Sport Pilots & The Caribbean

[JJ Campbell]

Someone mentioned in passing that Sport Pilots could fly to Bermuda or the Bahamas (not sure which he said). He said, in fact, they encourage it.

Is this true? If so, where could I find additional information?

[HornedFrogGrant]

Yes, Sport Pilots are allowed to fly to the Bahamas.

https://www.bydanjohnson.com/sport-pilo ... -your-lsa/

https://www.bahamas.com/faq/pilot-faqs

[JJ Campbell]

Yes, Sport Pilots are allowed to fly to the Bahamas.

https://www.bydanjohnson.com/sport-pilo ... -your-lsa/

https://www.bahamas.com/faq/pilot-faqs

Cool! Thank you.

[drseti]

It should be noted that the Bahamas follows ICAO rules. Thus, you need a 406 MHz ELT, 1090 MHz Mode S ES transponder if flying in ADS-B airapace, and must carry an FCC aircraft station license and radio operator permit.

[Wm.Ince]

It should be noted that the Bahamas follows ICAO rules. Thus, you need a 406 MHz ELT, 1090 MHz Mode S ES transponder if flying in ADS-B airapace, and must carry an FCC aircraft station license and radio operator permit.

What's the reference?

[drseti]

What's the reference?

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all ... s-crossing

https://www.aopa.org/travel/internation ... el/bahamas

https://www.aopa.org/travel/internation ... ots-guides

[drseti]

As for ELT requirements, my previous information is no longer correct. Here is an update from Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority:

ELT: The exemption previously issued is no longer required as operators may now have 121.5 MHZ ELTs and/or a 406 MHZ ELT.

[drseti]

As for 1090 MHz ADS-B Out, this is not a Bahamas requirement, rather a US TSA requirement for transiting the coastal ADIZ.

[Wm.Ince]

What's the reference?

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all ... s-crossing

https://www.aopa.org/travel/internation ... el/bahamas

https://www.aopa.org/travel/internation ... ots-guides

Thank you Sir!

[ShawnM]

As for 1090 MHz ADS-B Out, this is not a Bahamas requirement, rather a US TSA requirement for transiting the coastal ADIZ.

Can you please post a reference for this?

I live in Florida and have been to the Bahamas a few times and have not ever needed 1090 ADS-B coming back into the US over the coastal ADIZ line. I have not been since Jan 1, 2020 but FAR 99.13 only talks about needing a mode c transponder with no mention of needing ADS-B, 1090 or 978, to cross the ADIZ. Where is this TSA rule please? Did the TSA change the FAR without notifying the FAA?

[drseti]

FAR 99.13 only talks about needing a mode c transponder with no mention of needing ADS-B

I could be mistaken, but I seem to recall a graphic in advance of the 2020 rule, showing a coastal region which was to be designated as ADS-B airspace. I don't know which FAR covers this. But since a Mode C transponder was previously required in the ADIZ, and given that the ADS-B requirement now extends to any airspace that previously required a Mode C transponder, doesn't it follow that ADS-B is now required to transit the ADIZ?

As far as 1090 vs 978 MHz is concerned, I'm pretty sure that 978 is only authorized within the US. So, if ADS-B is indeed required in the ADIZ, and given that the ADIZ extends outside the US, I conclude it would have to be 1090.

[chicagorandy]

It's officially confirmed - we've been in stay-at-home quarantine far too long - I saw the title of this thread and still can't keep from thinking....

pirates.jpg (70.82 KiB) Viewed 2539 times

[ShawnM]

FAR 99.13 only talks about needing a mode c transponder with no mention of needing ADS-B

I could be mistaken, but I seem to recall a graphic in advance of the 2020 rule, showing a coastal region which was to be designated as ADS-B airspace. I don't know which FAR covers this. But since a Mode C transponder was previously required in the ADIZ, and given that the ADS-B requirement now extends to any airspace that previously required a Mode C transponder, doesn't it follow that ADS-B is now required to transit the ADIZ?

As far as 1090 vs 978 MHz is concerned, I'm pretty sure that 978 is only authorized within the US. So, if ADS-B is indeed required in the ADIZ, and given that the ADIZ extends outside the US, I conclude it would have to be 1090.

I agree that anywhere you need a mode c transponder in the US you also need ADS-B, 1090 or 978, (except above 18,000 feet where 1090 is required ) and I also agree that 1090 is the "international" standard and currently the Bahamas does not have a requirement for ADS-B. Actually the US controls the airspace for the Bahamas, they simply dont have the infrastructure to do it themselves.

You dont need ADS-B to fly to the the Bahamas and when flying back into the US across the ADIZ you can have either since the US is the only country to use both. I'll reach out to one of the Bahamas Flying Ambassadors I know and get some clarification.

[drseti]

[I'll reach out to one of the Bahamas Flying Ambassadors I know and get some clarification.

Thanks, Shawn. I'd especially like to hear clarification from someone who's actually made the trip since 1 Jan 2020. (Although, I don't think any of us will be flying to the Bahamas in the near future.)

[ShawnM]

I contacted several Bahamas Flying Ambassadors by phone, email and even one by text and none of them stated you need 1090 to fly back into the US. None acknowledged they were ever even asked about ADS-B and they all had a mix of 1090 and 978. Some have their own planes while others use club planes for Bahamas trips. I spoke to one ambassador who said that he has been to the Bahamas since the first of 2020.

Here's an article by Mike Collins who is a technical writer for AOPA. Read the section titled "new and recurring questions".
 https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all ... -b-in-2020

He stated "Several AOPA members report that avionics shop owners have told them 1090ES ADS-B Out will be required to cross the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone when returning to the United States. This information is incorrect. FAR 99.13 defines the transponder requirements for crossing the ADIZ, and makes no reference to ADS-B—much less the distinction between 1090ES and 978UAT. Formal rulemaking would be required to change the requirements."

Here's a link to the FAA website on airspace: https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/equipadsb/r ... /airspace/
On this page it states "Any airspace that requires the use of a Transponder also requires aircraft to be equipped with a Version 2 ADS-B Out system. This can be either a 1090ES (DO-260B) ADS-B system or a UAT (DO-282B) ADS-B system.

Since the Bahamas is international but does not require ADS-B yet, anything goes there. But when flying back into the US across the ADIZ line from the Bahamas below 18,000 feet, you are required to have a mode c transponder because you have to be on either an IFR or DVFR flight plan and talking to ATC, therefore you need either 978 or 1090 ADS-B out.

I'll keep digging for more answers as I've yet to find anything that says you HAVE to have 1090 out. Anybody else find anything?