In light of the below "surf trips" thread, I have a question regarding surf travel on your own metal. I work for Silver Airways and will be moving to Miami. I plan on making frequent day-trips over to Eleuthera in the Bahamas either out of FLL or MIA on our own aircraft. My question is, since I will know most of the crews and rampers personally:
First- can I carry a surfboard in a soft bag through TSA and check it plane-side to ensure it gets handled properlly.?
Second- will boards even fit in the cargo comp of a Saab 340? I have a 5'8" and 5'11".

I'm not looking to make a big trip out of it, so I dont want to have to make my boards bulletproof everytime I go over there. I just want to be able to hop on a plane with my board bag and backpack, surf, and fly home the same day....any insight?

Usually no on carrying a board bag through security- although it depends on TSA's mood that day. Just pull the fins off, get a descent bag and check it.

I've had a 10' Ricky Carroll in the back of your Saab...

The cargo compartment should be able to handle it easily. I wouldn't try taking it through security though.

On a side note (and somewhat thread hijack)... How do you like Silver? Flew the Saab for 5 years. Miss the ol' girl.

I use pvc pipe fitting on the rails and nose then wrap the entire thing in bubble wrap and have never had a ding. As far as bringing it thru security the only place I have been able to do that was SJO Costa Rica. When I was working the flight I kept my 6'0" in the cockpit of the bus but I don't know how well that would go with some crews. Most airlines will charge you for the boards even if you work there, pretty lame in my opinion.

Same day is tough. If you're in S FL, you could always try to get out to MHH...but by the time you ferry out, etc. you've eaten up a lot of day. Ride down on Spirit during the winter to BQN (Aguadilla); it's a middle-of-the-night flight but you could make the sunrise lineup at Wilderness and nap in the evening before the 0300 flight back up. Just check the days- we don't run down there daily.

SJO is a maybe with the new road out toward Jaco, but you can't sit in the cockpit int'l and Spirit's flights fill up in the dry season. We do have a day flight and a middle-of-the-night flight, but the day flight wouldn't leave you much more than a sunset session by the time you get to the coast. Managua is a night flight (see BQN above), but I think it takes awhile to get to the coast. I'll let you know in about 3 weeks.

No problemo. Haven't flown it yet. Still on the Beech should be transitioning next month. Gonna miss her but I hear the Saabs a good bird.

All- thanks for the advice. Looks like I might have to settle for some central FL for my quick trips. Went to college up there and surfed Sebastian every other day. Man, is CFL surf fickle..and this is coming from an east end Long Islander

Sandrich, I didn't know you were into surfing. I enjoy it, I'm not good at it, but do enjoy it if you want to go together sometime.

Is Miami opening or are you coming for FLL. Yes the Saab is awesome, I like the Beech but I don't miss it.

I'm from Melbourne, now living in Miami. I am yet to score good waves down here other than Sandy. There are waves, but takes a lot more local knowledge and swell predicting skill.