radio was not at all reliable in their service - as I found out myself later.

Once within 10 NM of MYAM you should make blind calls on Unicom 122.8 informing anybody around about your intentions. 122.8 is used by many other airfields in the vicinity and you have to listen very carefully whether the message transmitted by other pilots is of concern for you. Our two GPS brought us right over the airfield, which we passed at 1.000ft, entered a left-hand pattern and made a reasonable gusting crosswind landing. Most runways of the Bahamian Island are paved coral reef and the wholes are sometimes reasonably filled. MYAM is an AOE (Airport of Entry) and emigration and customs was uneventful. (We had filled all required forms already in Naples). We received a Cruising Permit to visit later other Islands.

The rest of the day we spent at Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour. A nice place, totally empty since it was off-season and very expensive with lousy service.

On 12.11.98 we took off to Stalla Maris on Long Island. A 201 NM trip which we covered in 02:15 hours. Altitude was again 9,500ft.

One of the beautiful sights from 9.500 ft.

Weather was few to scattered cumulus with a base at 3,500ft and tops of about 7,000 ft. Visibility was excellent with more than 20km. We passed a great number of islands and were impressed of the ever-changing colour patterns of the water. Stella Maris has an answered Unicom and gave us the wind of 15 gusting 20 knt from south-east and we landed again in quite some crosswind condition on RWY 13. The FBO, which is very friendly and well organised, parked and refuelled the aircraft.

In front of Customs office and FBO in Stella Maris

The white beach and turquoise blue water meant paradise for us. We spent the whole afternoon there. The Stella Maris Resort has simple rooms for U$ 120,00 + tax.

The beautiful beach of Stella Maris

Friday the 13th - flying within the Bermuda Triangle! Is anybody suspicious? ..well we were not - or at least pretended of not being so.

This was our flight back to Fort Lauderdale Intl. (KFLL) of 305 NM, which we covered in 02:55 hours. We finalised exit procedures with emigration at Stalla Maris. "1 800 wx brief" is also available all over the Bahamas and we could obtain the latest weather and file our flight plan. After take off we climbed to 8,500ft and were lucky enough to reach Miami Radio on 126.7 where we could open our flight plan and we received the very important customs transponder code. The Coast Guard or Air Force will intercept all aircraft entering the US ADIZ without a discrete transponder code. Such an event can really ruin your day.

Miami Radio gave us also the frequency of Miami Center but we were at this stage not able to contact them. On route we called Nassau Radio for flight following. They acknowledged our call - and that was all we ever heard from them. Again we were rewarded with the magnificent view of the Bahamian Islands surrounded by blue water with its ever-changing colour patterns. Abeam Nassau we tried again Miami Center and an airline pilot was kind enough to relay our message. 120 NM off the Florida Coast we established two way contact with Miami Center and some time later were given radar vectors to the right downwind approach to RWY 09R of KFLL. After landing we proceeded directly to customs where we cleared emigration. The flight plan was closed again with "1 800 wx brief".

Barbara & the author in front of US customs Fort Lauderdale Int.

Refuelling was done and on the pre flight check we found out that the flaps did not retract. The fuse was checked - no movement! After flipping the flap switch several times up and down the flaps finally retracted and could be extended and retracted again.

A nervous female ground controller tried do give us the Clearance Delivery Frequency. Only after several: "SAY AGAIN", we were able to understand her. While monitoring other transmissions we were satisfied that many others had the same problem with here. All along our trip communication was friendly and to the point. After take off on 09R at KFLL Miami Departure took us well over the water than direct north and a little later west. We followed the Interstate 75 and reached after 01:10 hours Naples - where the flaps after working fine for the approach and landing refused a to retract again.

We covered on this trip 860 NM in 09:28 flying time. Both GPS functioned perfectly and gave us the confidence to cover wide unknown areas. Indeed an unforgettable experience.

Again one of the beautiful sights