Flying your plane to The Bahamas?
Banyan Air Service is your gateway FBO to the Caribbean. The Caribbean has more than 7,000 islands, inlets, reefs, and cays. These islands are part of the larger West Indies, which consists of the Greater Antilles on the north, the Lesser Antilles on the south and east, as well as The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
We work closely with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to provide you with all the requirements needed to make your flights to and from the Islands a pleasant experience. The links below provides pilots with everything they need to know, but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Customer Support.
Safety & Survival Gear
Banyan Air Service is ready to help you with all of your needs for flying to the Caribbean – from renting survival equipment, purchasing charts, guides, GPS’s, etc. to assistance with Customs paperwork. Contact our Customer Support or Pilot Shop.
A U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest is mandatory for each person on board
Life vests and rafts are available for sale at Banyan Pilot Shop or rent from Banyan Customer Support:
Life vests are $7.50 US per day. If you choose to rent a life vest from Banyan, please do not open the plastic bag containing the life vest unless an actual emergency calls for it. Once opened, the life vest must be re-certified resulting in an additional cost to you.
A life raft is highly recommended when flying to The Bahamas but is not required. Part 91 and Part 135 rafts are available in a variety of sizes and prices. Reservations are recommended.
Typically, the survival equipment in each raft includes:
- canopy
- canopy mast
- 3 flares
- 1 flashlight
- 1 raft repair kit
- 1 first aid kit
- 1 sea dye marker
- 1 signal mirror
- 1 food ration
- 8 water rations
- 1 signal whistle
Phone Numbers
FXE Customs (open from 8 AM — Midnight)
954.491.5647
FLL Customs
954.359.1160
Customs USA (after hours contact)
800.973.2867
FSS
800.WX.BRIEF
Out of Country FSS
305.233.2600
Banyan Air Service
954.491.3170
Banyan Pilot Shop
954.493.8615
Frequencies
FXE Tower
120.9
FXE Ground
121.75
FXE Clearance
127.95
FXE ATIS
119.85
MIA Radio*
126.7 / 126.9 / 118.4
MIA Departure
119.7
Nassau Radio*
128.0 / 124.2
Freeport Radio*
122.3
Bimini VOR
122.1 to receive 116.7
Banyan Unicom
130.8
*Reception at altitude of 3,000 ft.
