International Fly-in to the Bahamas

A few more tips from my recent trip to the bahamas.
Carry a marine frequency handheld radio. Lots of restaraunts and cabs etc in the smaller islands have no phones, but everyone has a VHF marine radio.
I ran into a group travelling with Air Journeys guided group. They were all very happy with the service and with the special side trips that the guides set up.
 
Will be posting the "new" date for the Bahamas fly-in soon. It will be with Air Journey (they take care of almost everything and the trip is all inclusive with hotel and food). Here is a summary of the upcoming trip:

Labor Day 2007 in the Bahamas

Day 1 - Friday, August 31st: North County to Bimini Islands to Staniel Cay (275 nm)

We’ll meet at 9:00 AM at the North County Airport (F45) FBO for a briefing. We recommend that you arrive early to refuel and collect you completed forms and survival gear.

Our first stop will be Bimini in the Exuma Islands where we will clear Customs and refuel. We’ll continue on to Staniel Cay where we will be staying at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. The Yacht Club offers the perfect gateway for yachting, and for anyone seeking a comfortable and casual vacation on a remote and unspoiled island. Pilots and guests will appreciate the 3,000’ airstrip so close to a wonderful restaurant and a scenic and relaxing bar named one of the “Ten Greatest Places for a Waterside Drink” by Jimmy Buffet.

We will meet at the end of the day for a Welcome Cocktail Party.

Hotel: Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Dinner and Cocktail included

Day 2 - Saturday, September 1st: Staniel Cay

We will have plenty of time to wander on this pristine island and discover the undersea world. We’ll explore the breathtaking Thunderball Grotto, a hollowed-out island where you can get incredibly close to thousands of colorful fish who will willingly eat from your hand. For the deep-sea fisherman or woman, playful dolphins will follow you as you have a go at a multitude of grouper, snapper, tuna, and more. Some may enjoy paddling over crystal clear waters in their own kayaks, or find a secluded beach and experience the islands as they might have been several hundred years ago.

Hotel: Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Breakfast and Dinner included

Day - 3 Sunday, September 2nd: Staniel Cay

A day for more fun and relaxation.

Hotel: Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 4 - Monday, September 3rd: Staniel Cay to North Eleuthera to Palm Beach (250nm)

After breakfast, we’ll fly to North Eleuthera to refuel and to clear Customs and then fly to Palm Beach for re-entry in the US.

Breakfast included

Here are the runway lengths. Not a problem at all for our planes.

Landing Point Airport Code Runway Length
North County.......F45...........4,300'
Bimini.................MYBS........5,000'
Staniel Cay.........MYES........3,000'
North Eleuthera...MYEH........6,000'
Palm Beach.........KPBI......10,000'

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I have received a lot of emails saying the fall was better than spring. This is a 4 day trip over the Labor Day weekend. It will book fast! Please confirm with me as soon as you can if you want to go. I will need to see if we can get even bigger discounts if we have several planes going.

Thanks,
Doug
 
I just returned from a trip to Costa Rica and at one hotel I ran into an Air Journey group. They were a total of 11 planes flying to 8 countries (or something like that)! Anyway, I spoke to one of the flying members as well as a couple of the trip leaders. The flying member was extremely impressed with the trip, the prep work by Air Journey and the overall experience.

While the paperwork for the Bahamas is not all that bad, having someone like Air Journey for one's first trip sounds like a great way to go!

Sure wish I could make the trip with you! Have fun and fly safely!
Chris
 
Labor Day trip is on the calendar. Let me know as soon as you can to book. The trip is all inclusive and will give you a chance to fly around the islands, relax at the hotel, scuba/snorkel in amazing areas (near the hotel), take boat rides, and more.

Please listen to the new Podcast with Air Journey at
http://www.avweb.com/podcast/files/2007-05-04.mp3

More information will be released in the new BAC Talk Newsletter. When released, I encourage you to read about this and what others are planning.

Doug
 
Staniel Cay is a great spot for a getaway. I was there a few weeks ago and the yacht club will be very good for group dinners etc. I tried to upload a few pictures but the files were a bit too big for our website and were rejected.
Have fun and be ready for the swimming pigs!
 
Hmmmm.. If I can't name drop the swimming pigs, how about the sharks and rays hanging around the dock? or the club thunderball Barbeque? Oh well.... I'll just have to try again to load the pictures for you to 'pre-flight' the island.
 
Cloyd,

Dean and Dohnae Sikes are registered and going. I am in week number two of new job. It is KILLING me not to go. I should have started the new job AFTER Labor Day. :) Dean is the only one so far confirmed. There may be others. I have asked my contact at Air Journey to take pictures and maybe a video of any Beech planes that are on the trip. Hopefully we will have something to present at BAC Fest so we can drum up support for a 2008 trip.

Doug
 
I just returned from another Bahamas trip. This time I didn't even have anything break on the plane this time.
But.... I did find a great place for a seminar in the Bahamas if we ever want to do an event there and need a meeting room.
Emerald-Palms.com is the website. South Andros Island, near MYAK airport. Very remote but nice beaches, great fishing and snorkeling. A beautiful facility with lots of room, good food. The southern Bahamas location is an easy trip from South Florida and is close enough for day hops to Santa Maria, Georgetown and Staniel Cay (those swimmong pigs again!).
 
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