Export Licenses For 'Humanitarian Reasons' Still Required
The Jan 15 White House announcement of new Cuban regulations governing individual travel, trade and financial services makes it easier for individuals to travel to Cuba. Flying your own plane to Cuba, however, still remains a remote dream.
Caribbean Flying Adventures (CFA) has had extensive contact with Cuban officials and worked closely with the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments over the years on issues relating to Cuba and private aviation.
According to CFA President Jim Parker (pictured) "the rules have not changed for flying you own plane to Cuba. An export license is still required and these are only issued for "humanitarian" reasons or if the flight is deemed to be in the "foreign policy interests of the U.S." Parker is a retired senior U.S. diplomat who knows the ins and outs of the U.S. government's foreign policy.
Caribbean Flying Adventures has spoken directly with Commerce Department Officials who confirm that provisions regarding private aircraft flights to Cuba remain unchanged and remain highly restrictive. Pilots are welcome to apply for an export license but the likelihood of approval is as low as it was before the January 15 announcement. And for our Canadian friends, you are also prohibited from flying your own aircraft to Cuba from a U.S. airport if your aircraft contains more than 10% U.S. parts.
Parker says that permission to fly your Cessna 172 to Cuba has absolutely nothing to do with the FAA. Export licenses are issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce with concurrence from the Treasury and State Departments.
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