Fly Cat Island

A comprehensive online resource for general aviation pilots flying to Cat Island, Bahamas.
Airport is open and repaving project complete (for now). MYCB New Bight Airport runway 09/27 (5000' x 100') has been repaved the middle 50' .

MYCB New Bight Airport

Pilot Information• New Bight International Airport, Cat Island, Bahamas • IATA: TBI, ICAO: MYCB• Bahamas government owned, non-towered airport of entry• Customs/Immigration 0900-1700 local seven days • Location 24 degrees 19 minutes North; 75 degrees 27 mins West • Located in the center of Cat Island • No approaches. Often broken layer at 2000-3000 with holes • Suggest cancel with Miami above 3000' once island in sight • If unable to cancel in air, Nassau 242-377-7108 or 242-377-7116 • 09 is the preferred runway 90% of the time • Most locals fly straight in to 09 or a left base entry • 118 nm from Nassau VOR 114 degree radial• 280 nm from KFXE heading 119 degrees• Field elevation 6’• Runways 09/27 5000’ X 100‘ paved: middle 50' "excellent," outer 25' either side: "good" with patches. Note, the runway is a total of 100' wide. The middle 50' has been repaved, leaving 25' original pavement on either side which does NOT drop off from the middle new pavement. I.e, safe to "straddle" if necessary. • Eastern Time Zone • 2 bars of cellular service on the field• Paved parking for 10 airplanes • No tie-downs, no chocks -- bring you own • CTAF 122.8 • AWOS 127.7 (winds, altimeter, and clouds) • Nassau Radio 128.0 • No UNICOM, No NAVAIDS, NO FUEL, NO FBO • No ADS-B weather inflight available (nothing east of Nassau) • SXM signal available inflight (music) and SXM weather will show as "available" but there is no actual WX radar feed "in it" east of Nassau. (The Bahamas does not provide their radar to SXM) • Bahamas radar (for on the ground flight planning) located here: https://hurricanecity.com/radars/live/bahamas/ • "Windy" app is a good source of local weather. www.windy.com • $7.40 a night parking fee • No landing fee • Do not park in front of hangar taxiway or block with your wing
  • Customs/Immigration fees: For "recreational" (non-commercial) aircraft: $150/aircraft inbound, $0 outbound. $31/per person outbound.
  • Customs/Immigration fees: For "commercial charter" with four seats or less: $75/inbound and $75/outbound, $31/per person outbound.
  • Customs/Immigration fees: For "commercial charter" with more than four seats: $150 inbound and $150 outbound. $31/per person outbound.
  • US Cash accepted for fees, exact change recommended.
  • Visa/MC accepted for the customs/immigration fees (when the credit card machine works). Cash only for the parking fees.
  • Recommend using Flashpass for US eApis exit/entry. 30 day free trial. https://www.flashpass.net/
  • When using Flashpass, it automatically pre-populates the C7a form (entry) for Bahamas customs or the C7 (exit Bahamas). If not using Flashpass, here are the blank C7 (exit Bahamas) and C7a (enter Bahamas) forms for download.
  • The field is mostly fenced in and locked at sunset.
  • VFR flight is not legal at night in the Bahamas sunset to sunrise.
  • Arrange car rentals in advance with Shaquile 242-801-0979 (Alvernia Food store) or Berto 242-474-1050 (New Bight food store). They will pick you up at MYCB. Both stores are also good for groceries and provisions (New Bight Food Store also has beer, wine, and liquor).
  • Beer, wine, and liquor store: 700 Wines & Spirits (south of MYCB).
  • Taxi (and island guide): Danson King 242-474-8462.
  • Closest fuel is Stella Maris airport, Long Island (MYLS - stellamarisairport@gmail.com ) to the south or Governor's Harbour airport, Eleuthera (MYEM - tripsupport@earcoaviation.com ) to the north. Also North Eleuthera airport (MYEH- frontdesk@whitecrownaviation.com). Suggest emailing to verify fuel availability before going there. All three have Customs/Immigration 7 days.
  • When planning your departure from Cat Island, suggest you file your eApis and flight plan via Foreflight (or other EFB) via wifi at your accomodations rather than relying on cell service at MYCB.
  • After departure, pick up your flight plan in-air from Miami Center (out of 3500-4000'): 127.22

Other Cat Island Apts

• Arthurs Town Airport (MYCA) in the North of Cat Island is currently closed. The runway is dug up and not usuable in any way. The Government is rebuilding it. It will be 7000' when redone. • Hawks Nest Airport (MYCH) is on the southern most tip of Cat Island. Unlike MYCB and MYCA, it is privately owned by Hawk's Nest Resort & Marina. https://hawks-nest.com/airstrip/ For prior permission: 1-242-342-7050. • Lat/Long N24-09.2/W075-31.3 • 3100' x 80' • Surface is in very good condition • No fuel, no navaids, no unicom, no FBO • No customs onsite, but some MYCB customs officers, by prior arrangement and fee, workload permitting will drive there to check you in • They do have some chocks, but always good to bring your own Hard surface parking for 3-4 aircraft Restaurant onsite. See: https://hawks-nest.com/

A non-exhaustive list of major attractions

A short cheat-sheet of "to-do's" on Cat Island. There are others, certainly, but these are the most well-known. All require a car. As with most bars/restaurants on the island, open-hours/days can be sporadic, so best to call ahead to make sure. • Mt. Alvernia. Highest point in the Bahamas. Great views plus hand-carved Stations Of The Cross and monestary by Father Jerome. Short drive south from the Airport. Easy "hike" up, even easier walk down on the back side. • The "Fish Fry" at "The Regatta Site." Short drive south from the Airport, not far from Mt. Alvernia. Several small restaurants for traditional Bahamian fare. Also Duke's Conch Stand for Conch Salad. • Olive's Bakery. South of MYCB, near the south entrance to the Fish Fry on the main road. Well known bakery for breads, treats, and Bahamian "Flour Cakes." • The Healing Pond. South end of the island (same road that takes you to Greenwood Resort; see below). Float like the Dead Sea for reported healing properties. Bring water shoes or Teva-type sandals . • After the Healing Pond, go right down the road to Greenwood Resort. Have a beer and lunch there overlooking the Atlantic side. • Da Pink Chicken. Also in the South, one of the best known beach bars in the Bahamas. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. • Da Smoke Pot. In the North. Also one of the best known bars/restaurants on the island. • Further resources (activities, gas stations, lodging, etc) • Pay for service clinic: Cat Island Medical (located next to Alvernia Foods across from the town dock).

What's the story with the "new" New Bight Airport?

The Bahamas government is in the (long overdue) process of rebuilding New Bight Airport. While drawings / site plans are not currently publicly available, it is destined to be a "Tier 2" international airport with a 7000' runway. See drawings and designs here. More details about the plans from Prime Minister Davis can be read here. A completely new terminal is currently under construction (and has been for about a year). The existing runway (5000') was recently "temporarily" partially resurfaced and it's now in excellent shape. It is said there will be construction of a completely new 7000' runway next to the old one and a completely new full taxiway. A new, separate, fire station, police station, and "control tower" are also reportedly under construction adjacent to the new terminal. There is not yet confirmation of the plans for Avgas and JetA availability, although we are hoping! When will it all be done? Good question. Best guess is sometime late 2025/2026. Work is proceeding...
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Contact Info
Phone: 242-801-7490 (text or whats app)
Information provided by a volunteer pilot for the sole benefit of other pilots on a not for profit, volunteer basis. Not for navigation. Please verify all critical information prior to flight. Last revised 12-26-24.
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