Flying Over Cuba

[Klr2land]

I have a trip flying from Key West, Fl to Montego Bay, Jamaica on Friday and will be flying over Cuba (IFR).

Will Miami ATC hand me off to Havana or will I need to contact them 10 minutes prior to FIR crossing while talking to Miami?

Will I be in radar contact while over Cuba?

Will I need to make compulsory reporting position reports while in radar contact?

I have a handler filing the international flight plan and Cuba permits, but I am wondering what to expect leaving the US and entering the Cuba airspace.

Thanks for the help.

 

[AngelKing]

I have a trip flying from Key West, Fl to Montego Bay, Jamaica on Friday and will be flying over Cuba (IFR).

Will Miami ATC hand me off to Havana or will I need to contact them 10 minutes prior to FIR crossing while talking to Miami?

Will I be in radar contact while over Cuba?

Will I need to make compulsory reporting position reports while in radar contact?

I have a handler filing the international flight plan and Cuba permits, but I am wondering what to expect leaving the US and entering the Cuba airspace.

Thanks for the help.

Miami will hand you off, but it is a good idea to contact Havana ahead of time. You will most likely need to have your permit number ready for them when they ask.

Cuba has radar and if it is working you will not need to report points.

Lots thunderstorms over Cuba this time of year.


AK

 

[The_Russian]

TADPO Rulz!

You can think of it as an escape point from Miami or the return to freedom from the oppression of a socialist coup!

Also,

Prepare to not understand a thing you hear on the radio.

?Que?

How's it goin' AK?

 

[AngelKing]

TADPO Rulz!

You can think of it as an escape point from Miami or the return to freedom from the oppression of a socialist coup!

Also,

Prepare to not understand a thing you hear on the radio.

?Que?

How's it goin' AK?

Great...next time you are in Key West.....let me know, lunch is on me.

its toss-up who the hardest is to understand, the Jamaicans or the Cubans.


AK

 

[Klr2land]

Thanks for the help.

One more question.
Will Cuba give me a handoff to Kingston or will I need to just contact them when entering Jamaica's airspace?

 

[McNugget]

Great...next time you are in Key West.....let me know, lunch is on me.

its toss-up who the hardest is to understand, the Jamaicans or the Cubans.


AK

Try Curacao or Piarco, for starters.

 

[AngelKing]

Thanks for the help.

One more question.
Will Cuba give me a handoff to Kingston or will I need to just contact them when entering Jamaica's airspace?

They will hand you off, but know when you are entereing Jamaican airspace.....just in case.


AK

 

[Draginass]

Cuban overfly is easy as long as you have your overfly permit.

Miami will send you over to their frequency just prior to their airspace. If you have a second radio you can establish contact and give Havana an expected time entering their airspace. They have radar. It's really no different than anywhere else. The 10 min prior contact rule isn't really practical in all cases since you might be out of radio range depending on where you are. Do keep track of where you are, however. Some of the other ATCs may not send you over to the next country's airspace controller either because they forgot about you or you're out of radio range.

Nothing to get worried about. The Cubans are happy to let you overfly as long as you have the permit. It's a source of hard currency for them.

 

[Klr2land]

Great Help!

Thanks for the help. It helped to calm my nerves for this trip.

 

[Jurasicpilot]

Yeah they are OK and their English is pretty good. I have alway called prior to give them a position estimate. I always try to do the same going the other way too and give MIA ctr an estimate. Its good to do because Ive had it take a while for them the find my strip and give me my clearance.

PS They really dig Spanish speakers. I had one giving me a hard time and another crew member answered back in Spanish and all of a sudden we were the greatest thing on the air. ???