The government of the Dominican Republic has begun a free service for general aviation pilots wanting to fly to that nation. Dubbed the “Flying Ambassador” program, the service provides 24/7 personal assistance with flight planning, customs procedures, fuel availability, documentation, and other formalities.
Jim Parker of Caribbean Flying Adventures has been designated the Dominican “goodwill ambassador” by the government. Contact him via e-mail or by telephone at 305/667-6282.
The Dominican Republic’s president, Dr. Leonel Fernandez, has already decreed an elimination of all government agency fees for visiting private aircraft weighing less than 30,000 pounds. This, the government says, has already made the Dominican Republic the No. 1 destination for commercial airline passengers. The new initiative should have a similar effect on general aviation flights to the Dominican Republic, a statement claims.
“The Dominican Republic has it all, with 14 friendly, fee-free and hassle-free airports, spectacular, pristine beaches, casinos, night life, 75,000 hotel rooms, 10,000-foot mountain peaks, the highest airport in the Caribbean, the oldest city in the western hemisphere, and 26 ‘signature’ golf courses,” says the Dominican Republic Civil Aviation Authority.
