Bahamas Habitat

Attention Pilots:
Come Fly to the Bahamas With Us!

Bahamas Habitat is a Christian mission organization providing support for ongoing missions in the Bahamas. We help aviators fly to the Bahamas and get involved in our vital work. We’d like for you to know about these opportunities.

1. Fly-In & Help Out Event October 29^th – Nov 1st 2009
   This is the perfect way to get involved and fly with us to the Bahamas.
   Sign up and receive info: www.bahamashabitat.org -  Fly-In & Help Out Event,  Direct link: http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?page_id=7
   or contact: info@bahamashabitat.org
2. We are excited about this new FAA Wings Credit Course entitled:
   “Over Water Flight to the Bahamas Made Easy!”
   You’ll learn all you need to know including the new international procedures that took effect May 18^th, 2009.
   This course features our very own Bahamas Habitat Chief Pilot, Steve Merritt

   Your first opportunity to participate is:
   Wednesday, May 27, 2009, starting at 6:30 pm.
   Click for details and to register
   Direct link: http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?p=980

3. If you would like to have the “Over Water Flight to the Bahamas Made Easy!” course at your home airport, email steve.merritt@mindspring.com .

Flying to the Bahamas is always rewarding but especially so when you can be a part of a mission that helps others. See the news of our previous missions and what our participants had to say about their experience.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Make sure you register for full Fly-In & Help Out info. You’ll get all the details by email.
Don’t miss the “Over Water Flight to the Bahamas Made Easy!” course.
Let us know if you’d like to bring the course to your group or home airport.

Happy Landings,

The Bahamas Habitat Team

Attention Pilots:
Come enjoy our very own Steve Merritt as he shares his vast knowledge of international and over water flying in this new FAA sponsored course.

If you’ve not come on a Fly-In and Help Out Event before this is a great way to get introduced to the adventure and earn FAA Wings Safety Program credits. Links for registration are below.

If you’d like to arrange to bring this course to your airport please be in touch and let us know.

	Title		“Over Water Flight to the Bahamas Made Easy!“
	Topic		Introduction to Low Altitude Oceanic Flight and Navigation Procedures
	Date and Time		Wednesday, May 27, 2009, starting at 6:30 pm
	Speaker(s)		Steve Merritt, NC/DOT
	Brief Description		Are you uneasy about oceanic navigation to the Bahamas? Are you uncertain about Bahamian Customs procedures and flight regulations? This safety seminar will familiarize you with all the necessary requirements and safety precautions you should consider before launching a flight over blue waters. You will learn about pre-flight planning, oceanic weather, emergency preparedness and equipment, regulations, and more.
	Select Number		EA3925368
	Location of Event		Brunswick County Airport 4019 LONG BEACH ROAD Southport, NC 28461
	Directions to Venue		Located at the Jump School Hangar. Look for signs/directions. View Map
	Fly-in Event?		Yes  SUT
	Seating		50 seats at the facility, 35 remaining for online registration. Click here to register online now!
	Sponsoring Division		FAASTeam & NC/DOT
	Contact Information		Steve Merritt Phone: 919-840-0112 Steve.merritt@mindspring.com
	Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s)		WINGs Credit This Safety Seminar will cover multiple topics to educate airmen about oceanic navigation procedures when planning that ultimate dream vacation trip to the Bahamas: 1. Pre-trip planning 2. Weather trends in open water areas. 3. US and Bahamian Customs regulations 4. Aircraft requirements 5. Navigation over water 6. Bahamian Flight Rules 7. Bahamian airport rules 8. Required emergency gear 9. Emergency preparedness and procedures 10. New e-APIS rules 6:30-7:00: Registration and Refreshments 7:00-9:00: Oceanic Navigation to the Bahamas, Steve Merritt, professional CFI and ADS-B specialist.

The Deadline is Approaching for Compliance With the New Department of Homeland Security Rule Affecting Private Aircraft on International Flights

On December 18, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a new rule that affects private aircraft operating on international flights.  The rule, Title 19 CFR Part 122, is titled ‘Advanced Information on Private Aircraft Arriving and Departing the United States’.  Compliance with this new regulation has been voluntary since December 18, 2008, however, compliance becomes mandatory effective May 18, 2009. The DHS Final Rule can be viewed at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-26621.pdf

Beginning May 18, 2009, all general aviation flights arriving into or departing out of the U.S. require the pilot to electronically submit crew and passenger manifests and other flight information to the CBP at least 60 minutes prior to departure.  This information must be submitted to the CBP using their Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) website or through an authorized third party vendor.  This new rule does not apply to domestic flights.

Pilots failing to meet these reporting requirements can be fined $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

Pilots are encouraged to become familiar with the CBP crew and passenger manifest reporting requirements prior to planning any flights across the U.S. borders.  More information can be found at the U.S Customs and Border Protection website: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/private_flyers/

Pilots are also advised to register their information with the  CBP eAPIS website and begin using the system now for international flights even prior to the May 18, 2009 deadline.  Information on how to register with eAPIS can be found at: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/e_apis_information.xml

Be informed and fly safely!

The whole thing started with what was thought to be a “random” wedding reception conversation between Steve Merritt of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a little lady from Kalamzoo, Michigan. However, we now know that God had been orchestrating it for quite a while and look where it has brought us. What has it turned into? None other than the Fourth Biannual Bahamas Habitat Fly-In & Help Out Event.

The event that has brought over 75 private pilots, volunteers and planes to Camp Symonette, James’ Cistern, Eleuthera over the past two years to not only serve persons that are in need of emergency home repair but also to experience a new way of living and sharing life.

This year volunteers shared God’s love through physical acts such as framing a roof, weather proofing a home by hanging siding and painting, remodeling a bathroom, building kitchen cabinets, tiling floors and even building some new furniture for Camp Symonette. More importantly though the volunteers were able to interact with the families they were serving, community members that joined them for dinner, during an excursion trip to Current and Harbour Island and at the Saturday night concert held at James Cistern Wesley Methodist Church.

Cameron King, a recent graduate of Auburn University, shared that, “A major way that I am able to see the Kingdom is when cultures cross (socially, economically, racially, etc.) and watching the interactions among the [Fly-In] group and the community was one beautiful aspect of the weekend.”

On Thursday afternoon, 10 private planes and 27 volunteers met once again at the Tiki Hut at Ft. Pierce, Florida International Airport. There they made their final plans for their hour and a half flight to Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera with help from the Fly-In & Help Out Logistics Manager, Steve Merritt.  Each plane was packed full with willing volunteer labor and much needed tools and supplies for (more…)

The Aircraft Owners and Pilot’s Association recently featured the Bahamas Habitat Fly-In and Help Out Event on the front page of their extensive website www.aopa.org.

Thanks to the great folks at AOPA more and more pilots are learning about the unique opportunity Bahamas Habitat provides them to fly to the islands for a great cause. A special thanks to Alton Marsh at AOPA for his ongoing interest in our mission programs. Attention all editors and writers at AOPA…you are invited to come join us for the next trip so you can write about it all first hand!

Special thanks also to Dave Forwell of Ontario Canada in his Diamond DA40 XL for being our in-flight poster child for Bahamas Habitat. Dave is truly an inspiration for all that would consider joining in on one of our missions. Dave lives in Ontario and has flown south in his Diamond for two missions in the last year braving some tough northern weather without the benefit of an IFR rating to enjoy the gentle breezes and adventures of our inland missions.

If you are interested in potentially joining us for a flight mission in the future make sure you sign up for additional info and email notices at:  http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?page_id=7

Registration for the event is filling up so hurry!

Here are the full images of the online article (more…)

Bahamas officials will allow U.S.-registered aircraft to continue flying there with 121.5 MHz ELTs until Feb. 1, 2011, and then reevaluate. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has also issued an “Exemption from Mandatory 406MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter,” which is available online and should be printed and carried to the Bahamas to present to officials, if needed.

For a full pilot briefing on requirements for flying to the Bahamas see our Pilot Briefing section on the main page of BahamasHabitat.org

The deadline for obtaining a replacement certificate indicating you are proficient in English is March 5th 2009.  You can order the new certificate online or by mail for $2.00.  See details below…

Effective March 5, 2008, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires the following certificate holders who operate internationally to have a certificate stating that the holder is proficient in the use of the English language: (more…)

As any one that has earned a pilot certificate or rating can tell you, building flight time can sometimes be a lengthy and expensive process when you gain an hour or two at a time.

Well our ever inventive and energetic board member, Treasurer, Logistics Officer and CFI extraordinaire, Mr. Steve Merritt, has an innovative answer for pilots in need of growing their cross country flight time…Flight Training Missions with a purpose!

Steve has begun offering intensive flight training opportunities for clients that combines cargo delivery and support missions to our based camp in Eleuthera.  Steve is just back from a mission assisting a client that just purchased a new Mooney and needed to fly off hours in the new airplane for insurance purposes. Steve and the client loaded up the aircraft with a load of (more…)

Come fly to the Bahamas with us!

Here are the details for the next FLY-IN and HELP OUT Event scheduled for March 5th-8th 2009

Fly-In and Help Out Details for March 2009 – Click Here Now!
This is a fantastic event and a great way to make a tax deductible flight to the Bahamas while helping a good cause! Take a moment to view the gallery and read the comments from a few of our previous participants … (more…)

We have gained strong support from the Bahamian government for our proposal to provide volunteer dental teams, equipment and supplies to the Islands as a new program of the Habitat operations there.

We are currently organizing dentist, dental hygienists, pilots and related volunteers for 4 different one week long missions in 2009. Volunteers will be providing screenings, exams, dental education and services in the field at schools and at government clinics. The program is new and we look forward to involvement by volunteers that feel called to help develop this program. Dates are not set and will be based on volunteer requests so this is a perfect time to plan your 2009 calendar!

“Flying Dentists” are particularly encouraged to get involved to help facilitate the transportation of team members and supplies. Pilots with aircraft that would be willing to provide transportation and general volunteer support during the weeks are encouraged to join in. Pilots that have not already registered with us should do so at: http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?page_id=69

Our goal is to have our 2009 dental volunteer teams licensed well in advance of setting dates for the mission weeks. Rosemary Ward has developed the process for licensure and coordination with our government partners there. She along with Sam Arbes and Alex Touchstone will be traveling to Nassau to meet the government health officials in late January and they wish to hand deliver the volunteer application packages for approval.

If you are interested in being involved in the Dental Mission Program please email us at: info@bahamashabitat.org.  Specify your professional specialty and advise if you have access to an aircraft, potential donations of supplies or equipment, or other means you may have to help in this mission field.