Lima, Peru

[thatpilotguy]

I'm headed to Lima, Peru in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have any information they would like to share? Places to stay? Experiences with customs, handlers, fuelers? I have heard that many operators hire private security for their aircraft. Any advice would be very welcomed.

 

[satpak77]

Stay at Marriott Larco Mar, its the only Marriott in town. Do NOT walk around the streets at night. Stick close to hotel during daytime. Marriott has a casino on the ground floor if you like that stuff.

Petro-Peru will fuel you, there are no FBO's, etc on the airport. Use a handler, if not, you will spend 3 weeks on the ramp as you try to file flight plans and pay for fuel. Lima is not gen-av friendly at all. Flight plan office requires a car ride across the ramp, you cannot physically access it from within the general public portion of the airport.

You don't need to hire security, the airport is pretty locked down.

FINAL NOTE:

PAY STRICT ATTENTION to Lima Control (center) and Lima approach descent instructions. They will say "cleared to 3000" while you are 200 miles out, over the Andes. This means "you are cleared to 3000 in accordance with the STAR/MEA/etc"

Do not just dial in 3 grand on the altitude alerter and hit descent mode.

PAY STRICT ATTENTION to MEA's and altitudes. If in doubt, keep it high and do a re-entry when close-in and visual.

25,000 is the "hard deck" for all of Peru. If you are above 25,000, you will clear everything. DO NOT, DO NOT ever get below 25,000 in Peru if you are IMC. DO NOT get off-airway in Peru. If that means punching some build-ups to maintain airway, do it. This is not Abilene, Texas.

Some of the highest terrain in the world is in Peru and you must be cognizant of it and have a gameplan to deal with it.

Good luck, aside from the headaches above, it will be an adventure to remember.

see ya

 

[gringo]

I've never had to deplane in Peru, but one story I've heard from MULTIPLE crews is that they're nazi's with the laptops- i.e., they confiscate them. Although I have recently heard that they give them back to you when you leave the country; still, that would be something to look into, and make sure you have all your data backed up before you go.

 

[cezzna]

you have to use a handler. Other SA countries you can circumvent this but not LIMA. Handlers are friendly, fuelers are OK. I wouldn't be that paranoid about being below 25k as long as you are ON an airway. I would not trust a grid MORA. I myself have seen some of the DOD ONC charts for the area, and some of the mountainous areas have blank white spaces charted, indicating it has not been properly surveyed yet. This would not be the case for an airway or arrival going into LIMA. The place is really busy, lots of old Russian equipment laying around. Miraflores for the night life. Goolgle that!

 

[falconpilot]

Ditto to all of the above... I HATE Lima!!! As far as the airport procedures and flying yada yada... But there is some fun to be had in that town...

 

[satpak77]

I personally operate "paranoid" regarding terrain in Peru, hence my 25,000 foot statement.

But, hey, thats just me.

 

[greasy8driver]

Definetely follow the stars/sids. A normal 3 degree descent path you normally will be O.K. but always crosscheck with your plates.
As far as going out I've had plenty of fun at Larco Mar. They have Hard Rock , Tony Romas and other tourist places as well as local hangouts.

Have fun.

 

[satpak77]

go to nightclub AURA in Larco Mar. Bottom floor, physically under Tony Romas.

http://aura.com.pe/

the scenery is UNBELIEVABLE. No thugs, knuckleheads, etc.

If you are a gringo and

1. Brush your teeth
2. Comb your hair
3. Splash on some Brut, Old Spice, or any colonge sold at Walgreens
4. Wear clothes that have been washed
5. Be nice to others and wear a smile

you WILL get numbers from at least two Eva Mendes / Shakira level girls and prob bang them both within 72 hours

I flat guarantee it.

* Bring some Marriott pads and free pens to the club, you will need them. Pre-write your email address on them, its a b1tch trying to pass email in a dark club with 25 people crowding you. Everyone knows what email is, Peruvian, Russian, Chinese, etc. Put your name down and "Piloto Aviador" next to the name, for Pilot. "Piloto" also means race car driver, so you need Aviador to show your are an Aviator. That is how it is done in Peru.

* Brut, Addidas, Old Spice, Jovan Musk, Aqua Velva, and other of my favorites from Wal-Greens, typically purchased when buying Trojans, are not sold in Lima and have an "exotic" scent to them. Go ahead and allow the target to conclude they are European brands or similar exotic expensive scents.

** add extra credit if you do NOT speak Spanish, but stumble with stupid attempts like "Hola" and "Como esta" but your vocabulary stops there. Inability to speak Spanish will enhance your cuteness factor and layability quotient.

Try to act shy and nervous when you tell someone Hola

 

[stknrdr]

Lima

The suburb of Miraflores is pretty nice if you want to get about for food. Be sure and see the Court of the Inquisition and it's dungeon....very old and pretty cool. There's a large yellow church in the downtown that has the coolest catacombs you will find pretty interesting. Sorry cant remember the name of it.
The ceviche at the finer restaurants is the some of the best you'll find in SA, but never eat anything with qui in it (not sure on spelling pronounced kwee).....that would be guinea pig. As with many SA countries the "street exchange" folks have tricked-out calculators which will totally screw you on an exchange, plus there is plenty of funny money floating around; stick to the banks for cash. Most of that money doesnt have the water-mark, so hold it up to the light and have a look when getting change. The other post was right, all young girls want the hell out of Lima so you'll get plenty of numbers and several solicitations of "come back and get me's".
One thing not as prevalent in Lima but a tea referred to as Mate'. It's used in the higher elevations for altitude sickness symptoms and to curb appetite. If you see it avoid it as it's made with coca leaves. A nice way to bust a drug test when you get home.
Not so much to fear in the better parts of town, even at night unless you're wasted and alone, then you'll be wearing your pants on your ankles from them trying to find your money belt. And, that bump on the head will bother you for a few days. You'd have to be outside of town to experience the "Sendero" which isn't so organized around Lima these days, so don't worry if you hear of them.
The dollar does well once away from the cosmo areas.
Operationally, position reports to next fix by time was prevalent in hard IMC arrivals some years ago. Should radar go down be prepared for it if you're in an older aircraft without that info on a screen.
Have fun and enjoy.