Venezuela has been getting tough about collecting on airspace fees from aircraft that flew through their airspace. We assisted a number of aircraft owners last year with payment of airspace fees they did not even know existed. If you fly through their airspace, they will charge you for the distance flown. However, many times this invoice will never get to you and thus many pilots have no idea of the fact that they incurred a fee until.....

What Venezuela has been doing to force the issue is to deny aircraft with unpaid bills entry into their airspace. When you look at the dimensions of their FIR, you will see how this could present a problem for some routes as well as some potential safety of flight issues.

When planning and executng a flight in the Caribbean, you should avoid Venezuela airspace if at all possible. If you are flying down the Caribbean into Brazil, consider staying over the Windward Islands down to Trinidad. From Trinidad you shouuld fly to Guyana but remaining outside of Venezuelan airspace. You should bear in mind that Guyana requires prior landing permission.

The airspace over the Windward Islands is known as the Piarco Flight Information Region (FIR) and is controlled by an agency in Trinidad. You are also subject to airspace fees while flying in the Piarco FIR. However, dealing with Piarco is a lot easier (and less expensive) than dealing with Venezuela. If you are even considering landing in Venezuela, you should think that decision through VERY thoroughly and if you still want go, then plan well in advance as getting the landing permit usualy takes about a month.

Rick Gardner
Caribbean Sky Tours