jbmd67

That was my thought also galaxyflyer, but I'm just thinking about the random chance of an airplane incident or accident on the runway right before I land and then I'm screwed. I know the chances are slim, but Murphy's law is always a threat.

cubguy

Don't remember the reg exactly but I think with certain wx you can go with no alternate with 2 hrs extra fuel holding at 1500 ft planned on arrival. I can remember taking the 727s in there on occasion with no coming back.
There is an out however. If there were a disabled A/C on the runway there is a north south taxiway about 9000 feet long that used to be a runway. I suppose in an emergency it could be landed apon.
CG

jbmd67

I would definitely have the 2 hours of fuel, but would run me dry coming back to US. Anyone know what the reg is cubguy is talking about?? I guess I'll start digging through the FAR's!

cubguy

Found it in 121 Regs. See below, paragraph C. Its not in 91. Don't think it applies but if you can comply with that in the V I think it would be a comfortable operation. Flew 20 series Lears in there a long time ago with only VORs and ADFs and won't talk about fuel reserves. Damn I'm getting old!
Enjoy Bermuda. It's beautiful.
CG


§121.645 Fuel supply: Turbine-engine powered airplanes, other than turbo propeller: Flag and supplemental operations.
(a) Any flag operation within the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia may use the fuel requirements of §121.639.

(b) For any certificate holder conducting flag or supplemental operations outside the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, unless authorized by the Administrator in the operations specifications, no person may release for flight or takeoff a turbine-engine powered airplane (other than a turbo-propeller powered airplane) unless, considering wind and other weather conditions expected, it has enough fuel—

(1) To fly to and land at the airport to which it is released;

(2) After that, to fly for a period of 10 percent of the total time required to fly from the airport of departure to, and land at, the airport to which it was released;

(3) After that, to fly to and land at the most distant alternate airport specified in the flight release, if an alternate is required; and

(4) After that, to fly for 30 minutes at holding speed at 1,500 feet above the alternate airport (or the destination airport if no alternate is required) under standard temperature conditions.

(c) No person may release a turbine-engine powered airplane (other than a turbo-propeller airplane) to an airport for which an alternate is not specified under §121.621(a)(2) or §121.623(b) unless it has enough fuel, considering wind and other weather conditions expected, to fly to that airport and thereafter to fly for at least two hours at normal cruising fuel consumption.

(d) The Administrator may amend the operations specifications of a certificate holder conducting flag or supplemental operations to require more fuel than any of the minimums stated in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section if he finds that additional fuel is necessary on a particular route in the interest of safety.

(e) For a supplemental operation within the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia with a turbine engine powered airplane the fuel requirements of §121.643 apply.

jbmd67

Thanks, cubguy! I did some research myself and couldn't find it in the 91 section either. Just for safety sake, it would be a VFR flight only the day of the trip there! Hope the owner decides to take the trip, because I have never been there. Should be a fun trip. Couldn't get anyone to answer at TXKF today. I'm guessing because it's Sunday. However, I read on faa.gov and TXKF's website saying that the only required equipment was what is required by your home country. Should be easy enough.

GVCPT

As I said earlier, Bermuda also requires a SMS manual.

GVCPT

jbmd67

Researching that now, GV. Thanks for the heads up. That looks like it's probably the only hang up so far. All the info on faa.gov seems a bit vague, but seems like a long process to get an SMS program set up. Anyone have any experience or advice for that? Entrance to Bermuda only requires that you're at least in the process of getting it approved/implemented.

g4g5

Buy the off the shelf ISBAO manual. It's phase one approved with an SMS section approved by ICAO. With that aside here is the gouge.


Call Air Services Bermuda (ASB) directly, they are great bunch of people. They will set up everything for you.

My Boss has a home there, I am there 40 days a year. Here is the quick and dirty.

I have never been ramped checked or asked for an SMS but I still have one.
Fuel can be on occasion a bit difficult. ASB does not have a truck, their is only one supplier on the Island, all they do is mark up the price. If you have contract fuel set it up ahead of time ASB will be happy to coordinate it for you. The one caveat is airliners have priority, they have never run out of fuel, in fact plan on tankering because it is cheap but I have waited up to 45 minutes for a truck (rare but not out of the realm)
You will pay ASB for days spent on the ramp and for government customs fees and taxes, it's not cheap as ahead of time so that you are not surprised. Their is no getting out of it, they collect it for the government.
If your people are bringing in an items to declare. Have cash for the VAT, they do not have a credit card machine on the General Aviation side for customs.
Catering is not great, it's airline food. ASB has no desire to get involved with it unless you ask them to. Our Flight Attendant just shops at the local supermarket and orders directly from restaurants and hotels. Their is no problem bringing it out to the aircraft.
Their is an ice machine in ASB ops, plan on getting it yourself. Ask where it is.
No cars are allowed on the ramp so plan on schlepping all the bags through customs. It's simple, the customs folks are good, they typically don't ask to see anything. ASB is a big help but it's still a pain.
ASB has a computer and a printer in their ops.
ASB will set up a ride to the hotel so their is no need to have a handler do it.
ASB does not get a break on any hotels so do it yourself. We stay at the Hamilton Princess a bit pricy and under construction. Their are some cheaper ones around BUT you need transportation.
Their are no rental cars and gas is $9.00 a gallon so taking a Taxi is EXPENSIVE. $40 one way from the airport to downtown is the norm plus a tip. I budget $100 for the round trip. ASB can put it on their handling fee's if you want. That's why I stay down town, once I am there, their is no need to take a cab anywhere.
Food is expensive. You can find anything you want downtown from high end to KFC. Their is a great upscale supermarket right next to the Princes, ask for Miles Market. Fantastic food to order and beer half the price of the hotel. We have a fairly lucrative expense account $125 a day and I still use it. Last week I bought a beer, a burger and a salad for lunch and spent $50. The place was not fancy, that's the norm. A pint of Sam Adams at the hotel is $12

Big tip.
Tipping is almost always included so don't get shocked when you see the bill. In most places 18% is added to the bill, it's the island standard, get use to it. The only place it's not added is at the bar. If you are at the hotel they will add it, if you are at a pub remember to tip the bartender.

As far as things to do, I avoid the golf. The courses are small and very pricy. The Fairmont Princess has bikes for free. Just ask. We take them all over the place and then hop on a water shuttle back. The Fairmont also has a free water taxi to the Southampton Princess. It has a great beach and you can walk right next door to horseshoe beach. Rent a moped if you are so inclined. Stay away form the Dock yards. It's a tourist trap where the cruise ships dock.

Their is a displaced threshold for landing on 12 but you still have around 8,000 feet. Keep it in mind if you are landing to the East.

Get your altitude correct. Once you are talking to oceanic, it takes forever to get a change.

That's all I have for now feel free to ask me a question if something comes to mind.