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Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS?

Posted By: umyaya

Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 01:10 AM

Option 1: I can fly direct to STT but am nervous about finding a private air charter from STT to Anegada. I can't get Island Birds to answer the phone. Another private charter quoted me $10k roundtrip so I'm nervous about booking to STT and not having options.

Option 2: Fly to EIS via SJU. More options to get to Anegada from EIS, but now I have to worry about dealing with Silver or Cape Air.

From the website, looks like roundtrip on Island Birds from STT to Anegada is $2,750 vs $850 from EIS. Does this seem ballpark correct for what I should expect?

I wish Island Birds would answer the phone. Flying direct into STT would be a lot more convenient.
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 01:32 AM

10K roundtrip? Did that price allow you to keep the airplane?
Posted By: MIDiver

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 01:54 AM

Are you calling the 284 number?
Posted By: umyaya

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 01:58 AM

Yes
Posted By: Manpot

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 01:25 PM

The ferry to Anegada runs Monday, Wed, and Friday. You could fly to STT, ferry to Road Town, one night in RT and ferry early next day..save you a $$$$$$
Posted By: FrozMargNoSalt

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 01:55 PM

A couple quick tidbits of information...we just got back from the BVI's and worked tirelessly to get to Anegada on a day when the Ferry wasn't running.

FLY BVI: Stay away!!! We booked them for an Anegada day trip earlier this month. We chose them because they answered their phone when we called and responded to our email request...imagine that! The night before our Anegada day trip, they cancelled (via email) due to "Unscheduled aircraft maintenance." Now, we cannot seem to get them to give us our $1400 round trip refund. We have gotten 4 different delays and excuses and still don't have our money. So, I'd probably avoid them.

Island Birds: Since we were left high and dry, I found a delayed email reply from Island Birds that I received after already booking with Fly BVI. They don't seem to be very timely in responding to website inquiries or emails. Aneika said they could take us $650 each way for 6 passengers (EIS-->Anegada) and we sent her the passenger list as requested. Unfortunately about an hour later she replied and realized that the aircraft she needed for 6 passengers was unavailable. I guess Anegada wasn't meant to be this trip. You have to contact Aneika Hodge with Island Birds directly. I was able to reach her on her South Florida 954 cell number listed below. Keep in mind, I believe they just had a rough landing at Anegada airport within the last week as the landing gear failed...not sure how much damage may have been caused to the plane. https://www.virginislandsnewsonline...aircraft-crash-lands-airport-in-anegada/

Island Birds Reservations
8102 Lindbergh Drive, St. Thomas, VI 00802
Aneika.Hodge@Islandbirds.com
P: 1 (321) 406 1971 or 1 (284) 495 2002
M: 1 (954) 774 6538
F: 1 (787) 936 7411

GOOD LUCK! Anegada is worth the hassle of figuring out how to get there.
Posted By: JasonHelmbrecht

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by FrozMargNoSalt
A couple quick tidbits of information...we just got back from the BVI's and worked tirelessly to get to Anegada on a day when the Ferry wasn't running.

FLY BVI: Stay away!!! We booked them for an Anegada day trip earlier this month. We chose them because they answered their phone when we called and responded to our email request...imagine that! The night before our Anegada day trip, they cancelled (via email) due to "Unscheduled aircraft maintenance." Now, we cannot seem to get them to give us our $1400 round trip refund. We have gotten 4 different delays and excuses and still don't have our money. So, I'd probably avoid them.

Island Birds: Since we were left high and dry, I found a delayed email reply from Island Birds that I received after already booking with Fly BVI. They don't seem to be very timely in responding to website inquiries or emails. Aneika said they could take us $650 each way for 6 passengers (EIS-->Anegada) and we sent her the passenger list as requested. Unfortunately about an hour later she replied and realized that the aircraft she needed for 6 passengers was unavailable. I guess Anegada wasn't meant to be this trip. You have to contact Aneika Hodge with Island Birds directly. I was able to reach her on her South Florida 954 cell number listed below. Keep in mind, I believe they just had a rough landing at Anegada airport within the last week as the landing gear failed...not sure how much damage may have been caused to the plane. https://www.virginislandsnewsonline...aircraft-crash-lands-airport-in-anegada/

Island Birds Reservations
8102 Lindbergh Drive, St. Thomas, VI 00802
Aneika.Hodge@Islandbirds.com
P: 1 (321) 406 1971 or 1 (284) 495 2002
M: 1 (954) 774 6538
F: 1 (787) 936 7411

GOOD LUCK! Anegada is worth the hassle of figuring out how to get there.


For Island Birds, fill out the online form with your request and then CALL the 284 number. I normally speak to Nadia and not Aneika but I suppose it doesn't matter who answers.
Posted By: skipdastraw

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 02:52 PM

So expensive, so complicated and now with the airline mess, so prone to problems!
I would follow Manpots advice- Fly into STT on a Sun, Tues or Thurs, stay over in Tortola, enjoy a nice dinner and be on the ferry out the next morning, relaxed, knowing you saved ~$9500.
Posted By: Manpot

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/28/2022 02:58 PM

You can buy some nice meals on Anegada with that kind of $$$...starting at The Wonky Dog.
Posted By: ecm56

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 02:40 PM

I suspect that Island Birds Piper Aztec (N13987) will be out of service for a while (if not permanently). Right side gear appeared to collapse.

Another option is to fly into STT and spend the night there (we stay at Olga's Fancy). Then take the morning ferry to Road Town and catch the afternoon ferry to Setting Point. All depends on where you would rather spend the night.
Posted By: ndfaninnc

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 03:52 PM

I just hung up with Nadia. According to her they have several Piper Aztec's. The once reference by ecm56 she says will be back in service within two weeks. It was a bolt that broke on the landing gear.
Posted By: MIDiver

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 05:10 PM

That’s good news NC.
Posted By: Matt W

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 05:45 PM

Are there private water taxis that would make the run from Trellis to Setting Point?
Posted By: tradewinds

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 06:16 PM

Yes, and also from Red Hook to Anegada. We rode with Chillout Charters in May. Cleared Customs and made it to Anegada in an hour.
Posted By: JasonHelmbrecht

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by Matt W
Are there private water taxis that would make the run from Trellis to Setting Point?

Yes. I think Sherwin will do it too. Reach out on FB or let me know if you need a contact.
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/29/2022 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by ndfaninnc
I just hung up with Nadia. According to her they have several Piper Aztec's. The once reference by ecm56 she says will be back in service within two weeks. It was a bolt that broke on the landing gear.


I have no idea how they can possibly get that aircraft back in service in a few weeks. The engine on the gear collapse side would have suffered a prop strike. That requires the engine be removed and shipped to a engine facility where it requires a complete tear down and inspection. Engine shops are currently backlogged 2-months to a year. I suppose they may have been able to source a used motor and install it but those are really hard to find at the moment and run 35 to 55,000. The other option is to not put the prop strike in the logbook, cross your fingers and hope!
Posted By: umyaya

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 12:50 AM

From what I was told, they are replacing all of those bolts on their Piper Aztecs before putting them back into service.
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 11:51 AM

I just saw a decent picture of the accident aircraft after it came to a stop. It was only a partial gear collapse and it’s possible the prop did not impact the runway. If so they should be able to have it flying again quickly.
G
Posted By: ndfaninnc

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 12:57 PM

George, from what you saw in that pic (I haven't seen one) what would the pilot have felt that let him know something was amiss?
Posted By: MIDiver

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 03:38 PM

George - that is what my husband said as well when we were looking at the photos (he is a pilot as well). Wonder who was flying - Jamie is our favorite IB pilot - if she was flying I am sure she handled it well.
Posted By: ecm56

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 05:32 PM

Repairing anything on Anegada is a challenge. I hope they can get it repaired quickly but it remains to be seen.
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 05:44 PM

The pilot would have know instantly the gear had collapsed. In this case it also appears to have locked up the right wheel based on skid marks on the runway. The pilot did a good job keeping it on the paved runway. Probably a lot of left rudder and left brake. It does not appear that the right wingtip contacted the ground since as mentioned it was a partial collapse. If no prop strike and no wingtip damage repairs are far simpler. I don’t know the current status of the aircraft but I imagine a team could get it flyable with the gear locked down in a day or so. Getting the team in quickly might be a issue with the runway blocked. Water taxi to the rescue!
G
Posted By: ndfaninnc

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 06:26 PM

I assume the passengers would have only thought it was a rough landing? Unless the pilot said "oh crap". Then the fingernails dig into the armrest.

Nadia told me the delay is their version of our FAA. I did not know the runway was blocked too. Thanks for your info.
Posted By: JasonHelmbrecht

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 06/30/2022 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by GeorgeC1
The pilot would have know instantly the gear had collapsed. In this case it also appears to have locked up the right wheel based on skid marks on the runway. The pilot did a good job keeping it on the paved runway. Probably a lot of left rudder and left brake. It does not appear that the right wingtip contacted the ground since as mentioned it was a partial collapse. If no prop strike and no wingtip damage repairs are far simpler. I don’t know the current status of the aircraft but I imagine a team could get it flyable with the gear locked down in a day or so. Getting the team in quickly might be a issue with the runway blocked. Water taxi to the rescue!
G

I spoke to Nadia today on another subject and the aircraft has been cleared for some days and the airport has been open. She said as soon as the "investigation was complete in a few days" the aircraft would return to EIS.
Posted By: FrozMargNoSalt

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 07/01/2022 03:33 AM

I'm not too sure if Sherwin will do it....we were set to be on the water with him for 1/2 day a couple weeks ago when our Anegada flight was cancelled the night prior. We would have needed to basically go from Trellis to Anegada. Once we notified Sherwin he didn't seem to have any suggestions to help us to Anegada the next day.
Posted By: FrozMargNoSalt

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 07/01/2022 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by Matt W
Are there private water taxis that would make the run from Trellis to Setting Point?


Also, when we were down a couple weeks ago, we saw a go fast boat with 3 outboards on the back at Trellis and asked the guy what it would cost roundtrip from Trellis to Anegada. He said $2,200. That's not quite my cup of tea. :-) I think Dive BVI can get you there and back on their boat Sea Bandit. While it wasn't available for the day we wanted to go, the rate was $1,300 round trip which is basically their daily private charter rate that allows you to tell the Captain where you want to go for the day.
Posted By: Matt W

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 07/01/2022 06:05 PM

How often would like the sea state cancel those water taxi trips to Anegada? Will fast boats make the trip in 8-10 foot seas (like those forecast for tomorrow)?
Posted By: tradewinds

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 07/01/2022 07:43 PM

Sherwin will do it if he's not booked.
Posted By: tradewinds

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 07/01/2022 07:44 PM

If you're at Trellis, take the Anegada Express. It's not rocket science.
Posted By: duckfat

Re: Trying to get to Anegada: STT or EIS? - 07/01/2022 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by tradewinds
If you're at Trellis, take the Anegada Express. It's not rocket science.

Anegada Express only runs 3 days a week - Thursday/Saturday/Sunday. Might be rocket science for you.
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