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Crazy idea...

Oscar Avalle

By Oscar Avalle
in General Mooney Talk

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Oscar Avalle Grand Master

Oscar Avalle

Posted
Posted

Today I met with a bunch of friends from our flying club here in Guatemala. I talked about our mooneyspace side and the idea came up of inviting our mooney friends to a fly in in Guatemala in February of 2014. I know it sounds crazy but they offered to help with permits and visits, free parking etc.

So here goes a crazy invitation for a fly in in Guatemala in February 2014. Anybody interested?

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FoxMike Proficient

FoxMike

Posted
Posted

Crazy Idea may not be so crazy.  Back in 1995 a group of us were headed to Costa Rica for a house warming of a home that a friend had just built in Flamingo Beach.  We flew into Chetumal, MX where they were having a air show.  We met a group of folks from the Guatemalan Aero Club who invited us to visit them the next year.  We took them up on the offer and were very glad we did.  We used the airplanes to travel from Guatemala City to Tikal and Rio Dulce.  We chartered a bus (Clark tours) to show us the rest of the country.  We were a group of about 20.  I have been back 4 or 5 times since.  A couple of days in La Antigua is superb.  Paperwork associated with a trip like this is a hassle but the trip makes it worth it.  Someone with good organizational skills needs to step foreword.  Divers might want to head over to Roatan for some first rate diving afterwards.

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Oscar Avalle Grand Master

Oscar Avalle

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  • Author
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How safe is it ?

I heard Guatemala is pretty rough ...

It is rough, but if you follow some basic rules and don't visit the wrong parts of town...no too bad.

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Oscar Avalle Grand Master

Oscar Avalle

Posted
  • Author
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Crazy Idea may not be so crazy. Back in 1995 a group of us were headed to Costa Rica for a house warming of a home that a friend had just built in Flamingo Beach. We flew into Chetumal, MX where they were having a air show. We met a group of folks from the Guatemalan Aero Club who invited us to visit them the next year. We took them up on the offer and were very glad we did. We used the airplanes to travel from Guatemala City to Tikal and Rio Dulce. We chartered a bus (Clark tours) to show us the rest of the country. We were a group of about 20. I have been back 4 or 5 times since. A couple of days in La Antigua is superb. Paperwork associated with a trip like this is a hassle but the trip makes it worth it. Someone with good organizational skills needs to step foreword. Divers might want to head over to Roatan for some first rate diving afterwards.

Well if there is interest I would volunteer to help. Paperwork for the trip is not too complicated. I have done it and it is doable. Also the Aeroclub has volunteered to help. I could also talk to the local authorities to facilitate the process.

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Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

What's a good route for a C-model? I'm guessing south to TX and along the coast, with a fuel stop somewhere in Mexico? At least, for those of us east of the Rockies and north of Florida.

Mooneymite Grand Master

Mooneymite

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Here's an old approach plate, but look at the MSA's.......Beautiful in the daytime, but it can be challenging night, or IMC.

 

.1065967142-MGGT-570.png

1964-M20E Grand Master

1964-M20E

Posted
Posted

Intersting and with a group it would be safe and more than doable.  Maybe we could arragne some type of group loose formation if VFR conditions.

 

406ELT? I assume it is requried.

OR75 Veteran

OR75

Posted
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Here's an old approach plate, but look at the MSA's.......Beautiful in the daytime, but it can be challenging night, or IFR.

 

Outside the US (not sure about Canada), night VFR is prohibited.   

Mooneymite Grand Master

Mooneymite

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Outside the US (not sure about Canada), night VFR is prohibited.   

Really?

 

I thought it was dependent on the country.

 

I'm sure I've heard VFR aircraft running all about in foreign lands at night.  News to me.

tls pilot Rising Star

tls pilot

Posted
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It is a wonderful place. I have flown the Mooney there many times over the last 15 yrs. The Aeroclub also has slightly cheaper fuel.

Used to be a member in the aero club that had a 231, he sold it several years ago. The paper work on landing and departure can be painful, but with the help of the Aero Club you can do well.

Both Tikal and MGGT are safe airports. As always, have plenty of fuel on arrival as it is only one runway and we all know runways are shut down for various reasons.

Lastly, for those that cannot make it non stop from Key West or the Texas border, the Aero Club used to have an agreement with Mexico, Chetemal and Cozumel for a safety Fuel stop. This enabled you to land without any customs, buy fuel and take off.

You will need to obtain in advance the document, if still available, from the Aero Club. I never personally used it, but know others have and it was accepted as described by Mexico.

OR75 Veteran

OR75

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Really?

 

I thought it was dependent on the country.

 

I'm sure I've heard VFR aircraft running all about in foreign lands at night.  News to me.

it is dependent on the country and each has its own domestic rules (I have not looked into the world's 193 countries).

 

Certainly in Europe and Mexico where I flew, you cannot fly night VFR.

Oscar Avalle Grand Master

Oscar Avalle

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here's an old approach plate, but look at the MSA's.......Beautiful in the daytime, but it can be challenging night, or IMC.

.

Hi guys

Great to hear that there are other crazy guys like myself around! It would be great if we could pull this off. I am out of town until Monday. Once I am back I will provide you with some additional information about the flight and procedures. for example, Indeed VFR at night is not allowed. The ILS approach is not that bad. It just looks bad on the charts. I never had an issue getting into mggt.

Oscar

Joe Zuffoletto Mentor

Joe Zuffoletto

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Ran the legs through ForeFlight under current conditions. These numbers are for my Acclaim at 19,000' and 190KTAS, running 50LOP (15gph):

 

KAPA-KLRD: 770nm; 3h50m; 58gal (10kt tailwind)

KLRD-MMVR: 535nm; 2h45m; 41gal (5kt tailwind)

MMVR-MGGT: 425nm; 2h09m; 32gal (7kt tailwind)

 

Total: 1730nm; 8h44m; 131gal

Awful_Charlie Mentor

Awful_Charlie

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it is dependent on the country and each has its own domestic rules (I have not looked into the world's 193 countries).

 

Certainly in Europe and Mexico where I flew, you cannot fly night VFR.

Europe is not joined up yet - that is the aim of SESAR which is being worked on, and that means at the moment it is all a bit of a mess.  For instance, the UK does not have night VFR, but then you don't need an IR to fly IFR (on the other hand, it also means if you are over 2t MTOW, you get a bill!).  France allows night VFR.....  :huh:

 

Often the main problem is finding an airport with lights that has reasonable fees though :angry:

Bennett Mentor

Bennett

Posted
Posted

Sounds like a great idea. I've been to Antigua and I would really like to go there again - especially in my Mooney.

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