Baja Mexico Plane Trip Check List

AOPA Trip to Mexico Notes

 

Flying into Mexico is NOT as tough as you may have heard. Most officials speak English as English is the international Language for the traffic control system.  The rules are slightly different than the US but mostly the same.  In general if you would not do something at your Home Airport do not do it in Mexico and you will be Fine. The people are friendly and accommodating. The pace of life is slower - so, just relax and go with the flow. Treat the officials with the same respect you would provide your local officials and you will find them very pleasant and helpful.

 

Guns & Drugs

Any bad story you may have heard about Mexico properly had to do with Guns & Drugs. Do NOT Bring any into or out of Mexico and you will not have to worry about it. - Enough said.

 

Important Documents

Be sure you have Mexican liability insurance, a pilot license and medical, registration certificate and airworthiness for your airplane. The law requires an FCC but I have never been asked to produce it.

 

You should have a passport but an original birth certificate w/ a photo drivers license is said to Office. A notarized permission is required if a minor child is traveling w/ only one parent.

 

The Mexican Gov't requires a faxed permission for LLC or corporate A/C on a personal flight. A notarized permission on letterhead is reported to suffice. Example Word Document

 

If you send a Request for Entry into Mexico along with supporting documents you can greatly reduce the time and effort it takes to get thru the paper Office at the Mexican AOE Example Word Document - But this has to be FAXED to them 10 days prior to your departure.

 

The Flight Plan

File a flight plan IFR or VFR for your border crossing segment and have a flight plan on file for your return w/ ADCUS in the remarks. 

1. The flight plan to Mexico can be filed up to 22 hours in advance of border crossing (the usual flight plan limitation).

 

2. The return DVFR flight plan from Mexico to the US can be filed 30 days in advance. So if you are filing on March 1st the latest date for the flight is March 30th. The Return Flight Plan should be scheduled for 1 week later than you expect to return.  This will give you flexibility on your return and make the return into the US easier.  ADCUS in the remarks. 

 

3. We also recommended calling San Diego FSS (1-866-682-2175) directly to file the DVFR flight plans. This will reduce the possibility that the flight plans get lost in the system.

Now for the HARD Stuff. - Getting Back into the USA.

Make sure you Filed your Return Flight Plan. It should be scheduled for 1 week later than you expect to return.  This will give you flexibility on your return and make the return into the US easier.

 

The fine is $5000 for failure to notify US Customs at least 1 hour prior to your arrival.  See the Provided Check List and Sample Forms. Trust me it sounds a lot worse than it is.  The key to this is to File your Flight plan to get back into the US. This allows you to only provide a 1/2 hr notice.  Easily done on SD Radio 122.6  30-60 min south of the US Border. The ADCUS in the flight plan is the request for them to call Customs for you.

 

Mexico Multi Entry - Apply Yourself:  www.sct.gob.mx    

Click on “Lineamientos para la internacion de aeronaves privadas”

Click on “English”. 

Mexico requires that you use their official forms. 

Mexico's fax machine is not on when the office is closed (evenings, weekends & holidays). 

The fax number listed is correct however, to call, you need to

first dial 011 52 55 followed by the number shown on the form.

 

Note: they are closed the whole month of December 2003

 

Or use Our Copy of the MX Multi Entry Notes and Form as of 11/2/03

Mexico Multi Entry Form 2004 PDF   -    Mexico Multi Entry Form 2004 Word

 

Notarized Use of Corporate Aircraft in Mexico

Keep with you in your Documentation - I have never had to show it

Example Word Document

Request for Entry in to Mexico - IMPORTANT

Send it to the Fax Number (8-5)
They will Fax back in 7-10 Days - SO DO THIS 10-30 days in ADVANCE
You will Present at the First Airport of Entry (AOE)
Pay the annual Fee ($60) - They will Stamp the Letter & date it
Keep the Letter and Receipt with you while in Mexico or you will have to pay the fee again

Ex. Corporate Multi-Entry Word    PDF Format

 

Ex. Private Multi-Entry

Word    PDF Format

 

Mexico Landing & Flight Plan Forms

For your information, The commandant will fill out for you or you can attempt to complete and bring the required no of copies

Example Word Document

Mexico Landing & Flight Plan Forms Instructions

Example Word Document

Mexico Landing & Flight Plan Forms Examples

Example Word Document

 

 

Documentation

Fees to Expect

 

 

A-Airworthiness Certificate

Bring $400-Small Bills $1, 5, 10, 20

R-Registration Certificate

 

R-Radio Station License

$ 42 Mexican Airspace Use

O-Operating Limits 

$ 8-10/p Landing Fees Per AOE

W-Weight & Balance 

$15/p Immigration fee Each

 

$15/p Mexico Tourist Visa - MAOE

Corporate Notarized Letter

 

Mexico & US Aircraft Insurance

 

US Customs Use Fee Sticker ($25)

In-Case of Emergency

 

 

Proof of Citizenship - Passport

Water

Drivers License

First Aid Kit

Pilot License

Survival Kit

Pilot Log Book

Sleeping bag

Pilot Medical Certificate

Lighter

 

Lantern / Flash Light

DVFR or IFR Flight Plan

Toilet Paper

      “ADCUS” in Comments

Snacks for Travel

 

Camera, Film, Batteries

Flight Plan Required in Mexico

Butt Pack and/or Back Pack

IFR Required at Night 

Translator

VFR Chart - CH-22

Sunglasses

 

Small Ice Chest

Airplane Things to Bring

Hats

 

Lots of SunScreen

Prop Lock & Key - Extra Security

 

3 Rebar, Hammer. - Tie downs

 

 

Bring a Casual Attitude and Enjoy

6 Quarts Oil - Oil is hard to find

Go at a Slow Pace - Don't Rush it

Hand Held Radio - Emergency

 

Hand Held GPS - Emergency

 

Chamois, Gas Filter - Emergency

 

 

 

 

 

Trip Notes

To Enter Mexico:

Prior to leaving home:

 

Send via Fax your Request for Entry in to Mexico 10- 30 days prior to leaving

Place all your documents in a binder or pouch to keep them together for easy access.

 

File Flight plans South to MEXICO AOE (Airport of Entry)  & North Back to USA.

Comments = "ADCUS" – Advise Customs 

File Flight plans  North Back to USA. 1 Week LATER than you expect to return.

Comments = " ADCUS" – Advise Customs 

 

Prior to Crossing into Mexico:

Stop and fill up w/ Gas in US

20 miles north of the Boarder - Call SD FSS 122.40 - Open your Flight Plan into Mexico

Also Verify Return North bound Flight Plan is On File w/ ADCUS 

FSS will provide Swak When Leaving USA Airspace.

 

Mexico AOE's (We use San Felipe or Loreto)

Tijuana - 118.1 

Mexicali – 118.2

Ensenada – 119.75 

San Felipe – 118.5 

 

Loreto - 118.4

 

You have to Stop at a MEXICO AOE (Airport of Entry) as your First Stop
Radio 10 miles out your intent to land.

 

ex.  Bonanza 8241K, BE33/G 10 Miles North for Landing. We have 2 On Board, Departed from SNA Orange County CA USA.  


Land & Taxi to Parking as requested. 

 

Guards want to know your Name, Tail #, No. of Passengers, Where you came from and where you are going. you may also have to present a Pilot License & Medical, Aircraft Registration, Mexican Insurance to the Guards.  

 

Request Fill on Gas - May want someone to stay w/ Plane.

 

Go inside, look for the Commandants office

  • Provide The Commandant with Your Mexican Request for Entry Form

  • He will stamp the form and provide you a receipt for the 459p ($42)

  • He will send you to Immigration - Go Fill out the Immigration Form - Come back

  • He will send you to Pay for Gas and Landing Fees - Go, Pay - Come back

  • He will Complete the Landing Documents and Flight Plans - Sign, Pay

  • He will send you to Customs - Press the traffic light Green/Red - Come Back

    Customs – Red/Green Light to determine if you need to have plane inspected

  • The Commandant will provide you w/ your paper Office and wish you well.

 

Keep ALL Your Receipts and Paper Office - When you land at the next Airport, Someone will want to see your Flight Plan and General Declaration you got from the AOE Commandant.

Each Stop at an AOE requires PaperOffice, a Stamp and a Fee. It seems un-organized at first but there is a flow to the process. Mexico is attempting to implement a ONE Window Payment concept but it may not be at your AOE

 

Check Fuel, Get back in the Plan and contact the Tower (same as in the US) Take off to your next airport.  They will expect you to report heading, Altitude and distance from the airport ( Usually 5, 10 & 30 Miles out.

 


Take off for Hotel Serenidad ( el Gallito )

Report 10 Miles out,  Switch to 122.8 Common Traffic Frequency

There will be a lot of traffic in the area this weekend so keep your eyes & ears open.

Upon Landing, Park the plane along side the runway. You will be greeted by the local officials. Show your Paper Office you got at the AOE and they will fill out a landing report and ask you to sign it.


122.75 is used for Pilot Reports – Weather etc – Monitor this frequency.

 

122.8 is the Common Traffic Frequency for most uncontrolled MX Airports.

 

General Information

Punta Gallitos - Hotel Serenidad

 

Lat : N 26 53  Long: W 111 57

Common - 122.8

Elevation: 15

Runway  31-13 

( Use 31 for Take of and landing)

Watch for Taxi backs

Punta Gallitos - Hotel Serenidad

 

Hotel Serenidad: 011 52 115 30530

Las Casitas: 011 52 115 30019

Hacienda: 011 52 115 30021

Communications

Navaids Type:

ID:

Freq:

Heading:

Distance:

San Felipe (AOE)

MMSF

118.5

135

255 nm

Rosalla VOR

SRL

112.6

136

29 nm

Loreto VOR

LTO

113.2

316

75 nm

  

Communication Frequencies:  Common - 122.8,  In-flight Chat on  122.75

To Enter USA:

Land at a M-AOE and Surrender your General Declaration (We use Mexicali or Loreto)

If you use Loreto you can do the paper Office at one airport and then fly to Calexico

There will be some paperOffice and a small landing fee ( $8-12 if you use Mexicali)

File for a USA-AOE and request that they advise Customs ( We use Calexico)

Some who travel to Mexico feel that there is no need to Check out and pay the departure fees - The choice is yours.

 

 

Depart for the USA (We use Calexico)

Contact USA Flight Services  ( SD Radio 122.4 or 122.6 )

You must give Customs 1 hr Notice prior to Crossing the border & Landing  ($5000 Fine)

However, if you pre-filed when you left the USA then you can Contact USA Flight Services  ( SD Radio 122.4 or 122.6 ) amend your plan and only give a 30 min notice

US Flight Service gives you a Swak code to cross boarder

Close your Flight Plan (Prior to landing or at the phone in Customs)

 

Land at USA-AOE and Taxi to Customs

Get out of the Plane and Stand by it until approached by Customs agent

Bring in your Documents ( Same ones you needed in Mexico )

File out Customs Declarations and General Form - Just like in Mexico

Pay the $ 25 Customs Sticker fee if you do not have one

 

Take off and Head home w/ lots of Good Memories

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