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