Bahamas Day at Banyan

The First Annual Bahamas Day is being hosted by Banyan Air Service, located at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on February 20, 2010, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bahamas Day is for pilots who want to fly their aircraft to The Bahamas as well as for non-pilots who desire information on charter flights and accommodations. Banyan’s hangar will be transformed into the look and feel of The Bahamas with exhibitors from the islands sharing information about their resorts, hotels, and activities. 

Three seminars will be offered; an eAPIS seminar presented by U.S. Customs will help pilots understand eAPIS requirements and how to file on-line, Flying to The Bahamas, presented by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism will provide information about gateway FBOs, required documentation, and various island accommodations and activities, and Preparing your Aircraft for Over Water Flight, presented by Premier Aircraft.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Customs officials will be on hand to answer any questions pilots may have. In addition, group fly-in representatives and charter companies will provide information on their services, and their upcoming schedule of trips.  Bahamian food will be available for purchase and a junkanoo band will provide entertainment

This event is being sponsored by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Aviation Division as part of its FBO Gateway (Bahamas Preferred Gateways) program. Banyan was named earlier this year as one of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Aviation Division (BMOTA’s) Bahamas Preferred Gateways. 

The FBO Gateway program was initiated to ensure select FBOs are trained in helping private pilots obtain procedural information on flying to and from various Bahamas Islands.  Going forward, this annual Bahamas Day event will be hosted by a different Bahamas Preferred Gateway FBO. Other Official Gateway FBOs that will be participating at this event are Volo Aviation, Fort Pierce, and Showalter Flying Service, Orlando.

Other sponsors of this event include; Avfuel Corporation, Cape Eleuthera Resort and Yacht Club, Odyssey Aviation, and Pilot Publishing, Inc. (publishers of the Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot’s Guide), Universal Weather & Aviation, Fernandez Bay Village, and Abaco Beach Resort.

For information on attending Banyan’s Bahamas Day as an attendee, sponsor or exhibitor, please visit www.banyanair.com/bahamasday or contact Nancy Bouvier at 954-492-3552, nbouvier@banyanair.com or Bill Garghill 954-492-3547, bgarghill@banyanair.com.