Cuban Changes Over flight Fees for Private Pilots

Cuban Changes Over flight Fees for Private Pilots

CREATED: MARCH 27, 2014



Free Permits Still Available based on reduced MTOW



The Cuban Civil Aviation Authority has for years very generously issued

free permits for private pilots flying their own aircraft for pleasure.

Effective immediately, these free permits are now available only to

aircraft with a MTOW of 3,000 kgs or less (6,600 lbs or less). Heavier

aircraft must pay the commercial overflight fees.



Pilots can contact Cuba directly for the permits and pay Cuba if charges

apply, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Most pilots, however,

will not know how to apply for a permit nor how to pay for the permits.

Please disregard AOPA and FltPlan.com warnings that pilots cannot

contact Cuba directly for their permits. This is incorrect

information. Do not pay $362 or more for a Cuban overflight permit that

is available for $39.95.



For a $39.95 annual membership in the most widely used pilot's guide for

the Bahamas and Caribbean, Caribbean Flying Adventures.com, private

pilots flying their own aircraft with less than 3,000 kgs MTOW will

receive a free roundtrip overflight permit. For aircraft with a MTOW

above 3,000 kgs with the owner at the controls and flying strictly for

pleasure, the roundtrip fee will be $235. This fee is essentially "at

cost" plus a $40 service fee. Caribbean Flying Adventures will wire the

fees to the Cubans in Euros on behalf of the pilot (the wire transfer

fee alone can cost up to $100).



Cuba will likely limit the number of free permits for the same plane

during the year but the frequency has not yet been specified. Down and

back the same day or back the next day is not considered a pleasure flight.



Source: Cuban Changes Over flight Fees for Private Pilots -

AviationPros.com -

http://www.aviationpros.com/news/11361314/cuban-changes-over-flight-fees-for-private-pilots