CBP Decal 2024 -- Just ordered, really gonna make it this year

[McMooney]

Long story short, i've ordered the CBP decal for the last 5 years and have yet to make mexico, canada or the bahamas.  This year come hell or high water i'm making one of them.    Tell me your stories, help me with the motivation 8)

[smwash02]

I did the same thing before I made the leap.

Pick a date with a weather contingency and make it happen. Monterrey is a 3h flight for you.

Some new drama with the new procedures for entry this year, but not insurmountable. Join BPP (@kortopates and I are members here) or CST and make it happen. It'll be awesome or at a minimum an amazing adventure.

My former C and now K at MMAN

Edited January 2 by smwash02

[201er]

21 minutes ago, McMooney said:

Long story short, i've ordered the CBP decal for the last 5 years and have yet to make mexico, canada or the bahamas.  This year come hell or high water i'm making one of them.    Tell me your stories, help me with the motivation 8)

Wow, some CB you are. I know at least a dozen mooniacs who would have made the trips just cause they already paid for the sticker!

[Marc_B]

3 minutes ago, smwash02 said:

Join BPP

I've seen an online video from CST Flight services (https://cstflightservices.com/), but not familar with BPP...what company is that?

[smwash02]

3 minutes ago, Marc_B said:

I've seen an online video from CST Flight services (https://cstflightservices.com/), but not familar with BPP...what company is that?

My inability to get 3 letters right it seems.

https://www.bajabushpilots.com/

Edited January 2 by smwash02

[PT20J]

If you are not sure you are going, you can wait to buy the sticker. They don’t prorate it and it still expires at the end of the year, but at least you don’t have buyer’s remorse if you don’t go somewhere.  

[KLRDMD]

3 hours ago, McMooney said:

Long story short, i've ordered the CBP decal for the last 5 years and have yet to make mexico, canada or the bahamas.  This year come hell or high water i'm making one of them.    Tell me your stories, help me with the motivation 8)

After close to 100 trips to Mexico over two decades, I believe I have traveled to Mexico for the last time. That was October 2022. It was our own US CBP that made for a very poor experience and will probably mean I'll never go back.

[OR75]

59 minutes ago, KLRDMD said:

After close to 100 trips to Mexico over two decades, I believe I have traveled to Mexico for the last time. That was October 2022. It was our own US CBP that made for a very poor experience and will probably mean I'll never go back.

Calexico ? what happened ? brought back too many avocados ?

i crossed in Calexico a few times and never had any issues as they very much cater to GA

[KLRDMD]

10 minutes ago, OR75 said:

Calexico ? what happened ? brought back too many avocados ?

i crossed in Calexico a few times and never had any issues as they very much cater to GA

Yuma. Long story but they held me for three hours, threatened to fine me $5k, and forbid me from crossing the border for 6 months. I had gone to Mexico only for humanitarian reasons for all of those trips. It is a loss to the people of the Baja and it is a shame that our own government treats our citizens this poorly.

[N201MKTurbo]

49 minutes ago, KLRDMD said:

Yuma. Long story but they held me for three hours, threatened to fine me $5k, and forbid me from crossing the border for 6 months. I had gone to Mexico only for humanitarian reasons for all of those trips. It is a loss to the people of the Baja and it is a shame that our own government treats our citizens this poorly.

I would love to hear what set them off. Some COVID thing?

I had an issue in Yuma about 25 years ago. A friend was flying freight there in a 310. I would ride along and fly the 310 back. He claimed it was a part 91 flight on the way back. Kind of a grey area. Anyway, one night we decided to walk into town and get a bight to eat. when we got back to the airport the FBO had closed and everything was locked up and there was nobody to be found anywhere. So we hopped the fence. Some security guard saw us hop the fence and came over and started reading us the riot act. He said we couldn't leave and had to wait till the police got there. We ignored him and preflighted the plane, got in and fired it up. He was still yelling at us as we taxied out. We never heard any more about it.

[SKI]

I flew from Pennsylvania to the Bahamas twice last year. I had a blast both times. I'm not really a resort type of guy and went mostly to fly fish. I stayed on both Andros and Long Island in January. When I went back in June I stayed with a Bahamian family I met on Andros in January. The locals are really friendly on the out islands if you want a real Bahamian experience and not just sitting by the pool at a resort. You'll never find cool adventures unless you go looking for them. I HIGHLY recommend the Bahamas.

[dkkim73]

4 hours ago, KLRDMD said:

After close to 100 trips to Mexico over two decades, I believe I have traveled to Mexico for the last time. That was October 2022. It was our own US CBP that made for a very poor experience and will probably mean I'll never go back.

That's sad to hear. Guessing from your handle you were going to do some dentistry? 

[OR75]

5 hours ago, KLRDMD said:

Yuma. Long story but they held me for three hours, threatened to fine me $5k, and forbid me from crossing the border for 6 months. I had gone to Mexico only for humanitarian reasons for all of those trips. It is a loss to the people of the Baja and it is a shame that our own government treats our citizens this poorly.

hope with time, you will change your mind and go again.

The flying south of the border to Baja is truly amazing and even more so if on top of that it helps the community

it does involve a lot of paperwork and constraints.

the Mexican restaurant on the field in Calexico is worth the stop after clearing customs

[KLRDMD]

2 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

That's sad to hear. Guessing from your handle you were going to do some dentistry? 

I would manage the dental clinic on Flying Samaritans trips. I'm a dentist anesthesiologist (a dentist who did an anesthesia residency) so I only provide general anesthesia, not any sort of what most people consider traditional dentistry. In my private practice, I work almost exclusively with oral surgeons providing anesthesia for them. That location was not appropriate for providing anesthesia.

[Flash]

8 hours ago, SKI said:

 You'll never find cool adventures unless you go looking for them. 

Those are words to live by.

@McMooney you should definitely take the leap and fly internationally this year. Bring some patience and an openminded attitude, and you will open an exciting new chapter in your flying career.

[jlunseth]

Of those three, Bahamas is my favorite. There are too many security issues now, to enjoy Mexico.  Try to sit on a beach and there will be a constant stream of vendors trying to sell you tourist trinkets. When you go to a foreign country you have to understand, before leaving, that the rights and privileges you have here in the US no longer exist. To keep it short, I would not trust my airplane to Mexico. Canada is fine, but unless you are a hunter or fisherman, there is not much to see up there and flying-wise there will be some bureaucracy you are not used to, like having to pay for ATC services. I am a fisherman and have gone to Can many times to fish, the very best fishing is a fly out somewhere and getting the gear there, and the rest of the people in your group, generally means driving.

Bahamas, now there is a gem. Yes, you will encounter some bureaucracy but it is pretty benign. Stay away from the tourist destinations and explore the family islands, Abaco, Treasure Cay, Long Island, Bimini, and on and on. Everywhere you go you will find friendly, honest and helpful people. If you want to do something while there, go diving, fishing, shelling, generally sight seeing in beautiful wilderness settings where you won’t see another soul. Great rum and coke in the evenings. Even if you just sit and enjoy the scenery, well, you are sitting on a beach coming to understand the true meaning of “aquamarine.” Try bonefishing if you are good with a fly rod, you won’t regret it. There is a pilot’s guide to the Bahamas, it comes with all the paperwork and explanations you need to fly there. Fly to Ft. Pierce, pick up the required life vests and a raft for the flight over. Fly out over Grand Bahama, then Abaco, then on down the islands, you are never far from land. Always be sure to call and ask if they actually have fuel, don’t just assume they do because it is on a chart. Be prepared to slow down, not be demanding, and relax on Bahamas time for awhile. 

[McMooney]

2 hours ago, jlunseth said:

Of those three, Bahamas is my favorite. There are too many security issues now, to enjoy Mexico.  Try to sit on a beach and there will be a constant stream of vendors trying to sell you tourist trinkets. When you go to a foreign country you have to understand, before leaving, that the rights and privileges you have here in the US no longer exist. To keep it short, I would not trust my airplane to Mexico. Canada is fine, but unless you are a hunter or fisherman, there is not much to see up there and flying-wise there will be some bureaucracy you are not used to, like having to pay for ATC services. I am a fisherman and have gone to Can many times to fish, the very best fishing is a fly out somewhere and getting the gear there, and the rest of the people in your group, generally means driving.

Bahamas, now there is a gem. Yes, you will encounter some bureaucracy but it is pretty benign. Stay away from the tourist destinations and explore the family islands, Abaco, Treasure Cay, Long Island, Bimini, and on and on. Everywhere you go you will find friendly, honest and helpful people. If you want to do something while there, go diving, fishing, shelling, generally sight seeing in beautiful wilderness settings where you won’t see another soul. Great rum and coke in the evenings. Even if you just sit and enjoy the scenery, well, you are sitting on a beach coming to understand the true meaning of “aquamarine.” Try bonefishing if you are good with a fly rod, you won’t regret it. There is a pilot’s guide to the Bahamas, it comes with all the paperwork and explanations you need to fly there. Fly to Ft. Pierce, pick up the required life vests and a raft for the flight over. Fly out over Grand Bahama, then Abaco, then on down the islands, you are never far from land. Always be sure to call and ask if they actually have fuel, don’t just assume they do because it is on a chart. Be prepared to slow down, not be demanding, and relax on Bahamas time for awhile. 

I'm really hoping for Montreal, Monterrey and Bahamas

 

[kortopates]

16 hours ago, OR75 said:

hope with time, you will change your mind and go again.

The flying south of the border to Baja is truly amazing and even more so if on top of that it helps the community

it does involve a lot of paperwork and constraints.

the Mexican restaurant on the field in Calexico is worth the stop after clearing customs

Rosie's restaurant has long since closed or in actuality moved off the airport to the down area but too far of a walk. This may have been even before the pandemic. 

[kortopates]

My wife and I love traveling with our Mooney and we're both pilots which really helps. We just got back from spending New Years down in Baja, visiting La Paz and Loreto. Cleared in La Paz and exited out of Loreto. We've flown all over Mexico and Central America - went to Panama last January, and I've been able to go down to San Salvador to give Mooney instruction. And of course flown in the Bahama's which is barely leaving the US since your still talking to US controllers most of the time anyway. And love to fly to Alaska via Canada. Even flown to Cuba back when it was easier. 
Every country has their own requirements that we must learn and meet, but Ken is right on. Of the all the minor hassles I've been exposed too, which have been very few, the biggest by far have been with our very own CBP. I've seen American's get into some trouble with Mexican authorities for doing stupid stuff they should have know better and for complaining they were some how being ripped off when they weren't. But I've seen first hand the Mexican authorities are far more forgiving with newbie Americans than our CBP folks.  
The talk about Mexico right now is the changes in the entry permit process. Its a bit more hassle and lots of folks complaining about the changes but a little paper works isn't going to slow us down!
BTW, towered airports have just as good security in Mexico as the US, after all they're going by the same ICAO rules everyone is. But its a pretty novel experience to fly into a uncontrolled strip in Baja and park a few meters from your hotel room. Even then, there are few National Guard troops looking after the airport as there is in almost every licensed strip.
Order the decal so you have it when you need it. You need the decal number to file your eAPIS. But no need to put it on your plane till you need it. I didn't put my 2024 decal on my till after I landed and was waiting in the customs box for the CBP folks to walk out. 

Edited January 3 by kortopates

[Pinecone]

Someone should start a service to help people do outside the US with a mentor.

[kortopates]

39 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

Someone should start a service to help people do outside the US with a mentor.

I take pilots all the time to Mexico, usually as a day trip to San Felipe to get their entry permit and go through all the procedures in both directions. Then after having gone thorough the process, the pilot is ready to take their family down without the stress. 

[A64Pilot]

If you go to Mexico take a prop lock, mine is just a rubber coated steel cable I bought at Home depot, I think it’s sold as a grill lock.

It also doesn’t hurt if you disable the airplane by grounding the mags or disconnecting the battery or something.

Maybe it was just Maules or other off airport capable aircraft but years ago airplanes used to be stolen to run drugs, so make it harder to steal.

‘Bahamas, especially the family islands it’s not an issue and I heavily recommend the family islands, if your a diver check out Riding Rock inn

https://ridingrock.com/bahamas-diving/

 

[N201MKTurbo]

Take a spare switch location and put in a second master switch in series with the original. Label it something like dome light or something. They will never figure it out.

[Tom m20k]

So I’m in Loreto right now.  Stopped by the airport and I had the FBO give me what it would cost for landing and all the fees associated with it.   It totaled like almost $1000.  Is this correct?   Seems quite expensive to me.   Anyone have any experience with this?

[Fly Boomer]

11 minutes ago, M20c Tom said:

So I’m in Loreto right now.  Stopped by the airport and I had the FBO give me what it would cost for landing and all the fees associated with it.   It totaled like almost $1000.  Is this correct?   Seems quite expensive to me.   Anyone have any experience with this?

Pesos?  They use the same currency symbol we do, so just because you see a "dollar sign" doesn't mean US dollars.  $1,000 pesos is very roughly fifty bucks.