Aviation aircraft. As of yesterday, 1 July 2013, if you are flying your plane to the Bahamas you will be required to pay a $50 fee upon arrival when you submit your C7A form. Unfortunately it does not seem to end there.
The C7A is only good for your Inbound Declaration & Cruising Permit. Aircraft not flying for recreation to/around/from the Bahamas still have to file the C7 form, but that incurs a $75 fee for both the arrival AND departure. The concern and confusion is that all recreational flights must file a C7 form upon departure and it is unclear whether the $75 fee applies as well. Some say it's $50 and some say it's nothing. The document itself does not seem to provide any separation or clarity on the issue. For those that may not know, prior to yesterday there we NO landing fees of any kind at government owned airports for single engine planes less than 6000 lbs.
There is a lot of chatter in the various aviation forums today on this topic. Apparently the FBOs and other service providers at airports throughout the Bahamas just found out about this as well and calls to the Ministry Of Tourism and Aviation are going unanswered.
It appears if you follow the new regulations and look a the fee schedules, this is what I would incur with my family of four:
Arrival Fee: $50
Departure Tax: $100 ($25 per person)
Departure Fee: $75
Total: $225
This is getting ridiculous considering the departure tax a few years ago was $15 per person and they raised that twice in less the span of one year to $25! I really love flying to the Bahamas, but this will not help. I'm afraid it will reduce the amount of trips that folks make, including me, and will hinder all the relief flights that provide needed support to the Out Islands and missions in Haiti.
You can view the document here: Customs Management Regulations 2013
I'll post more info as it comes out...........
This is disappointing to hear. Was hoping to make our first trip to the Bahamas this winter because it was so GA friendly. Not so much anymore apparently.
ReplyDeleteDon't give up yet! The uproar from the boating community was successful in apparently getting their new fees reversed. I'm hoping the pressure from the GA community will have the same success.
DeleteContact the Bahamas tourism office at 800-224-3681 and tell them you are cancelling your trips!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I will call them!!!!!
Deletehttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/591/968/907/repeal-new-processing-fees-for-general-aviation-in-bahamas/?taf_id=9685858&cid=email_na#
ReplyDeletePETITION TO STOP FEES
May be the AOPA can also weigh in on this...very disappointing...
ReplyDeleteJust think of all the help the single engine pilots provide after hurricanes. I know I have flown 4 or 5 flights to Abaco to help the natives. This is the thanks we get from this greedy government. They build an $11,000,000 terminal in Marsh Harbour with like 1 airline going to it. Then, they want to tax the private pilots. There are already almost no commercial flights to Abaco. Why not drive away the private pilots too. Then, more Bahamians will lose their jobs. And, they already raised the duty from 35% to 45%. It is absolutely crazy. I hope they realize their foolishness before it is too late and we see more resorts closing like the old Cape Eleuthra Resort and Yacht club!
ReplyDeleteI flew int Marsh Harbor 3 times in the last 6 weeks and have been charged the $50 new fee each time at afterlife aviation. I told them some pilots I met there this week said they were not charged the new fee at treasure cay a month ago. They seemed very concerned but said there is nothing they can do . They also add a $20.00 facility fee plus the $25. Each and $10.00 per day parking. There were 3 of us for 3 nights so the total bill was $181. Not sure how it got to that uneven amount. Roy Zimmer. Winter park, fla
ReplyDeleteRoy,
DeleteThanks for the update and info on fees at Marsh. It's such a shame. I keep reading articles that discussion continue with the various Ministries, but obviously nothing is happening. I still maintain that this will be an overall net negative our friends in the Out Islands.