After easing our way across the south Pacific from west to east it was time to head north to Hawaii . I had been watching the weather for several days as there is a point north of the equator with weather converges, creating clouds and potentially stormy weather. All clear……
We had grown quite accustomed to entering and leaving foreign countries and I was very much aware that entering the U.S. was serious business for private aircraft. Everything had to be in order!!!! So, the day before we left Christmas Island I called the United States customs and immigration office at Honolulu Airport to ensure we had all the procedures and permissions in order. The helpful officer advised me that this Airport was not an Airport of Entry but a Landing Rights Airport . As such air crews were required to submit a landing request and get permission prior to entry. This created a difficulty for us as there is no landing rights form in the published US Border Protection Guide, which I had retrieved from their website and saved on my computer. We had no fax or e-mail at the Captain Cook hotel by which we could get or send this form.
With no other communication available I used my satellite phone to call Overflight UK . Paul, from Overflight, searched the Internet high and low but could not find a landing rights form. He faxed a request using his best judgment as to what information they required. The next morning I followed up with another call to the Honolulu customs office. Paul's form was unacceptable. The officer was good enough to fax Overflight the correct form which Paul completed and sent back to Honolulu . In the end we were told to wait at Christmas Island airport for 2 hours while US customs and immigration reviewed our request. Another call to the Honolulu office, 2 hours later, and we were told we could proceed to Hawaii .
The 1200 mile flight was very smooth. The weather was exactly as forecast with head winds at the beginning, tailwinds in the middle and head winds as we neared Hawaii . Cloud layers where exactly as expected from the satellite pictures and although CB's extended to very high altitudes we were able to fly around them without any serious delays. We arrived in the Hawaii well after dark due to delays in departure from Christmas Island .
Honolulu ATC were less than friendly and issued abrupt and unclear instructions, which local pilots understood, but I had some difficulty following several of them. They did not appreciate my requests to repeat. However, I learned a long time ago that it is better make them repeat unclear instructions than to continue flying with doubts in your mind or to fly where you should not be.
Eventually we found ourselves established on the ILS for runway 04R and landed after 8 hours in the air. Little did we know the fun was just beginning!!!
After clearing the runway and switching to ground control we requested taxi instruction to Hawaii Aviation Centre where we had arranged for parking and maintenance. The ground controller simply told us he did not know where they were?? End of story. I had little choice but to stop on the taxiway and tell him to get someone to direct us to Hawaii Aviation!!!! I was not going to taxi the airplane without knowing where I was going. After much delay we got some help and eventually found ourselves parked in the right place.
Next came the men in blue - Customs & Immigration.
As you know, do not open the aircraft door until the officer tells you to do that – we knew the ropes and waited until they arrived and approached the airplane. The first request from officer #1 was to give him our I xxx form? I did not know what he was talking about . He mentioned something about a $500 fine for not having this form. Then, did we file our crew list on the Border Protection web site? I did not know what he was talking about again. Another fine…..
I told him that I had talked to the Honolulu office 4 times by phone before we departed Christmas Island and had consulted their own published Border Protection Guide; I never heard of these requirements nor were these forms or instructions published and available on their website. He told me that I had talked to him personally; but had only asked about Landing Rights!!! So, now you know what questions to ask…….
I must say, in the end, the two officers did lighten up and were quite polite and helpful. They did not impose the fines although they could have. But initially they certainly wanted us to know – something????
They also emphasised that as of January 2008 any private flight entering the US better have all the documents and procedures in place or there will be consequences!!!!! Be warned…….
They also mentioned several times that if we had a ground handler (rather than self handling) the onus would be on them, rather than the pilot, to unsure compliance with all regulations.
I took this as another example of Customs and Immigration clearly not liking self handling. I have seen this at almost every large airport around the world; although I was surprised to encounter this in the USA .
At Hawaii Aviation we planned to have the 100 hour inspection done and a 75 gallon ferry tank installed. With favourable winds (as usually occur at this time of year) we could possibly make the crossing with the 130 gallon wing tanks. But I was not interested in flying for 12 hours wondering all the time if the wind would change and cause a serious problem.
If you are planning to fly a US registered airplane with ferry tanks you need to carefully review FAA requirements. I will not get into them all but in summary, you are not allowed to carry non essential crew and you are required to remove the tank at the first point of landing. Also, do not assume they will give you more than a 15% over gross permit with the tank. Hawaii FAA seems to have a reputation of being very difficult; try to get your approvals from San Francisco if possible. .
Lec on the Bowfin submarine……
Imagine that day in Dec 1941……
On the island of Oahu there are many places of interest. Of course, Pearl Harbour is a marvellous attraction and you cannot help but feel a sense of what happened there in 1941. The sites are well preserved and presented; you can spend more than one day visiting the various historical presentations.
We drove up to the north shore one day and were lucky enough to arrive during a professional surfing competition – part of the Hawaiian Pro series. The world's best surfers were riding huge waves; it was the first time we have experienced this sport and it was exciting even for old timers like us!!!!!
Hawaiian Pro surfer in action…..
The last attraction that we visited was the famous Diamond Head . The top of the crater is over 700 feet from ground level up to the peak; most of it on narrow paths and stairways. It is not easy to make this walk when you are faced with many other, oversized, tourists coming in the opposite direction.
Honolulu from Diamond Head…….
Our difficulties with Hawaii were not over. It took much longer than expected for the mechanics to complete the 100 hour inspection and installation of the ferry tank. Partially due to Thanksgiving falling in the middle of our schedule.
In the meantime the winds had changed; now 5 days of almost direct headwinds all the way to the mainland. Even with the ferry tanks I would not have undertaken the flight into these winds.
Upper Winds to California...not good news!!!
Finally, after nearly 2 weeks in Hawaii (one week more than planned) we had the airplane ready and the FAA had approved our permits. The winds have turned to a generally westerly direction and it looks good to go. Take off is planned for 2am . This should allow us to remain ahead of a storm cell moving in from the west and to arrive at Merced Municipal Airport just before nightfall.
As required, we will remove the ferry tank system at Merced and then head up to Vancouver for completion of our RTW adventure.
Christmas Island to Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaiian Pro surfer in action….. 
