Manuel Borrero, co-owner of Hangar 36, kindly wrote this guest post for our blog. Many thanks!

After the most interesting 10-year stint as a young engineer at Kennedy Space Center, I decided to return to my native Puerto Rico. I was most fortunate, not only for having worked as a Design Supervisor in the Pneumatics and Propellants Section of the Apollo/Saturn, but also for having seen and felt most of the Apollo/Saturn launchings from only three miles away; shortest distance anybody could be at launch time.

I returned to PR to pursue other challenges but always believing that some day I may return to Florida. After all, my three children had been born, one in Atlanta, Georgia while getting my Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and two in FL while working in the space program. I obtained my Private Pilot Certificate at Arthur Dunn while working at Cape Kennedy, and was the proud owner of a beat-up Cherokee 140. What I did not suspect was that I was going to be able to return 35 years later flying the most advanced little plane that anybody can have -- a new CIRRUS, SR22 G-3.

Although, I had made the trip from San Juan, PR to Florida a few times, this was a very special trip since Cirrus N-747MB was heading home: to Hangar 36 at the Orlando-Apopka Airport. The trip was well planned and included many waypoints and intersections along the route. The first leg took me along A555 on a 316° course from TJIG-Isla Grande International Airport in San Juan, PR--the smaller of two airports in San Juan--and where most of the small GA planes await their owners that enjoy weekend flying around the Caribbean Islands.

For this particular trip, the AERO CLUB OF PR, which I preside, had planned a fly-in to Providenciales, or Provo (MBPV), an important touristic island belonging to the Turks and Caicos group. My Cirrus was one of 12 planes whose owners had planned to spend the weekend of Oct. 8, 2010 at Provo.

That first leg of 404 nm is essentially over water, the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, we flew over the deepest trench in the Atlantic Ocean, 27,500 feet. Not that it makes any difference a few more feet; if it is over 5 ½ feet deep it is difficult to keep the nose above water. No doubt, that there is always the concern that we were flying over open-ocean and rescue is not nearby.

In the Cirrus, as in most modern airplanes, this leg is really simple and a pleasure to fly; just input the flight plan in the Garmin 430, set the altitude and rate of climb, press two buttons and let go. You could really do this at just 100 ft after take off if it not were for controllers issuing vectors. The plane would climb at the set rate and turn on course at a set waypoint while climbing to the preselected altitude. Just relax, look down and watch the waypoints clearly marked on the ocean (just kidding) go by, while occasionally keeping in touch with the distant controller. Vectoring is minimal (no traffic) and communications are clear and reassuring, just like flying at home except for the isolation and the deep blue water below.

The first island you reach after departing San Juan is Grand Turk, 340 nm northwest from S.J. It is comforting and you cannot help a feeling of relief when you are switched to the local controller, which greets you with the characteristic Caribbean/British accent. The flight took only 2:20 hours to cover the total distance of 404 nm, this at a reduced power setting of 69 % and a fuel rate of 13.7 gph with a lean of peak mixture setting. Average speed was 173 k with some slight tail wind component.

After three beautiful days at Provo, we departed direct to Orlando-Sanford International while my buddies returned to TJIG. My wife Jossie, had no choice but to join me on the way to Sanford since the King Air in which she arrived was returning to S.J. This time the route was somewhat less of a straight line due to some occasional minimum lateral deviations. The A555 route took us over Mayaguana and Stella Maris, 200 miles away. To make it more challenging there is a 15-20 minute gap in communications. The controller gives you the next frequency and asks you to call later. Of course you begin calling too early but nobody answers. However you can hear an occasional airliner flying overhead which are always willing to relay a message to the next controller if you so desire.

From Stella Maris to the next important waypoint, a “mere” 149 nm is Nassau and the radio chat tells you that you are closer to more congested geography; on the ground below and in the airspace around you. Then we fly over Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island continuing to Melbourne, FL via JAKEL, BERTH, SURFN and ANGEE intersections. This leg, from Providenciales to Sanford (KSFB) is 654 nm which under no wind condition will take 3:50 hours at an average ground speed of 170 k. A head wind component slowed us somewhat requiring 4:10 to reach SFB. After the courteous customs and immigration officers cleared us (Jossie, my buddy copilot Danny Epps and I), we departed for the short flight to the ORLANDO-APOPKA AIRPORT; X-04. Upon arrival my first thought was: When are we having the next barbecue or Sunday Brunch?

It is important to mention that CBP (Customs and Border Protection) requires that you clear customs and immigration at one of the nearest international airport after crossing the US border (ADIZ). In order to fly directly to Sanford, instead of using a more direct Port of Entry airport such as Ft. Pierce, Ft. Lauderdale, etc., you must request and be granted an Over-Flight Exemption. It may require thirty days to be obtained; although six days is more typical. Also, for international flights you must have filed an ARRIVAL eAPIS(electronic Advance Passenger Information System) at least one hour before departing the foreign territory. To leave the country (USA) you must also file a DEPARTURE eAPIS which, of course, applies to Puerto Rico. To file an eAPIS you must have opened an account with CBP a few days earlier. Also, you must have obtained via internet a yearly $27.50 Customs Decal (expires Dec. 31) which needs to be affixed to the airplane. In addition, you must call Customs at your arriving international airport and secure a time slot for your arrival at that international airport. A penalty of up to $5,000 can be levied on the offense of not calling ahead or for not filing eAPIS. Therefore, if you are going to travel to the Bahamas you will need a computer with internet connection as well as a phone, unless you take care of these legal requirements before you leave the USA. In summary to fly internationally you need:

1. Customs Decal for your plane

2. A valid eAPIS account with CBP (takes some work to establish)

3. Departure eAPIS (requires passport # for travelers, expiration date, DOB, Pilot License #, etc.)

4. Arrival eAPIS

5. Telephone call to Customs to get verbal approval for your arrival time

6. Over-Flight Exemption if applicable

The arrival at Orlando /Apopka was great since brothers Drs. José. Borrero and Margie Borrero-Vicente, residents of Altamonte Springs were waiting for us. Although the Apopka Municipal Band was not there to receive Cirrus N-747MB in its new home, the plane seemed to be very happy in the nice and ample facility provided by HANGAR 36.

Sometimes we pilots feel that it will be easier just to stay put at home, but please do not do that; airplanes are built to fly. They like to be in the air instead of “hanging around in the hangars”. They like to exercise in order for them to stay healthy, just like our brains need the exercise to delay their normal dulling.

May you always have blue skies.

By Manuel Borrero