Journey to La Havana, Cuba

Dates to be announced

Dates: Thursday - Sunday 2009
Duration: 4 days/ 3 nights
Total Distance:  410 nautical miles

In 1962, the Soviet Union decided to build nuclear missile sites in Cuba. A lot of words and actions were exchanged between the US and the Soviet Union. That was just about as close as the world has ever been to a major nuclear war. A trade embargo was decided in the midst of the Cuban missile crisis, since at the time we believed that Cuba was an ally of the communist Soviet Union and was considered a threat to the US.

Today, 2009, the Soviet Union is no more and has been replaced by Russia which is a lot friendlier and open with the US than back in 1962. A Cuban military threat to the US is now somewhere near zero and it has been this way for a number of years. I guess that for traditions sake (it must be tradition because there is no other reason) the US keeps the embargo with Cuba alive and well. During 2005 and 2006, the embargo was even made tighter.

Today a number of travelers visit Cuba. The hotel infrastructure has been improved substantially. Cuba welcomes foreign visitors and their economy is geared toward tourism but today the US still doesn't allow its citizens to visit Cuba except under special circumstances. We can go to China, we can go to Vietnam, as a matter of fact, we flew to both on our 2008 Around the World Journey. Keep in mind that China is a communist country with a totalitarian government. But we still cannot visit Cuba.

With all this in mind and with the word from our President wanting to improve relations with Cuba, we have applied to the Treasury Department and the OFAC Department for the authorization to fly our airplanes to Cuba for an educational presentation for a better understanding of the Cuban airspace and the do's and don'ts. Unknown to many people, the Cuban airspace is the worst violated airspace in the world and the Cuban Civil Aviation is welcoming the opportunity for an educational session on what should be done.

Very soon now, we hope to have the dates of the first general aviation flying Journey to Cuba departing from the United States. By registering your name in the attached program, you will reserve a position based on a first come, first served basis to fly your own plane to Cuba for the first time. The journey will take place over four days, leaving Miami International Airport for a direct IFR flight using part of the GIRON corridor and landing in Havana, returning four days later.

If you would like more details on this exciting forthcoming Journey, please do not hesitate to call Thierry Pouille (561-841-1551 ext. 1)