Instrument Procedures for Mexico and Canada

[chrisk]

I've not done any international flying, but this summer, I'd like to.  Is there an easy and inexpensive way to get "terminal procedures" for Mexico or Canada?  I know I can go with Jeppesen's "Standard Airway Trip Kit", but they seem pricy ($280 for Alaska and Canada).  

 

Also, are there any good tablet applications that have this information? 

 

 

[Jim Peace]

Canada is free with fltplan.com  

 

sign up for a free account online and download the "fltplan go" app and then download the Canadian stuff to include procedures and low charts sectionals etc....

 

not sure on Mexico..

[Robert C.]

ForeFlight Pro also has the Canadian material.

 

Just know that under the agreement that FltPlan.com has with the NavCan publishers you cannot print the Canadian charts, Plates and materials.

 

Like Jim I don't know about Mexico.

[chrisk]

Ok, the best I have found is http://vatmex.weebly.com/charts.html.   I'll have to poke around some more.  These should be available from a Mexican governmental source to make sure they are up to date.  --But good enough for some early trip  planing.

[kortopates]

Ok, the best I have found is http://vatmex.weebly.com/charts.html.   I'll have to poke around some more.  These should be available from a Mexican governmental source to make sure they are up to date.  --But good enough for some early trip  planing.

 

The official source for the Mexican approach plates is their PIA which was available from www.eaipmexico.org.mx/  However, It's been since 2013 if I recall correctly since the last time they let us download from the site. Originally anyone could create a login ID and then download - but not now. Yet perhaps worth monitoring - I am hoping they turn it back on. Currently the only other official source is to pay the mexican gov for a subscription and maybe that's why they changed their minds on allowing free internet access.

 

So that leaves you with a Jepp trip kit. Their electronic trip kit is what I use if I am going south for an extended period, It gives you the plates on a iPad with their JeppFD app and in the panel if you are so equipped. 

 

Mexico and Canada and really opposite seasons for the best flying. Save Mexico for a winter trip and do Canada in the summer. 

[chrisk]

Thanks!

[cnoe]

I was wondering if there was any more-current info on this topic. I'm specifically looking for approach plates for MMQT.

I have the Mexico enroute charts thru Foreflight and the certified NavData on my GNS530W but can't easily locate plates for the four approaches (1 runway).

I'm not planning to launch with IFR approach conditions at the destination, but you know sometimes things change.

None of the links on this thread seem to work any more so I'm curious if anybody has more info, or perhaps a screenshot of these four plates that I could print out.

I'll contact the FBO there as well as AOPA for more help but perhaps Mooneyspace will help.

Thanks guys!

CNoe

[PeteMc]

You might try calling Jeppesen if you want paper copies.  Back in the day when I used their charts I seem to remember you could by carts for individual airports.  The theory was to have them for airports just outside your coverage in case you needed them in an emergency.

And if you use ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot, try them too.  I know FF has Mexico as an option.  Maybe you can get a discounted subscription that will expire shortly after your trip.

 

[kortopates]

You might try calling Jeppesen if you want paper copies.  Back in the day when I used their charts I seem to remember you could by carts for individual airports.  The theory was to have them for airports just outside your coverage in case you needed them in an emergency.
And if you use ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot, try them too.  I know FF has Mexico as an option.  Maybe you can get a discounted subscription that will expire shortly after your trip.
 

i don’t think you can load Mexico IAP plates on FF, but would love to learn I am wrong. You certainly can with GP with a digital Jepp subscription which is the way I fly south to Mexico and CENAM.

But WRT to Mexico IAP, things have changed not long ago. Mexican government issued IAP have gone bilingual and are pretty easy to use. Plus FlyQ host them on their website. So you can get them with a FlyQ subscription or for free you can use their website flight planning app to access them and print off paper copies of what you want to take along on your route to Queretaro.

Although Queretaro is a nice destination, very close, just one airport north, Leon, is the airport for Guanajuato, the most beautiful colonial town in all of Mexico. Don’t miss it! Many people rave about San Miguel del Allende but it’s purely a community of expats art and jewelry galleries. Hard to believe your still in Mexico.

I personally avoid Mexican FBO’s like the plague. Unless you really need to impress your passengers, why pay $400+ for their added service charges that you can do all on your own in the same amount of time?

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[cnoe]

Thanks guys; you've helped me out for sure.

I've got a Jepp account and previously used their NavData but never purchased their charts before. It's an easy add-on with Foreflight but the least expensive option is $259 (if buying an "annual" subscription). Calling them is a good idea but I've found a work-around.

Paul, I didn't realize that Seattle Avionics had added the Mexico IFR Procedures to their subscription. I don't typically use FlyQ but with their recent new-subscriber special I was able to buy-in and get the (Mexican version) plates I was looking for. Thanks for the tip.

I must also send a shout-out of thanks to another contributor who texted me the Jepp plates I was requesting which is great to have and easier to interpret. While I can't integrated them into Foreflight they're all I need to augment my GNS's guidance should I find myself in need of making an approach in IMC. I was also glad to receive the IFR departures (SIDs) in case I'm instructed to follow such (these are also among the FlyQ charts).

This is my first flight into Mexico in the Mooney so I'm slightly anxious about the whole affair. Still I think I'm good-to-go and have planned things thoroughly. While paying for FBO handling is not my typical modus operandi I'm opting in for this initial trip to ease the process (and keep my wife happy). I actually got a fair quote ($250 total) from AirBusiness and visited their FBO last time I passed through that airport flying commercial. One good part is that I will clear C&I in the FBO rather than having to visit the main terminal. Amazingly, even with FBO service the Mooney trip will cost me less than 2 coach tickets on United (which isn't always the case).

Still having been a regular visitor (by auto and commercial flights) to Mexico for over 40 years I intend handle my own affairs on future visits. We are indeed visiting friends in San Miguel but agree that Guanajuato is also a great destination. Flying out of Houston makes Queretaro a better destination airport for us though Leon is another option for sure. They've been trying to make the airport work out in San Miguel but it's been a battle from what I know; still it won't be an airport of entry so I'd still have to fly thru MMQT.

Thanks again guys!

CNoe

 

[PeteMc]

I'm sure you've done this....   But be sure to call your insurance company and confirm you're okay to fly into Mexico.  Many policies exclude it without special permission. 

You may also get a letter from them confirming this.  Years ago I heard stories about people having problems because they could not  PROVE what insurance coverage they had for Mexico.  Unless Mexico was added at the inception or renewal of the policy, just showing any authorities the policy would show the exemption, so you need that letter specifically saying it was added.

[PeteMc]

10 hours ago, kortopates said:

i don’t think you can load Mexico IAP plates on FF, but would love to learn I am wrong.

Not Gov. Plates (that I'm aware of).  You need to go into Your Account and then the Upgrade/Renew option and then look at the Jepp Chart options for Latin America. 

But that's a full year subscription and I'm unclear if you can add a Trip Kit, but I don't think so.  So if it is indeed not an option, it is something FF should add.  (It is an option from Jepp, so why not FF.)  They also need to make it more clear on how to do this.  Searching for it on their site does not bring up any useful info.  Unless it was buried way down in the list.  But if searching for "Add Mexico Approach Charts" isn't the top or maybe in the top 2-3, then it isn't there as far as I'm concerned.

 

[kortopates]

On 11/13/2021 at 10:17 AM, PeteMc said:

Not Gov. Plates (that I'm aware of).  You need to go into Your Account and then the Upgrade/Renew option and then look at the Jepp Chart options for Latin America. 

But that's a full year subscription and I'm unclear if you can add a Trip Kit, but I don't think so.  So if it is indeed not an option, it is something FF should add.  (It is an option from Jepp, so why not FF.)  They also need to make it more clear on how to do this.  Searching for it on their site does not bring up any useful info.  Unless it was buried way down in the list.  But if searching for "Add Mexico Approach Charts" isn't the top or maybe in the top 2-3, then it isn't there as far as I'm concerned.

 

I am not a FF user like yourself, but have all this on GP and have been a Jepp user for over 30 yrs. Given FF supports Jepp coverage for Latin America I am sure you can buy Trip Kit coverage for Mexico. Probably limited to doing that through Jepp directly on the phone; escpecially if you want to load them onto your GTN 750. But regardless, once you have a subscription and FF has your Jepp account, then I am sure FF will see your subscription status and until it expires in either a month or a year, and allow you download whatever it covers while its still active. I doubt it works differently in FF versus all the other apps that integrate their data. 

Good to now FF supports Latin America coverage now with Jepp data - didn't know this had happened. Thanks! 

[kortopates]

7 hours ago, PeteMc said:

Not Gov. Plates (that I'm aware of).  You need to go into Your Account and then the Upgrade/Renew option and then look at the Jepp Chart options for Latin America. 

But that's a full year subscription and I'm unclear if you can add a Trip Kit, but I don't think so.  So if it is indeed not an option, it is something FF should add.  (It is an option from Jepp, so why not FF.)  They also need to make it more clear on how to do this.  Searching for it on their site does not bring up any useful info.  Unless it was buried way down in the list.  But if searching for "Add Mexico Approach Charts" isn't the top or maybe in the top 2-3, then it isn't there as far as I'm concerned.

 

Although I am a GP user, rather than FF expert likr yourself, I can find my way around FF from working with my students. But I also know Jepp very well and confident that you don't need to buy your Jepp subscrption through FF. So once you do buy a digital trip kit for Mexico through Jepp, all you should need to do is give FF your  credentials and FF will recognize the your Jepp subscriotion and enable you to download the Mex charts (or whatever coverage you have) until the subscription expires if that's one month or 1 year. Is this exacty how it works on any other app that Jepp works with so I'd expect FF to be the same. Jepp was doing this long before FF came along.

 

[PeteMc]

3 hours ago, kortopates said:

But I also know Jepp very well and confident that you don't need to buy your Jepp subscrption through FF.

I'll have to defer to you if you can go to Jepp and add that back to your FF Acct.  When I used Jepp it was all paper.  (Did pass the time though on coast to coast trips updating the books for the areas out west I hadn't flown in for a while... )

I was just answering the question on adding Mexico IAPs to FF.   To my knowledge, the only way is through Jepp.  So be it through FF Acct to Jepp or if you can go through your Jepp Acct back to FF, I think you still need to purchase the Mexico IAPs from Jepp and make sure they are tied into FF if you want to use them there.  Assuming Garmin Pilot is similar.  Sorry if you thought I meant you MUST ONLY go through FF to purchase them.  But if someone intended to use them in FF, they do need to be tied to the FF Acct.  (ADDED:  This last one sounds silly, but I did read a post in another forum where someone just bought a Jepp Subscription and then was pissed they couldn't get it to work in FF.  Obviously a phone call took care of it, but just saying....  )

Edited November 14, 2021 by PeteMc

[Ibra]

On 11/12/2021 at 11:13 PM, cnoe said:

I was wondering if there was any more-current info on this topic. I'm specifically looking for approach plates for MMQT.

Use at own risk  you should expect weather to improve going south 

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Edited November 15, 2021 by Ibra