Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

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michael.g.miller
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Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by michael.g.miller »

A friend and I flew from San Juan to St Barts in my DA42. Here's a video of our experience. (Don't forget to Like/Comment/Subscribe! :))

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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by Colin »

Mike,

That was great. Way too short. And you sped up the video for the landing which made it VERY exciting.

How many landings do you have there? Did you fly the first time with an instructor that you use often?

That dive is amazing.
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michael.g.miller
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by michael.g.miller »

Colin wrote: Fri Apr 29, 2022 5:23 pm Mike,

That was great. Way too short. And you sped up the video for the landing which made it VERY exciting.

How many landings do you have there? Did you fly the first time with an instructor that you use often?

That dive is amazing.
The landing is actually NOT sped up (other than the taxi back). The runway just makes it feel that way because it's so short.

I did around 20 landings for my initial checkout + 2 solo landings required before carrying passengers. It took me a while to get the hang of it. The qualified instructors for multi engine plane are very limited. I used Louis Bouquet - he flew to Grand Case, and I picked him up to fly to St Barts. At the end, I just dropped him at St Barts, since he lives there.
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by Colin »

Great to know, thanks.
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by danno2000 »

Very nice. That approach is crazy! +1 for wishing for a longer video, especially given the scattered clouds coming over the Caribbean - always curious to see how people set up for instrument approaches especially over water.

Do you have to clear customs both ways for that trip?

cheers,
dan
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by michael.g.miller »

danno2000 wrote: Fri Apr 29, 2022 8:49 pm Do you have to clear customs both ways for that trip?

Yeah, but it's not a big deal. St Barts has on site immigration, just show a guy your passport. On the way back, I have on site customs at my home airport in San Juan, they meet me at my FBO. I clear customs in San Juan multiple times a week, and the process takes 5-10 minutes max.
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by photoSteveZ »

Always wondered whether a DA42 could safely land at St Barts. Now, a DA62...?
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by michael.g.miller »

photoSteveZ wrote: Mon May 02, 2022 4:42 pm Always wondered whether a DA42 could safely land at St Barts. Now, a DA62...?
Most likely would be no problem. My plane still has the old Beringer brakes. A Beringer equipped 62 should be able to do it easily.

The biggest problem is landing a slippery plane like an SR22 / DA40, with no gear to slow you down. You float down the entire runway. The DA42/62 have gear, and 2 props to help slow down.
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Re: Flying to St Barts for Lunch (in my DA42)

Post by midlifeflyer »

Great video.

It was a long time ago. Before I became a pilot. We were on vacation on St Martin and did a side trip to St Barths. I don't know the model but best I recall it was a 8-seat, 6-passenger twin. Pilot put me in the right seat so I got to see this landing close up.

Here's the thing. We landed and turned off at the taxiway. No backtaxi. There were these old guys sitting outside when we deplaned.

"You come in in that?" pointing to the twin.
"Yes."
"Best pilot in the Caribbean."

Not until I became a pilot did I truly understand.
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