Flight: KFLL to MYEM

Recently we introduced the Premaircraft Beech 1900D commuter with a Continental Connection flight Boston KBOS to White Plains KHPN, operated by CommutAir. Well, did you know there is another regional carrier in Florida that also flies Beech 1900D commuter turboprops for Continental Connection? Their name is Gulf Flight International (airline code GFT), and their focus airports are Tampa (KTPA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl (KFLL), West Palm Beach (KPBI), and Miami Intl. You can use the same B1900D aircraft in the Continental Livery to flyGulf Flight: just change the Airline name in the Select-Aircraft dialog from COMMUTAIR to GULF FLIGHT.

Last night I tried the new 1900D on a flight into the Bahamas, from Fort Lauderdale to Governour's Harbour (MYEM). The distance is 222 nautical miles. I used an enroute cruise altitude of FL190 and a departure time of 4:08pm (2108Z), 9-Nov. There was considerable cloudiness enroute, but visibility was good at ground level. En route you'll pass over Nassau Intl, and get a good view of the Berry islands north of Nassau and east of Andros Is.

I used ATC control, which meant I had to do very little work to set up the approach to Governour's Harbour on Eleuthra Island. The weather was clear and I enjoyed the opportunity to make a visual straight-in approach and landing -- always a pleasure to practice those pilot skills. Maybe another time we'll try the 1900D on a pattern approach. After landing, pull off onto the ramp at the end of the runway and park by the FBO office. Deplane your passengers and make a logbook entry.

I always enjoy flying in the Bahamas. As I landed, around 5pm, the setting sun lined the dense cloud cover with golds and reds, and it was too late to make the trip back to Fort Lauderdale.