Mexico Flight Planning help

[Guppydriver]

Anybody know a good website for Mexico flightplanning? As a furloughed airline type I have not had to deal with all the paperwork nuances of a trip to Mexico. I have recently been fortunate enough to land a job flying a King Air 350 and the boss does a lot of trips to Cabo San Lucas. I need all the specifics ie green sheets, insurance, overflight in and out rules etc.
Any help is appreciated

Guppy

 

[Rick1128]

Guppy,

I would suggest for your first time that you use a handler. He can give you the ins and out of the paperwork. Sometimes the few dollars you pay them is well worth the cost.

That said. You will definately need Mexican Insurance. And permits. However, most of the tourist airports, like Cabo, Cancun, Cozemel, etc don't cause problems with private flights about permits. The smaller airports will. The major tourist airports know that they will kill the golden goose. Also the Tourism Boards keep on them about it.

I have found that as long as your going in there to spend money, they don't cause too many problems.

Next payments. Cabo will take credit cards for fuel and fees. However many Mexican airports will not. Cash is still king in Mexico, especially USD. Don't forget to tip just aobut everyone. The fuelers, the commandate, the airways people. $10 is normal, $20 for extra service. If you are going to be a regular, once in a while tip a little extra. I have found that dounuts (Krispy Creme) go over good. On a hot day a soda or two for the fuelers goes over good.

Be aware that Cabo's normal operating hours are short. About six they go into overtime. It can be expensive. If you are going to be a regular down there, make some contacts there, it will make the trip easier.

Have fun.

 

[English]

Use a handler like ICCS. Also check out www.bajabushpilots.com
for some useful insights into the environment you'll be flying into...

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I know our co. used to have a lot of hassles. Now we use ICCS and it's no problem. They take care of everything. If your co. is going to Mexico a lot, ICCS works well. I don't know how much it costs.

Cliff
GRB

 

[Rick1128]

A handler is not a necessity in Mexico, but it can make the trip easier. My present employer does not use handlers in Mexico. But we have had our premits since 1968 and have on average at least one aircraft a day there. And we are just a small air ambulance company. We carry a reasonable amount of cash we us and we have a 'dispatcher' that speaks Spanish who sets up the trips down there. Of course, it helps that we are regulars at many of there airports there.

A few airports like Cabo and Cozemel will take UVAir, Amex, MC and Visa for everything. Some will require a credit card for fees. Most will take or require cash. USD preferred. There can be better deals for cash down there.

Have fun.

 

[biplanepilot]

I just got back from a Lear trip to Puebla Mexico. I used Universal Aviation for the for the planning and paperwork (our ops specs requires us to do so). This was my first time to Mexico and Universal, although expensive, were very useful and everything went off without a hitch. Having said that however, I did find that they did not volunteer all of their services and I had to ask lots of questions to find out what they could and could not do and what was requited. Of course not really knowing what I was supposed to be asking for was a bit of a problem, but I started the planning process well in advance and spoke to other pilots who had Mexico experience.

Universal provided an agent at our arrival point in Mexico who helped with clearing customs, obtaining fuel, filing flight plans, and ground transportation. They also arranged our hotel reservations, and got us a 50% discount.

So, while not an absolute necessity, I definitely recommend using a handling service, at least for your first time.

Good luck

 

[F/O]

I'd recommend using Universal for your first time at Los Cabos. They can hook you up with a guy named Luis (I'm not sure what handling company he works for, probably ICCS) who does a nice job. It will be painless for you, believe me. Universal can also handle the customs overflight permit.

As an aside, if you ever take a Lear down there, bring Prist. They don't pre-mix, even at a large airport like Los Cabos.