Day 27: Flying from Anguilla to Great Exuma (Bahamas)
Hello to our 'RV family of Friends
It’s Thursday (May 2) and we’ve had a VERY long day of flying but let’s start with the beginning of our day on Anguilla. Upon arrival yesterday, Maria (the Innkeeper at the Arawak) recommended we rent a car which we did (a Toyota Yaris). It was great for getting around the island and it was also our ‘taxi’ to the airport.
We had a light breakfast and headed for the airport around 0730, arriving about 20 minutes later. And this brings up something I've failed to describe: I don’t think I’ve really gone into the details of what you need to do at the airport (any foreign airport):
UPON ARRIVAL:
Taxi/Park as directed by the tower
Unload the plane of baggage
Request (and pay for ) fuel. We like to have the planes ready to go at departure.
Secure the planes (in the grass if no tie-downs available: we rarely had tie-downs or grass). I had chocks for awhile then they disappeared so I was using sticks.
Gather baggage and proceed to the ‘Arrivals’ gate
Fill out paperwork as requested by anyone willing to get you through the airport ‘maze’
Prepare the arrival GenDecs for your arrival to the country (number depends on the country…the Dominican Republic wins at five in and five out). Give them to whoever wants one.
Pay fees as requested by the official you are talking with. US Dollars worked fine everywhere except in Martinique (France: Euros)
Gather bags, get a taxi and head to the hotel
UPON DEPARTURE:
Fill out Departure GenDecs based on the number you used on the way in.
Proceed to the Airport Office or look for a window that says Airport/Departure taxes: Pay fees.
With passport in hand WITH your Pilot’s license sticking out of it, proceed to the
Departures gate: Hand the person at the X-ray/Metal Detector you are a private flight (as evidenced by the Pilot’s license you just handed them: It’s your ‘boarding pass’. Once inside, you need to find someone who can take you see Customs/Immigration if it’s not readily visible.
Clear Customs/Immigration and give GenDecs when requested. Sometimes they will stamp and return one or two and other times they will keep them.
Here’s where you feel like a Rock Star: With everybody sitting in the terminal waiting to board your plane, show a Security Person your Passport, Pilot’s License and any receipts for fees paid and ask them to open the door to the ramp. People seated wonder, “Who are those people?!?”
Take baggage to the plane. In my case, leave wife to ‘ready the plane’.
Proceed with other Pilots to the Tower where you will file your flight plan. If there was no Airport Office/Departure Tax Office, the tower will collect your landing fees and such (cash only). With flight plan filled out, head back to the plane.
Pack the plane (wife does not lift heavy bags).
Perform thorough Preflight and ALWAYS sump the fuel tanks.
‘Don’ your fishing vest that has all kinds of survival stuff ‘stuffed’ into in then put on your lifevest over that.
Hold pilot brief with other pilots to decide procedures on leaving: Who’s leading, radio calls, direction of departure etc.
Board your plane and wait for lead to call tower and REQUEST ENGINE STARTUP.
Startup on Lead Hand signal. Follow lead if tower allows a ‘flight’ else call tower in sequence for taxi instructions.
Line up and wait or takeoff as directed by the tower. ALWAYS thank the tower for ‘having you’ at THEIR airport
Switch to company once tower ‘turns’ you loose and discuss how the departure went and how it could have been better.
Fly to next airport and repeat the process
Ok, back to Anguilla…here we are piled into the car:
We arrived to the airport and paid our fees, $13.90 US for parking and landing fees.
Fix flat tire (in 30 minutes):
Depart the airport and cruise the coastline. The 'pointy' buildings are the Arawak Beach Inn where we stayed:
'Spaghetti tracks from our arrival to Beef Island (see my wide crosswind entry to the right downwind?), our day of flying in the USVI and then back across Puerto Rico to Santo Domingo:
The Virgin Islands through the clouds:
Flying off of Lead: Sharkbait