Flying to the Bahamas

[aucfi]

Thank you all for the responses. The guys I am taking are in a Bonefishing club down there and cant decide when they all want to get together and go. As far as I know, they are all US citizens but I will check to be sure.

I hope they decide to go soon because I will not be able to take them after April 12th due to other obligations. Again, thanks for the responses.

au

 

[Guitar rocker]

I personally would not come through MIA and try OPF if before 4:30 pm. MIA Customs can be a real pain in the arse..... Even FLL would be good too..

Couldnt agree more. MIA is an awful place to clear customs.......

 

[FlyingFisherman]

Use PBI or FLL.

 

[Propnose]

I was in Exuma in January - WOW! The water was amazing! We cleared customs outbound and inbound at OPF, and that was pretty laid back. But do make sure to throw all your garbage in one bag, or better yet, get rid of it before re-entering the states. The people were great in Exuma. It was just a quick turn for us unfortunately, but as long as you have all your paperwork in order, and extra's just in case you should have no problem! Have fun! It is beautiful down there!

 

[learnut]

Calling customs

Make sure that you get the initials of the US Customs officer that you make your appointment for re-entry with.

Absolutely, You MUST call US Customs before taking off from Bahamas and let them know your ETA, souls, tail, nationalities, etc.

If your going into Palm Beach, call Palm Beach, not Fort Laud.

LIke it's said above, get the sticker, preferably before.

Miami can help you coming in for anything as long as you ask nicely, but of course if your IFR inbound home then your good. If you need to activate that and your OUT Island, you can usually get them on 125.7 or 133.4

 

[h25b]

Use PBI or FLL.

I would steer clear of PBI.... Cleared inbound there a couple months ago and nearly got fined. Huge bunch of a$$holes working that place.

 

[DrProc]

I ran into a problem when I went down to San Salvador once. We needed to buy fuel. We knew they had fuel there as we had been there before. The only thing though, on this trip when we arrived, they told us that no one had bought any fuel for a year and a half, so the fuel was probably contaminated, and besides the lady that had the key to the fuel pump was off the island for a week. If going to an out island, make sure you tanker fuel or call ahead, just to make sure. BTW, they also have customs there.

 

[Guitar rocker]

Make sure that you get the initials of the US Customs officer that you make your appointment for re-entry with.

Yup, just initials. They wont give your their name (if in MIA) as many of them are on the hit list for the drug cartels.

 

[FR8mastr]

I always used Ft. Pierce when returning for customs, they were much more agreeable than PBI. Ft Pierce is also a much smaller airport so it is quicker in and out.

 

[metrodriver]

FXE (lauderdale executive) is a very common point of entry, now open late. File Notice of arrival with US customs at least 1 hour before arriving, make sure you arrive close to that time at the customs office. Make sure if you have to file an APIS (might be just for comml operators-135, I don't know), also an hour before arriving. Make sure everybody has a birth certificate or passport before leaving the US. Avoiding the big airports in the US and the Bahamas is a good way to avoid hefty landing fees. Call ahead for fuel, call ahead for customs at small Bahamian islands is a good idea too. Inter island you need a stamped transire. VFR interisland you need to file a flight plan, opening can be a pain, make sure you close them too. Coming back to the US file flight plan, either with Miami FSS (Bahamian airports have dedicated telephones for customs, flight cervice), or with the flight service office (Nassau, Freeport), open it and when VFR get customs squake code before entering ADIZ. IFR Miami center will issue you a squake for radar identification and customs. No fruit or vegetables back to the us. Frozen fish is OK. Customs might cut a few up to check for illegal stuff. Know limits on imports (tabacco, alcohol).
Get a US customs decal (sticker), plenty of general declarations (3 outbound, 3 inbound and the Bahamas flight guide (about $40.- a couple of years ago), plenty of cash. US dollar is one to one with Bahamian.
When arriving in the US every piece of baggage has to come out of the aircraft.
Have fun