Bermuda Questions

[PA31Ho]

I'm headed to Bermuda in November and never been there before. Can anybody give some intel on what to expect, etc. I've actually never done anything that far out over the water. It's part 91, we have a raft.

Thank in advance.

 

[semperfido]

If you are an NBAA member check their Intl Database as there is some useful info there on Bermuda. My experience is from more than 7 years ago when I last was there. Don't remember any real gotchas. Enjoyed it. Played golf everyday, rented scooters, ate a lot of expensive food, relaxed by the pool. Very tough duty.

 

[LJ45]

new day new question.. just kidding.

#1 you need an HF radio.

#2 its been a while since I went, but if you can't get to FL430 you will be in MNPS airspace and need that approval.

 

[con-pilot]

You will need to have HF radios. No HF, no go. Also standard NAT Oceanic rules apply.

Now, other than that, have a great time. I've been there a few times and have always really enjoyed it. One thing that really struck me was how clean the island is.

Believe it or not, on one trip my wife and I walked into a Pub on the island and we were able to watch an OU game, hell, we didn't even know OU was playing. We were on our way back to the US after spending three weeks flying all over Europe.

 

[hmmm]

I have been researching as well for a trip in October.

Raft Life preservers yes. Survival Gear Don't know if required but renting it.

We are going KILM to Bermuda.

Talked to New York Oceanic and about 20 miles past OXANA to ENAPI is about 266 miles of no VHF coverage. After ENAPI you can get VHF again the rest of the way to Bermuda.

As long as you can get through the 266 miles or so however you want to calculate it in 30 min or less you don't need the HF.

There are HF's that are portable and Satcom well its kind of up in the air.
I haven't found where to rent them yet because other things to take care of.

Our strip will be KILM..ONGOT..PERDO..ENAPI..TXKF

I haven't got an answer yet whther we can get pre approval to go without radio pre arranged. Put in the request today. We are going in a B200 so 266 miles is def not able in 30 min.

 

[PA31Ho]

new day new question.. just kidding.

#1 you need an HF radio.

#2 its been a while since I went, but if you can't get to FL430 you will be in MNPS airspace and need that approval.

haha yea, I'm full of questions these days... thanks for all the answers.

We have an HF in the plane. Never used it, however.

 

[hmmm]

Not hard to use it. You can play with it on the ground. Let it warm up a bit if its older. Well I'm a mechanic at heart. But you can find frequencies on the net for the area you are in and possibly pick it up on the ground if at a larger airports (through a particular frequency for ground use) and sometimes at out airports on the freq for your area.

I would start by looking for the phone for New York Radio on the net or even San Francisco Radio to find a frequency chart if its not in your jeps introduction pages.

A HF is on the wish list of a possible new purchase used jet we are looking for as well as nexrad and efb.

Will let u know if we get one time approval without HF out and back at specific slow times.

Post what u learn.
.

 

[LJ45]

There was a discussion about this a while back and the verdict was you need HF, no way around it.
The only relief anyone found was if it failed while in Bermuda, they would allow you to come back home.
Could you go VFR in a King Air to Bermuda? Now that is a good question?

 

[G4G5]

Call Air Services Bermuda directly on the phone they rarely answer the VHF. They can handle everything, no need to get a handler involved. Customs has an office in their building. No rental cars on the Island, they can call you a taxi with no delay (for you and your pax). Everything is pricey except fuel, plan on tankering if your aircraft has the capability.

Stay at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Their is a supermarket called "Miles" with in a 2 minute walk of the hotel (find it, because it will be your best friend). Bring your own beer or plan on paying $13 for a 6 pack of Bud at the supermarket( $7 for a hotel brew), $6+ for a 1/2 gallon container of Tropicana. If you want to go to the beach, the Princess has a water taxi to the Fairmont Southampton (and vice versa) ask about it on check it.

They add 15% gratuity automatically to every meal that you get, so no need to tip on food. Other then the hotel bar, they do not add the tip at the bar so remember to tip your bartender.

No hanger available (their is but it's not worth the effort), lav service takes forever. No tug so don't let them pin you in if the ramp is full (Friday nights-Sundays). The FBO does not do the fueling, the airlines come first so plan accordingly. No newspapers until afternoon, none on Sundays. No maintenance available (no O2, nitrogen ect.)

 

[hmmm]

Good Info.

My email request for one time pre-approval / waiver to HF for one out and back hasn't returned so will call and ask. Been two days but it wasn't a official email address it was one the desk manager had sent me some VHF coverage maps on.

Didn't ask about a one time waiver when was on phone with them.

VFR to Bermuda. Hmmm Novel idea.

Good info there thanks on the layover.

.

 

[hmmm]

Just got back the email from the Oceanic desk manager and he didn't really address the question specifically on a pre-approval. I believe what LJ45 said that maybe only pre approved relief without HF is if it broke while at Bermuda... But we'll see.

91.511 doesn't say anything about flying VFR. So looking into that although it already seems dismal.

.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm headed to Bermuda in November and never been there before. Can anybody give some intel on what to expect, etc. I've actually never done anything that far out over the water. It's part 91, we have a raft.

Thank in advance.

PA31, your closest diverts are FOK, ACY and ORF. Each is about 630 nm or so from TXKF. Make DARN sure you carry enough fuel to get yourself back to one of those airports. For some operators, this necessitates a fuel stop before headed out, depending of course on the range of your bird. If one our our Limey friends aborts his SpeedBird out there and blows some rubber, you're not landing! So you gotta have the fuel to come back.

 

[K.V.]

PA31, your closest diverts are FOK, ACY and ORF. Each is about 630 nm or so from TXKF. Make DARN sure you carry enough fuel to get yourself back to one of those airports. For some operators, this necessitates a fuel stop before headed out, depending of course on the range of your bird. If one our our Limey friends aborts his SpeedBird out there and blows some rubber, you're not landing! So you gotta have the fuel to come back.

While I would never condone flying to an airport without enough fuel to make it to your alternate...in the event of the above situation, the taxi way there would act as an emergency runway. ("emergency" being the operative word)

From what I understand, the taxiway on the north end of the field use to be a runway back in the day...way before my time.

 

[ultrarunner]

I wouldn't plan on the taxiway being available. Or it getting cleared of emer vehicles responding to a disabled aircraft, etc, so you can come in and land....

An airport can close for any number of reasons that can actually prevent you from landing on any surface. And when the airport is as remote as that one...

Just take the fuel to come back. It's so easy!

 

[jonjuan]

PA31, your closest diverts are FOK, ACY and ORF. Each is about 630 nm or so from TXKF. Make DARN sure you carry enough fuel to get yourself back to one of those airports. For some operators, this necessitates a fuel stop before headed out, depending of course on the range of your bird. If one our our Limey friends aborts his SpeedBird out there and blows some rubber, you're not landing! So you gotta have the fuel to come back.

BS, man. The taxiways there are plenty long and wide. Put her down and go for some dark and stormy's.

 

[xrated]

Fuel, alternates, HF, landing on taxiways....all issues pretty much secondary to the important stuff. Just make sure you make it over to the Swizzle Inn.

 

[rice]

Fuel, alternates, HF, landing on taxiways....all issues pretty much secondary to the important stuff. Just make sure you make it over to the Swizzle Inn.

"Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out" you'll have fun.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

"Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out" you'll have fun.

Rookie, its "Swizzle Inn, Stagger out."

 

[K.V.]

I wouldn't plan on the taxiway being available. Or it getting cleared of emer vehicles responding to a disabled aircraft, etc, so you can come in and land....

An airport can close for any number of reasons that can actually prevent you from landing on any surface. And when the airport is as remote as that one...

Think about what you're saying man.

Nobody plans on landing on a taxiway. But in the event of an EMERGENCY combined with either a disabled aircraft or a runway closure for whatever reason, because the airport is so remote, the taxiway can be and has been used as emergency runway.

Just take the fuel to come back. It's so easy!

Wow, that does sound easy! Don't get the terms "emergency" and "piss-poor-planning" confused. While you can plan ahead of time for a million different situations, one should feel confident with contingencies like this for the thing that you can't plan for.

And as for the (operative) HF radio situation...It's my understanding that if you don't have one, the controllers in Bermuda won't even give you a clearance to depart. I think that's where the "one time" waiver comes into play.

 

[xrated]

Rookie, its "Swizzle Inn, Stagger out."

Sorry but Rice was correct, it's "Swagger".