
         ******************************************
         *    Bahamas Flight Simulator Scenery    *
         ******************************************

                        Version 2.0

             (c) Copyright 1994 Joe F. Phillips

This software is designed to operate with Microsoft Flight
Simulator version 5.0a.

This scenery program and related documentation may be freely copied
and distributed to others as long as no charge is made.  The
material may not be modified or changed without the permission of
the author.

I hope you find the Bahamas FS5 scenery enjoyable.  Your comments
and suggestions are welcomed.

Joe F. Phillips CIS 70515,1231.

*****************************************************************
Shipping List:

This program consist of three files:

BAHINFO.TXT - This text file.  It is formatted for 80 character
line width.
BAHAMAS.BGL - Scenery file 1
BAHAMA1.BGL - Scenery file 2

Installation:

Copy the files BAHAMAS.BGL and BAHAMA1.BGL into the "SCENERY"
subdirectory 
of your flight simulator.  

Example:  COPY BAHAMAS.BGL C:\FLTSIM5\SCENERY
          COPY BAHAMA1.BGL C:\FLTSIM5\SCENERY

The Bahamas scenery will appear as a menu option under "WORLD"
and "AIRPORTS".
 
*****************************************************************
Version 2.0 Changes:

Corrected:      Mores Island Runway Placement
                Freeport Runway 6 label
                Govenors Harbor runway elevation

Added (using BGLCOMP):  Hopetown Scenery
                        Paradise Island Scenery
                        Walkers Cay Scenery
                        Great Isaac Light
                        Changed Ocean Cay and Georgetown Radar
Balloon 
                        to BGLCOMP compatible.

*****************************************************************

All information contained in this software and document is strictly
for use in the FS5 simulation environment.  Any pilot using this
information for actual flight operations should have his airman's
certificate suspended and his head examined.

The BAHAMAS.BGL scenery file was developed using the FS5 scenery 
compiler BGLGEN version 0.3c by Enno F. Borgsteede.  

The BAHAMA1.BGL scenery file was developed using BGLCOMP version
1.0c by Hiroo Umeno.

The following Air Navigation Charts apply to this scenery:

Miami Sectional Aeronautical Chart
World Aeronautical Charts CH-25 and CJ-26

Florida Airports:

The Bahamas scenery does not contain Florida airports.  If you want
to operate from airports in Florida, these are available in
the "Instrument Scenery Sets" developed as Shareware by
John M. Trindle (available on CIS).  The file ESTISS.ZIP (404k)
contains all USA east coast airports.  The smaller file 
SE3ISS.ZIP (68k) contains Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
and Puerto Rico.

Grass Runways:

Grass (and coral) runways are sometimes hard to see in FS5.
You might want to try a replacement texture file for RUNWAY03.R8.
AUTRWY.ZIP by Peter Bauer (available on CIS) provides a more 
visible grass runway through a new version of the RUNWAY03.R8 
texture file.

Note:

FS5 scenery requires certain compromises in geographic shaping and
accuracy of positioning.  Airports and Navaids are placed to about
0.5 nautical miles accuracy.

------------------------------------------------------------------

                *******************************
                *Bahamas Scenery Information  *
                *******************************

Airports:

The Bahamas government operates many excellent public aviation
facilities.  There are many private airports operated by resorts
which welcome aviators.  Other privately owned airports strictly
forbid uninvited guest.  Check first!

The airports of the Bahamas have interesting histories.  Many
started service as training fields or off shore patrol bases 
during World War II.  Several have seen service by NASA as space 
tracking stations.  Most now function in tourism and commerce.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Flying the Bahamas:

Near perfect weather, stunning visual beauty, and interesting 
destinations make the Bahamas an aviation paradise.  Flying in 
the Bahamas lives up to every expectation. 

Air operations in the Bahamas consist of numerous daily flights of
private aircraft flying to island resorts and vacation sites. 
Scheduled commercial jet flights operate regularly into several
airports.  Nassau sees many daily operations from international
flights bringing sun seeking tourist from North America and Europe.

Don't be surprised to see the airport in Nassau full of jumbo jets
and straw hat wearing tourist.  Freeport has several daily
flights bringing tourist to enjoy the gaming facilities.  Air
travelers to Treasure Cay seek beautiful beaches and a slower
overall pace.

There are numerous commuter aircraft operating inter-island
flights. These shuttle travelers from Nassau and the United States 
to many out island destinations.  Also much of the high priority 
commerce and cargo shipping in the Bahamas is done by aircraft.  
Popular destinations include the world renown fishing centers 
of Walkers Cay, and Bimini, and the beautiful out islands around 
Marsh Harbor such as Hope Town and Man-O-War Cay which are reached 
by water taxi.  Scenic Eleuthera is a favorite vacation site.  

The Exumas and Andros Island offer excellent fishing and diving.  
Stella Maris is a popular fly-in spot for private pilots.  
The flight from Nassau, over the Exumas, to Long Island offers 
spectacular scenery with thousands of shades of blue and green 
reflected from the water.

------------------------------------------------------------------

No special skills are needed to operate an aircraft in the Bahamas
but a few items deserve review.

Weather:
The typical weather pattern in the Bahamas calls for SE winds
around 15 knots, scattered cumulus clouds with bases at 2000 to
3000 ft and visibility greater than 20 miles.  Clouds frequently
develop directly over the land structures of the Bahamas.  To
experienced pilots these form almost unfailing markers of the
location of islands which can be seen from 50 or more miles away.

During summer months, strong and rapidly moving afternoon
thunderstorms may occur which require course deviations or 
short flight delays.  During winter months, cold fronts may pass
through the northern Bahamas.  These bring short periods of stratus
clouds and low ceiling.  Following a cold front passage, a period
of stronger northerly winds ( 15 - 20 kts) may occur.

Cross winds:

Constant trade winds and periods of strong northerly winds
following cold fronts may present pilots flying to the single
runway out island airports with a cross wind landing challenge.  
This is no more unique than operation in other parts of the world 
but a pilot should be comfortable with cross wind landing
techniques and know his personal and aircraft limitations.

Navigation:

Air navigation in the Bahamas can be done with only a few basic
instruments.  Indeed, most trips require only the use of your eyes,
a map, and the compass.  The numerous islands, reefs, and shoals,
lay out a visual highway that the pilot can easily follow to most
destinations.  Beware of a common visual illusion.  Cloud shadows
projected on the water can look like an island from a distance. 
Even experienced pilots occasionally get suckered into flying
towards a phantom island.

Excellent VOR navigation facilities are placed at several spots in
the islands but there will be areas where all radio flags are
"off".  Many radio beacons (NDB) are placed throughout the islands 
and form a good method of homing to the destination airport.

Safety requirements prohibit night VFR flights in the Bahamas. 
Most out island airports are unlighted.  Also there are limited
visual ques for the pilot at night.  IFR night operations must be
between airports with published IFR approaches (i.e. Nassau and
Freeport).

Over water operations:

Safety requires a life jacket for each passenger.  Many pilots also
carry a life raft and portable emergency radio.  Single engine
operation has proven very safe in the Bahamas but review water
ditching procedures before traveling.

Most entry flights to the Bahamas and inter-island flights with
long over water legs are done at high altitude.  An additional
safety margin is provided by flying at high altitude.  Common
single engine altitudes are 7000 to 9000 ft.  This reduces most
over water segments to only a few miles out of gliding range of
land.  High altitude also allows a longer reception range of
radio communication and navigation and buys more time to deal with
any problems.

New pilots need to be aware of frequent imagined engine
irregularities while flying over water.

Out Island Airports:

Overflying the hotel or a call on Unicom 122.8 will usually bring 
transportation to meet your arrival.  Be sure to bring your own tie
down ropes.  There are usually tie down rings or cables in the
parking area but there's not a rope to be found.  The sun rapidly
deteriorates ropes left out and it is reported any ropes left are
quickly put to work either in local Bahamian commerce or on fishing
boats.  Most airports in the Bahamas are more than satisfactory but
some of the out island facilities have problems.  Several runways
have numerous pots holes ranging from small to big enough to park
a Cessna 182.  Some out island runways are lined with the hulks of
crashed planes.  The majority of these planes are reported to have
been overloaded aircraft carrying out illegal activities.  
These images can be disconcerting to the new pilot as he makes his 
final approach.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting Spots:

Cay Sal:

This group of islands is in the remote southwest corner of the
Bahamas.  These islands are the frequent sight of shipwrecked
refugees.  Several daring rescue flights have been made to the
hazardous 2000 foot runway.  Take the Cessna 182 RG from Nassau and
fly a course of about 250 degrees.  It's 180 nautical miles so you
may want to increase the simulation speed for part of the trip 
(use the SIM menu option).  After you are out of range of the 
Nassau VOR, the trip requires precise dead reckoning navigation 
(don't use the radar map!).  An expert landing technique is needed 
to arrive safely.

Ocean Cay:

Located about 14 miles south-southeast of Bimini (160 degrees), 
this island consist of white sand and is largely man made from
dredging.  It is the sight of a large commercial aragonite mining 
operation.  (Aragonite is a form of calcium carbonate).  The island 
is identified by its bright gray color.  The two short runways 
(1650 ft.) are just about at the limits of operation of the 
Cessna 182 RG and require near perfect piloting technique to land 
and take off successfully.

Georgetown:

The airport at Georgetown, Exumas has been closed to general
aviation and is now the site of an Aerostat tethered balloon.  
This balloon is launched to altitudes of up to 15,000 ft. and on 
board radar searches for illegal aircraft.  There is a restricted 
area 3 nautical miles in diameter surrounding the airport.  Take off 
from Moss Town, Exumas and fly toward the Georgetown airport.  
You will see the balloon flying at about 9000 ft just northwest 
of the airport.  Make certain to avoid the unseen tethering cable 
extending from the surface to the balloon.

Hopetown:

Check out the scenery at Hopetown which is about 8 miles east of
the Marsh Harbor Airport.  The lighthouse is world famous and is the 
most photographed building in the Bahamas.  There is a 90 foot long
2 masted schooner anchored in Hopetown harbor.  It is available for
charter.
        
Paradise Island:

A new commuter airport has been constructed on the east end of Paradise 
Island to bring tourist directly to the island's hotel facilities.

Walkers Cay:

This is a major fishing facility in the northern Bahamas.  There is
a 60 foot long sport fishing boat anchored in the harbor.

------------------------------------------------------------------

              ******************************
              *  FS5.0a Scenery - Bahamas  * 
              *    Facility Information    *
              ******************************

Copyright 1994 Scenery made by Joe F. Phillips, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Airports:         Surface   Asphalt = 1      Coral or Grass = 4

Latitude    Longitude   Length  Surface  Location         Status  
            
                         (ft) 
New Providence:
25:02       77:28       11000   1        Nassau           Gov
25:04       77:17        3190   1        Paradise Island  Private Resort  
Bimini Area:
25:42       79:16        5000   1        Bimini           Gov
25:30       79:10        1650   4        Ocean Cay        Private
Industry
25:32       79:16        2000   4        Cat cay          Private Resort
Berry Islands:
25:25       77:53        5000   1        Chub Cay         Private Resort
25:45       77:51        4526   1        Great Harbor     Private Resort
25:23       77:48        2500   4        Big Whale Cay    Private Owner
25:26       77:45        2200   1        Little Whale Cay Private Owner
25:47       77:53        2400   1        Cistern Cay      Closed
Grand Bahama:
26:33       78:42       11000   1        Freeport         Gov
26:41       78:58        8000   1        West End         Gov
26:38       78:21        7200   1        Grand Bahama     Emergency
Use   
26:38       77:56        2000   1        Deep Water  Cay  Private Resort
Abaco:
27:16       78:24        2500   1        Walkers Cay      Private Resort
26:44       77:23        6500   1        Treasure Cay     Gov
26:31       77:05        5000   1        Marsh Harbor     Gov
26:05       77:32        2400   1        Gorda Cay        Private Owner
26:00       77:24        3000   4        Sandy Point      Private Resort
26:38       77:03        2950   4        Scotland Cay     Private Owner
26:57       77:33        5000   1        Spanish Cay      Private Resort
26:19       77:34        2640   4        Mores Island     Gov
Andros:
25:03       78:03        4974   1        San Andros       Private Resort
24:44       77:59        5000   4        Andros Central   Abandoned
24:42       77:48        4000   1        Andros Town      Gov
24:17       77:41        5000   1        Bain             Gov
24:10       77:35        5300   1        Congo Town       Gov
24:39       78:27        1000   4        Williams Island  Closed
Exumas:
24:36       76:48        3000   1        Norman Cay       Reported closed
24:16       76:33        1300   4        Fowl Cay         Private Owner
24:13       76:29        2300   4        Sampson Cay      Private Resort
24:10       76:26        3030   1        Staniel Cay      Gov
24:03       76:23        2500   1        Black Point      Gov
24:09       76:28        1200   4        Leaf Cay         Private Owner
23:56       76:19        2000   1        Farmers Cay      Gov
23:53       76:15        2100   4        Rudder Cut Cay   Private Owner
23:51       76:14        2500   4        Darby Island     Private Owner
23:52       76:13        1000   4        Little Darby     Private Owner  
23:47       76:06        3000   1        Lee Stocking     Private Research  
23:33       75:53        8000   1        Moss Town        Gov
23:24       75:29        2800   1        Hog Cay          Private Owner
23:28       75:47        5000   1        George Town      Closed
Eleuthera:
25:29       76:41        4500   1        North Eleuthera  Gov
25:17       76:20        8450   1        Governor's Harbor Gov
24:54       76:11        7200   1        Rock Sound       Private Resort
24:47       76:18        5000   1        Cape Eleuthera   Closed
San Salvador:
24:04       74:32        4500   1        San Salvador     Gov
Cat Island:
24:38       75:40        7034   1        Arthurs Town     Gov
24:19       75:27        4075   1        New Bight        Gov
24:09       75:24        2450   1        Cutlass Bay      Private Resort
24:09       75:31        4600   4        Hawkes Nest      Private Resort
Cay Sal:
23:42       80:25        2000   1        Cay Sal          Hazardous
Jumento Cays
22:11       75:44        2500   1        Duncan Town      Reported Closed
Long Island
23:39       75:20        2600   4        Cape Santa Maria Hazardous
23:36       75:20        1800   1        Hogs Cay         Private Owner
23:35       75:16        4000   1        Stella Maris     Gov
23:15       75:06        4000   1        Deadmans Cay     Gov
23:02       74:56        3000   4        Diamond Roads    Private Industry
Rum Cay:
23:39       74:50        2400   4        Rum Cay          Private Resort
Crooked and Acklins Islands:
22:50       74:21        2270   1        Pitts Town Point Private Resort
22:45       74:09        3500   1        Colonel Hill     Gov
22:38       73:53        2200   4        Pinefield        Private Owner
22:27       73:58        5000   1        Spring Point     Gov
Mayaguana Island
22:23       73:01        7700   1        Mayaguana        Gov
Great Inagua
20:59       73:40        5000   1        Great Inagua     Gov

------------------------------------------------------------------
VORS:

Freq         ID     Location

112.70       ZQA    Nassau
116.70       ZBV    Bimini
113.20       ZFP    Freeport
112.50       GHB    Governors Harbor
112.20       ZEM    Moss_Town
112.90       ZTC    Treasure_Cay

------------------------------------------------------------------
ILS:
 
Freq    ID     Location  

109.70  IZFP   Freeport Runway 6

------------------------------------------------------------------
Markers:

OM  Freeport Runway 6
MM  Freeport Runway 6

------------------------------------------------------------------
ATIS:

Freq    Location

118.70  Nassau International

------------------------------------------------------------------
Non Directional Radio Beacons:

Freq    ID      Location

251     ZQA     Nassau
396     ZBV     Bimini
209     ZFP     Freeport
326     BHF     Islands (Freeport)
317     ZWE     West End
302     ZCC     Chub Cay
280     ZWC     Walkers Cay 
361     ZMH     Marsh Harbor
233     ZTC     Treasure Cay
328     ZEM     Moss Town (out of service)
376     ZIN     Great Inagua
348     RSD     Rock Sound
281     ZSL     San Salvador
526     ZLS     Stella Maris
224     GHB     Governors Harbor

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pilot Reports:

Comments and reports of changes, corrections, additions, and
deletions to the Bahamas FS5 scenery are encouraged.  Make pilot
reports to:

Joe F. Phillips CIS 70515,1231

Specifically seeking information about the status of Cape
Eleuthera and Norman Cay airports, and the status of the Cat Cay
runway.
