Flying to the Bahamas from the U.S. should not be daunting, if you ask Dennis Dames, assistant superintendent of police for the Royal Bahamas Police Force and officer-in-charge of air support service for the force. Dames was on hand to answer attendee questions at the Bahamas Booth in the Federal Pavilion, located in the Florida Air Museum at Sun ’n Fun 2013.
Dames learned to fly in Florida more than 30 years ago, and can let pilots in on the little secrets that make eAPIS, customs (both U.S. and Bahamian) and the paperwork generated from it all seem less intimidating.
The booth also has lots of great printed material, including customs and general declaration forms that pilots need for the trip.
The Islands of the Bahamas Private Pilot Guide is particularly helpful and available at the booth for free. It contains phone numbers for customs, FBO information, great ideas for places to stay, fly-in event information and more between its covers.
By Amy Laboda
AIN News Online