Cancun area - direct over the gulf.

[RJBrown]

Instead of spending the money for a raft and HF, just buy a little extra gas and fly along the mexican coast and check out the beautiful country,

Brownsville to Cozumel: KBRO-TAM-NAU-MTT-CME-MMCZ. Is 995NM so it will cost an extra stop plus a few extra miles.

[jetdriven]

About 300 extra miles each way. Or enough to pay for my raft and 406 PLB.

[fantom]

About 300 extra miles each way. Or enough to pay for my raft and 406 PLB.

.....hope you have some left over for medical insurance

[jetdriven]

Im adding a spear gun to my ditch bag. And a copy of "Baron trader" in a waterproof bag.

[DaV8or]

I thought I would post pictures of the airport at Isla Mujeres just incase you do go. I highly reccomend this island over Cancun. This airport is the lonliest airport I have ever seen. I was there over a week and no plane was ever there, or ever used it. There is nobody there... except one guard with an M-16. The airport appears to be run my the Mexican Navy that has a large complex right next door. In fact, if you don't plan your departure on 33 correctly, fail to get the proper climb and crash into the building at end of the departure, well, that building belongs to the Mexican Navy!

Photo one shows the tie down area. I have no idea when the last time a plane was ever there. No signs of any tie down chains or ropes.

Photo two is of the terminal building/tower. This is where the guard hangs out with his gun. One day when I drove by he was working on his bicycle!

Photo three is of the building you will crash into if you didn't account for density altitude, or were over loaded. It's right off the departure end of runway 33.

Photo four is of runway 15 as it faces the jungle and salt lagoon you face, again, it you don't do the math right.

[yvesg]

Did you park your aircraft there for some time? I would be worried to leave my aircraft unatended for some time in a place like this. Is the guard there 24 hours a day?

Yves

C-FQKM

[kortopates]

I've been to Isla Mujeres too (to swim with the whale sharks - nothing like fantoms pictures) and I am pretty sure Dave was only kidding since its not an International Airport or airport of entry. Of course Byron is welcome to fly over to MMIM after clearing customs and filling up elsewhere to enjoy the quiet island - a huge contrast from Cancun/Cozumel. But be careful for the intense Nordo traffic in the pattern; Flocks of Flamingo's that is!

Yves, every Mexican airport has some contingent of military stationed at it that lives on the airport 24x7, towered or not. They were placed there to combat drug trafficking and will greet you on arrival to see your Mexican flight plan and at departure again. They actually do help reduce crime in the area. But nobody is interested in your Mooney down there. They want C210 and C206, but have been known to take a C182 as a prize of last resort when they couldn’t get their intended target.

[jetdriven]

`

[yvesg]

Thanks Kortopates,

The further I went south with the Mooney is Martha's Vineyard Katema's field. Since taking full ownership a few months ago I am making plans to go further than that. One place I am interested to go is San Felipe (Baja) because my son lives near L.A. and we have planned to go there with the Mooney some time next year. I'd be interested to find out if other Mooney pilots went there and encountered any issues. One other location I want to do at some point is Cuba! The beaches there are out of this world.

For Byron's trip accross... I would only do this with another Mooney coming along, this way if you need to ditch, much better chance to have emergency crew find you... however the other aircraft could not circle for too long above because of fuel issues.

Yves

C-FQKM

[DaV8or]

Did you park your aircraft there for some time? I would be worried to leave my aircraft unatended for some time in a place like this. Is the guard there 24 hours a day?

Yves

C-FQKM

I didn't take my plane there. Got there like most folks. By cattle car.

[kortopates]

One place I am interested to go is San Felipe (Baja) because my son lives near L.A. and we have planned to go there with the Mooney some time next year. I'd be interested to find out if other Mooney pilots went there and encountered any issues. One other location I want to do at some point is Cuba! The beaches there are out of this world.

Baja is great fun and San Felipe is the most popular Mexican AOE for US pilots clearing headed south from CA. San Felipe is actually a privately held airport and because of it, it has its own associated pro's and con’s. The only con is slightly higher fees for fuel. The pro's are that they have literally an assembly line of staffed officials (DGAC, Customs, Immigration) to walk you through the paperwork process and get you your (multi-)entry form, declaration, visa's, flight plan and on your way very quickly. They are also very popular. Thus during the winter whale season lines can form. Since I have the range, I more often than not clear further south in Loreto.

I would not personally recommend San Felipe as a destination and instead would encourage you to go further south. Even If your available time is short, you can enjoy a truly memorable experience petting the California Grey Whales in their winter habitat at Laguna San Ignacio - if visiting with these remarkable creatures appeals to you. My wife and I go pretty much every year end of Feb/early March for 3 day weekend and usually with other Mooney's from the CA/AZ area (including some on Mooneyspace). We usually stay on the baja side in Mulege for the hotel and fly over to San Ignacio for the day of Whale watching.

Nothing wrong with San Felipe by itself and there are a number of hotels on the beach not far from the airport. Its just that Baja gets much more interesting or adventuresome further south. Although at the very south, Cabo is an entirely different experience from the rest of baja and fascinating in its own way. If you'd feel more comfortable going down with a group, check out Baja Bush's web site for organized trips down there, including whale watching - they walk you through the entire process. Or you're welcome to join us for whale watching if the timing works out. If you want to keep to a destination like San Felipe, also check out Rocky Point (south of Yuma) and Guymas (on mainland side). But BajaBush is the better website for Mexico information.

[yvesg]

Baja is great fun and San Felipe is the most popular Mexican AOE for US pilots clearing headed south from CA. San Felipe is actually a privately held airport and because of it, it has its own associated pro's and con’s. The only con is slightly higher fees for fuel. The pro's are that they have literally an assembly line of staffed officials (DGAC, Customs, Immigration) to walk you through the paperwork process and get you your (multi-)entry form, declaration, visa's, flight plan and on your way very quickly. They are also very popular. Thus during the winter whale season lines can form. Since I have the range, I more often than not clear further south in Loreto.

I would not personally recommend San Felipe as a destination and instead would encourage you to go further south. Even If your available time is short, you can enjoy a truly memorable experience petting the California Grey Whales in their winter habitat at Laguna San Ignacio - if visiting with these remarkable creatures appeals to you. My wife and I go pretty much every year end of Feb/early March for 3 day weekend and usually with other Mooney's from the CA/AZ area (including some on Mooneyspace). We usually stay on the baja side in Mulege for the hotel and fly over to San Ignacio for the day of Whale watching.

Nothing wrong with San Felipe by itself and there are a number of hotels on the beach not far from the airport. Its just that Baja gets much more interesting or adventuresome further south. Although at the very south, Cabo is an entirely different experience from the rest of baja and fascinating in its own way. If you'd feel more comfortable going down with a group, check out Baja Bush's web site for organized trips down there, including whale watching - they walk you through the entire process. Or you're welcome to join us for whale watching if the timing works out. If you want to keep to a destination like San Felipe, also check out Rocky Point (south of Yuma) and Guymas (on mainland side). But BajaBush is the better website for Mexico information.

Thanks Paul for all this highly valuable information. When we are ready to go around there I will definitely evaluate all the options you listed. I would definitely like going with a group ... which provides an additionnal level of safety.

I am actually going to L.A, on this coming Friday to visit my son (Not with the Mooney because I only have a few days and the trip from Eastern Canada would take all the time I have, taking a longgg week-end) There is a good chance we will go to San-Diego during the 5 day visit we have planned. My son lives in Cypress near Los Alamitos base.

Regards,

Yves

C-FQKM

[kortopates]

Yves,

PM sent

[kortopates]

Byron,

I presume you're more comfortable with a lengthy over water crossing just from acquiring all the oceanic experience you have from your day job. Its not knew to you by any stretch. And I imagine you have access to resources not available to the GA crowd. So where would you go to get decent weather products covering the gulf? Would you be able to call up one of your company dispatcher friends and get more reliable weather products covering a route like this? I don’t see anything beyond satellite and analysis charts covering the oceanic area, but no experience there either.

[jetdriven]

Byron,

I presume you're more comfortable with a lengthy over water crossing just from acquiring all the oceanic experience you have from your day job. Its not knew to you by any stretch. And I imagine you have access to resources not available to the GA crowd. So where would you go to get decent weather products covering the gulf? Would you be able to call up one of your company dispatcher friends and get more reliable weather products covering a route like this? I don’t see anything beyond satellite and analysis charts covering the oceanic area, but no experience there either.

Actually we only have the satellite image of the hemispehere (often 6 hours old) , the SIGWX high altitude prognostic chart, and the same metar/tafs you find on ADDS. However, weather is where you find it, and nothing handles it like a 747. X-band radar and a 39 inch dish is nice. This a Mooney, though, and I would only attempt the trip with no headwind, strictly VFR. ADS-B works for the first 1/3rd or 1/2 of the trip. Ditching is statisticaly more survivable than a day forest landing or a night forced landing. Just be prepared.

[meddesign]

Having flown down the coast of Mexico to Honduras, with associated stops for customs, then sleep in Tampico , I will never go back to Mexico. Police State. Nice people though. I have toyed with Key-West over Yucatan, landing in Belize. Good Luck

[201er]

My only point of advice is to plan the flight and make sure it is doable at higher fuel burn and allowing yourself slow down efficiency enhancing options if necessary. If you have to plan the flight at already 8 or 9 gph just to make legal reserve, that's cutting it too close. However, if you can plan for 10-12gph with legal reserve or greater, you can raise another 5-10 gallons easily in efficiency by slowing down early if needed.

If you already fly single pilot hard IFR in your Mooney, a gulf crossing is already less perilous of a risk in event of technical problems by comparison. Oh there I go opening another can of worms...

[DaV8or]

This a Mooney, though, and I would only attempt the trip with no headwind, strictly VFR. ADS-B works for the first 1/3rd or 1/2 of the trip. Ditching is statisticaly more survivable than a day forest landing or a night forced landing. Just be prepared.

If a headwind were to develop, is the plan to turn around? I guess it really depends on when and how strong the wind comes on. How much reserve do you think you'd have?