Flying To Mexico

[Flyin Tony]

Whats it take to fly a GA plane to Mexico? Are there any fees? Anything to watch for? Anything else you guys can think of?

Thanks for the help Tony

 

[Uncle Sparky]

Are you submitting an expense report? Usually there are two versions of every fee........the "with receivo" fee and the "without receipt" fee.
Remember......money makes the Mexican world go round'. If they give you a hard time, it just means that they want more cash. I am being 100% honest on this advice! I've been in Merida at 2am when they start asking for the "after hours customs fee?!". What this means is that if you give them more money they will leave you alone. If the fee in question seems excessive, just tell them that you'll pay with a check. That usually shuts them up pretty quickly!

 

[ohiopilot]

Don't forget your insurance. Many places require a rider.

Read this guy's experience about flying from TX deep into Mexico. There are a LOT of good ideas:

http://www.woodp.com/flying.html (it's about 1/2 way down)

 

[Flyin Tony]

Just don't get arrested...they'll keep ya there till ya die in the cell

HAHA tell me about it, we go down there alot and i always wanted to fly there. But one time my brother got kicked out of a club and someway he got back in and start to throw chairs at some people. Anyway the cops came slamed him on the ground and cuffed him. He gave them 40bucks and they let him off

 

[English]

I assume you are going with your dad? The Comanche?

Here's what you'll need...do your research, take lots of money, even a few potential gifts. My first flight down I took a machete (for both protection and as a possible bribe/gift).

Plan your fuel stops carefully. Not all airports always have fuel.

Check here for current info...

www.bajabushpilots.com

 

[Bandit60]

You need to look into this completely. Besides the mexican insurance required there is an approval you need from the mexican government. It pertains to fees for use of there airspace. If you dont have all your ducks in order you could find yourself in a world of heap.

 

[GravityHater]

I went there in 2000 and plan to go again this year.
I read up on the Bajabushpilots site, and got the package that the AOPA sends out. Very useful.

The single most useful thing to have is a person fluent in the language and customs.
So many little tips to know, but you can blunder through it without too much trouble I suspect.
Stop as little as possible. Every stop will cost you a hundred bucks in fees.
Flight plans are Required, for every flight. Even if you depart, realize you forgot something or turned back by weather and return then depart again .... another flight plan. The FP is a way to generate revenue, nothing more. If you go down, they will have no clue FP or not, SAR is non-existent.
Don't ever get in a hurry with these people. Be patient and courteous or you will be branded and get NO service. "Manana" will suddenly go from the usual meaning of "tomorrow" to the more open-ended "not today".
I have Mexican relatives born and raised there who completely agree so don't think I am being nationalist or racist.
A few yrs ago I would have thought long and hard about taking a C206 or 210 or any light twin down there because theft was rampant. Not sure now. But I might rig up some method of disabling the airplane like internally grounding the mags (use caution)
We landed only at two airports both AOE with guards in attendance and felt very safe... the 'incidents' I have heard of were at backwoods, quiet airports. Nice to have a guard watching the plane.
Agreed with the need for "mexican insurance" - this used to be something that had to be purchased from an agent/broker using a MEXICAN insurance company but that may have changed. Also check your own liability/hull to see if you and your a/c is covered across the border, many have restrictions.
Coming back into the US can be harder. A US passport eases things a lot. Have your list of documents in a folder, ready to present. If one of your pax is carrying a joint, prepare to hand over the keys to the plane to Customs - they will be the new owners. Know who you are carrying!
Despite the apparent differences from the US, its worth it - Mexico es muy bonita, es bien padre, amigo!

 

[satpak77]

Make Sure that...

All crew and pax have current passports (it just works better than birth certificates)

Plane has Mexican insurance, recognized by Mexico

Carry 300 bucks cash in your pocket in $20 bills

All flights are done via flight plan, VFR and IFR. Upon landing, you close out in person, at the Flight Plan office, and you fill out a form indicating your previous routing and PAX and then sign it and give it to FP Office people, who also do the WX. You will also depending on airport (and who owns the airport) may have to get the Commandancia (Airport Manager) to stamp your closed flight plan and assess any fees that may be due.

Fees are determined by aircraft weight

Make sure you say Buenas Dias or Buenas Tardes to everyone in sight and shake hands with the people in authoritary, kiss their azz, you are in their country now. Being a d1ckhead will NOT do you any good.

When you land the PFP, Policia Federal Preventiva, who drive brand new black and white (LAPD carbon copy) Dodge pickups and Chevy Impalas, and wear white shirts and black pants, these guys will immediately come to the plane to insure nothing illegal is going on. They ALWAYS drive around with the light bar activated so don't be alarmed if it looks like they are making a traffic stop on you.

See the "shake hands comment" above. Same thing applies. These are federal cops and are fairly competent and professional. The cool ones will even give you a ride to the FP office which tends to be 100 yards away, like they have done with me on numerous occasions

You will also be meeted by one or two Mexican soldiers, who have no car, they will walk up from some shack in the bushes, wearing olive drab fatigues, they will be about 20 yrs old, and they simply want your tail number and you name for their little soldier log of airplane activity. They are no problem.

Customs ("aduanas") is inside with Immigration and they can be hot or cold. Just be nice and shake more hands and you should not have any problems.

If overnighting, bring a large chain with lock and wrap it around your prop. 206/210's are still and always will be, in hot demand in Latin America.

later