Crazy idea...

[yvesg]

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

Night VFR is allowed in Canada. Oscar, is there nice beaches around? Wife would not travel that far without a stop at the beach.

Yves

[sreid]

Sounds like an awesome adventure. I'm in, pending researching more details about the fees for permits, route planning, etc... I was looking into nearly this exact trip with a friend last winter, but we never followed through.

 

Steve

[Oscar Avalle]

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

Night VFR is allowed in Canada. Oscar, is there nice beaches around? Wife would not travel that far without a stop at the beach.

Yves

There are some nice beaches around...wife factor critical fornsuchnan endeavor

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[Oscar Avalle]

When might this adventure take place?

February 2014.

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[Hector]

776nm from Key West. Key West to Cancun is 353nm and could make for a nice fuel stop

[FoxMike]

Having planned several trips with a group through Latin America, let me make a few suggestions.  The first hurdle is make sure that your insurance includes Latin America and Mexico in your territorial limits.  My policy covers me in these areas but I know of policies that do not.  You will be renewing your policy some time in the next year so make sure you get coverage.  It is true that you can buy a Mexico policy but it is just an extra expense ($100.00).  Guatemala requires that you have insurance and will want to look at the policy when you arrive.  

 

Some of you know that Carnival (Mardi Gras) is a popular holiday in Mexico.  I think It starts around March 1st next year.  It used to be that Vera Cruz and Mazatlan were the big places to celebrate.  In the last decade more cities have gotten into the celebration.  I attended Carnival in Vera Cruz one year.  I had reserved a room about 6 months in advance and even then had trouble finding one.  Some of you will want to travel through Vera Cruz.  It is a good place for an overnight if you can find a room.  I do not know how much in advance of official start of the festivities the city fills up.  

 

Some were wondering about night flying in Mexico.  You can fly at night if you are on an instrument flight plan.  Not a great idea however as cab drivers seldom hang around smaller airports after dark and overtime charges for airport workers are surprising large.  

 

Since you have a lot of time to get prepared you might spend sometime looking at the new ICAO flight plan and learn the proper coding.  This is not a real big deal but something  you ought to be familiar with.  MAPA LOG had a good article on the subject several months ago.  Also, if you have not enrolled in EAPIS you need to get a password and setup an account.  To get started just "google" EAPIS.

 

Someone asked about routes.  To stay over lower ground head for Tapachula, Mx (MMTP) .  It is not a bad place for an overnight.  

 

Mexico has lots of fees.  You normally are charged for landing $7.00US.  You may also be charged a wing tax which is added to your fuel bill.  The size of the fee is based on wing span.  This is levied by some airports not others.  On international legs (when you leave the country) you are usually are charged a head tax for each person in the airplane.  Cost is $20-25US.  Tourist cards are usually $25.00US.  The big one is the multi entry authorization which is about $50.00.  You would think with a name like that it would be good for use on the way home but you would be wrong.  Plan to buy one each direction.  Several years ago I watched Jack McCormick (Baja Pilots) argue the point with the Airport Comandante in MMTP.  No contest we paid the fee.  

 

Plan on about an hour for the clerk at any AOE to get the paperwork completed, sent to Mexico City and their authorization to get back.  BTW you will need a copy of your insurance so the multi entry can be completed.  If you have not traveled Mexico do not be entirely put off by all of this.  Once all the fees are paid there are a lot of places to go and things to do. You might spend some search time on the internet discovering some things you would want to do.

 

Another option is to overfly Mexico.  I have done it leaving McAllen, TX and flying the airways to Guatemala City.  Following the airways it was 6 hours.  I was flying a T210 with tip tanks.  My wingman was flying a 231 and added 60+ gals when we got there.  On the last leg we were assigned 16K so O2 was necessary.  

 

One last comment, it was mentioned that Mexico has an agreement that Guatemala about Technical Stops for Guatemalan pilots.  This may be true but I doubt they would extend to US pilots.  According to ICAO treaties any pilot should be allowed to stop for fuel, or weather/mechanical problems without incurring charges.  I have been flying in Mx. for 30 years and have never seen this happen.  I have had other countries allow me to stop overnight using my pilots license to enter the country but not Mexico.  My experience has been as soon as you land they close your flight plan and you are then subject to fees.  I do not mean to throw a bucket of cold water but better to know in advance what to expect.  In spite of the likely hassle in Mexico the trip will be worth the effort.  Guatemala has a lot to offer.  I have been there 4 or 5 times and am tempted to do it again.  

[sreid]

Any interest in doing this around the week of March 17 - 21 in 2014? Just a preliminary thought, as one of the gals who would be flying with me would be on break from university that week.

Steve

[jlunseth]

Oscar your biggest problem may be that you are inviting Mooney pilots.  None of us are attracted to challenges of course!  You are going to have the whole forum tenting in your back yard.

 

I will be one of them.

[marks]

Double-check your insurance before you go.

[Oscar Avalle]

Oscar your biggest problem may be that you are inviting Mooney pilots. None of us are attracted to challenges of course! You are going to have the whole forum tenting in your back yard.

I will be one of them.

That would be great! Btw I am going to suggest some dates soon. Most likely end of February beginning of march 2014.

I am insured through AOPA and it covers Central America.

[Oscar Avalle]

Having planned several trips with a group through Latin America, let me make a few suggestions. The first hurdle is make sure that your insurance includes Latin America and Mexico in your territorial limits. My policy covers me in these areas but I know of policies that do not. You will be renewing your policy some time in the next year so make sure you get coverage. It is true that you can buy a Mexico policy but it is just an extra expense ($100.00). Guatemala requires that you have insurance and will want to look at the policy when you arrive.

Some of you know that Carnival (Mardi Gras) is a popular holiday in Mexico. I think It starts around March 1st next year. It used to be that Vera Cruz and Mazatlan were the big places to celebrate. In the last decade more cities have gotten into the celebration. I attended Carnival in Vera Cruz one year. I had reserved a room about 6 months in advance and even then had trouble finding one. Some of you will want to travel through Vera Cruz. It is a good place for an overnight if you can find a room. I do not know how much in advance of official start of the festivities the city fills up.

Some were wondering about night flying in Mexico. You can fly at night if you are on an instrument flight plan. Not a great idea however as cab drivers seldom hang around smaller airports after dark and overtime charges for airport workers are surprising large.

Since you have a lot of time to get prepared you might spend sometime looking at the new ICAO flight plan and learn the proper coding. This is not a real big deal but something you ought to be familiar with. MAPA LOG had a good article on the subject several months ago. Also, if you have not enrolled in EAPIS you need to get a password and setup an account. To get started just "google" EAPIS.

Someone asked about routes. To stay over lower ground head for Tapachula, Mx (MMTP) . It is not a bad place for an overnight.

Mexico has lots of fees. You normally are charged for landing $7.00US. You may also be charged a wing tax which is added to your fuel bill. The size of the fee is based on wing span. This is levied by some airports not others. On international legs (when you leave the country) you are usually are charged a head tax for each person in the airplane. Cost is $20-25US. Tourist cards are usually $25.00US. The big one is the multi entry authorization which is about $50.00. You would think with a name like that it would be good for use on the way home but you would be wrong. Plan to buy one each direction. Several years ago I watched Jack McCormick (Baja Pilots) argue the point with the Airport Comandante in MMTP. No contest we paid the fee.

Plan on about an hour for the clerk at any AOE to get the paperwork completed, sent to Mexico City and their authorization to get back. BTW you will need a copy of your insurance so the multi entry can be completed. If you have not traveled Mexico do not be entirely put off by all of this. Once all the fees are paid there are a lot of places to go and things to do. You might spend some search time on the internet discovering some things you would want to do.

Another option is to overfly Mexico. I have done it leaving McAllen, TX and flying the airways to Guatemala City. Following the airways it was 6 hours. I was flying a T210 with tip tanks. My wingman was flying a 231 and added 60+ gals when we got there. On the last leg we were assigned 16K so O2 was necessary.

One last comment, it was mentioned that Mexico has an agreement that Guatemala about Technical Stops for Guatemalan pilots. This may be true but I doubt they would extend to US pilots. According to ICAO treaties any pilot should be allowed to stop for fuel, or weather/mechanical problems without incurring charges. I have been flying in Mx. for 30 years and have never seen this happen. I have had other countries allow me to stop overnight using my pilots license to enter the country but not Mexico. My experience has been as soon as you land they close your flight plan and you are then subject to fees. I do not mean to throw a bucket of cold water but better to know in advance what to expect. In spite of the likely hassle in Mexico the trip will be worth the effort. Guatemala has a lot to offer. I have been there 4 or 5 times and am tempted to do it again.

Thank you for the details about Mexico. When I flew down here from the US I decided to avoid Mexico and flew key west guatemala non stop. I still had to pay for the overflight but no landing fees...

Also you have to request landing permits and get them before you enter the country. Not too complicated. But if you don't do it..your plane may be confiscated.

[OR75]

anyone going ?