NEWS - Updated June 16, 2011

To remain up to date on aviation News regarding flying to Mexico, flying to the Bahamas or flying to Central America, and on upcoming fully escorted FLY-IN's, visit our contact us page and send us your e-mail address.

NEW: AVGAS and Jet-A now available at the New Bight, Cat Island International Airport (MYCB) in the Bahamas

June 15, 2011: There is now fuel available at New Bight in Cat Island! Our friends from the Fernandez Bay Village on Cat Island informed us today that Cat Island Air has re-established Jet-A and AVGAS service at the New Bight International Airport on Cat Island (MYCB). This is great news because it adds another fueling option for pilots in that part of the Bahamas.  We will be posting the current fuel prices on the AOE & Fuel page of the member website as soon as we have them along with the information on the other 165 airports that we track.

NEW: AVGAS and Jet-A now available at the New Bight, Cat Island International Airport (MYCB) in the Bahamas

June 15, 2011: We had another productive meeting with the management of ATC in the Cancun-Cozumel area. The two major topics covered were procedure for flying from the Playa del Carmen airport to Cozumel as well as the design of the TCA around Cancun and Cozumel.

To address the concern of ATC regarding aircraft departing from runway 11 at the Playa del Carmen airport (PCE) bound for Cozumel that are not in radio contact and could interfere with the final approach course to the Cozumel airport. While the TCA around Cozumel extends 10 Nm from the Cozumel VOR to the surface, the ATC management have agreed to establishing a new procedure which allows departing aircraft to continue eastbound without having to make an immediate right or left turn to remain outside the TCA until establishing radio contact. Aircraft departing runway 11 at PCE will maintain runway heading and climb to 1,500’ while attempting to establish radio contact with Cozumel tower. If unable to contact the tower due to frequency congestion, aircraft will continue on the same route until reaching the northwestern most point of Cozumel island and then turning south towards the airport. This will allow aircraft to continue their trajectory towards Cozumel without wasting time and fuel loitering outside the TCA waiting to establish radio contact. This route parallels the approach path to Cozumel but is displaced about 4 Nm to the north of the final approach course to runway 11 in Cozumel.

During the meeting, we also discussed how the floor of the Cancun-Cozumel TCA extends from 1,500 out to a distance of 50 Nm from the VOR of each airport. This effectively creates an enormous block of controlled Class D airspace that is 130 NM in length and 100 Nm in width with a base of 1,500 MSL. The consequences of this airspace design is that it restricts departing VFR aircraft from making ascents when departing airports underneath this airspace. The ATC management has agreed to pursuing a total re-design of this airspace with a “stair-step” increase in the floor of the TCA with increased distance from the airport. The resulting airspace would look similar to Class B airspace designs in the USA and other TCA’s in Mexico. By freeing up this Class D airspace which is not being used anyway, VFR aircraft could begin ascents for higher altitudes without requiring clearances from Cancun approach thereby avoiding flight in turbulence or into clouds while waiting to establish communications and obtain a clearance.

MORE FREE Airport Information and Instrument Approach chart downloads for members

May 12, 2011: As an added benefit to our members, we have added more Instrument Approach charts that can be downloaded for FREE.

Pilots often fly VFR on international trips in order to enjoy the view and have more flexibility, however, many pilots would like to have approach plates for for communications frequencies for Approach or Tower or in the event of unforecasted weather. Obtaining these on a timely basis can be very expensive and very challenging. Many countries offer their approach plates for free but finding them can be a real chore. Therefore, we have done the work for you and made them available on our website, for free. Our member website now contains airport information and/or instrument approaches for the Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. Visit the "Chart Download" page of the Caribbean Sky Tours membership website.

Caribbean Sky Tours expands Handling Network

May 05, 2011: Caribbean Sky Tours is expanding its handling network alomst daily by adding additional agents to its network. If you or someone you know is a corporate pilot who wants to benefit from our knowledge of the region and netwrok of excellent ground handling agents in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Central AMerican AND South America, contact us at 1-866-420-9265.

Caribbean Sky Tours continues discussions with DGAC in Mexico City to push for more reforms

May 11, 2011: Caribbean Sky Tours participated in a conference call with members of the DGAC in Mexico City to continue pushing for new aviation policies for Mexico. The call focused on clearly publishing Mexico insurance requirements and the upcoming deadline for 406 MHz ELT's. To learn more, visit the forums section on the member website.

MORE FREE Airport Information and Instrument Approach chart downloads for members

May 16, 2010: As an added benefit to our members, we have added more Instrument Approach charts that can be downloaded for FREE.

Pilots often fly VFR on international trips in order to enjoy the view and have more flexibility, however, many pilots would like to have approach plates for for communications frequencies for Approach or Tower or in the event of unforecasted weather. Obtaining these on a timely basis can be very expensive and very challenging. Many countries offer their approach plates for free but finding them can be a real chore. Therefore, we have done the work for you and made them available on our website, for free. Our member website now contains airport information and/or instrument approaches for the Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. Visit the "Chart Download" page of the Caribbean Sky Tours membership website.

FREE VFR chart downloads for members

December 3, 2010: When the Department of Defense and the FAA stopped distribution of ONC charts, pilots were left wthout an important source of charts for VFR flights south of the border. The Mexican WAC charts cover Mexico and the FAA WAC charts cover the Bahamas and northern Caribbean but Central America and the southern part of the Caribbean had no reliable source other than low altitude enroute charts.

Although the data in the ONC charts was over 20 years old and they were unsuitable for navigation or flight planning, they were a usefull complement to current, valid navigation charts. As a service to its members, CST has pulled some of its ONC charts out from the "vault" and digitized them into letter-page size sections that can be downloaded for free and printed. Visit the "Chart Download" page of the Caribbean Sky Tours membership website.

Belize implements prior permission requirements for pilots traveling to Belize that did not depart from the USA or Canada

Novmber 30, 2010: Faced with the need to scrutinize private flights more closely, Belize has implemented new procedures requiring private flights that do not depart directly from the USA or Canada to obtain prior permission based on a new set of requirements. The new rules are already in effect. To learn more, visit the forums section on the member website.

Caribbean Sky Tours interviewed by Craig Fuller, President of AOPA during Sun-N-Fun 2010:

April 20, 2010: Caribbean Sky Tours was once again exhibiting at Sun-N-FUN in Lakeland, Florida promoting international flying to Mexico, Central America and the Bahamas. Craig Fuller, President of AOPA, took some time to interview Rick Gardner of Caribbean Sky Tours to discuss recent activities and trends in international flying. To see the interview click here.

406 MHz ELT requirement for Mexico postponed until December 31, 2011 for private aircraft:

March 17, 2010: Additional details: The deadline extension for 406 MHz ELT's differentiates between aircraft used for commercial and private flights. In all cases, the DGAC is stresing the importance of 406 MHz technology in improving the efficiency of Search And Rescue (SAR) and the survivability of a crash.

Commercial Use Aircraft: Aircraft that are used for commercial flights must have their ELT installed by December 31, 2010 or when the battery of the 121.5 MHz ELT expires, whichever comes first.

Private Use Aircraft: Aircraft used exclusively for private flights must have their ELT replaced by December 31, 2011 or if their 121.5 ELT is replaced prior to that date, then it must be replaced with a 406 MHz ELT. There is no mention of battery replacement triggering mandatory replacement of the ELT for private use aircraft. Fo more details, visit the Aeronauical Information of the Members website.