Mission pilots flying into Baja airports should be aware of increased
procedures.
1. Always file a "border crossing flight plan before
departing USA.
2. Filing IFR is preferable since there will
be automatic radar following into your first AOE or ‘airport of
entry”
3. Try to have 3 photocopies of all the following
documents BEFORE entering Mexico to save the airport and yourselves TIME on
your first ENTRY of the year into an AOE.
A. Mexican liability
insurance cover page and USA liability insurance. Some USA policies will
cover you in Baja, but for about $250.00 a year through BUSH PILOTS
INTERNATIONAL website, its well worth the piece of mind knowing you will
not be detained or the plane confiscated in case of incident.
B. Current REGISTRATION of aircraft (the FAA now reissues these
biannually or so.
C. Pilots license
D. Medical
certificate
E. Airworthiness Certificate.
4. Contact airport 10 miles out report position
ENSENADA.119.75 MMES after handoff from Tijuana approach. Expect a left
down wind landing to the west on RWY 29.
IFR approach is to
fly over the field at 4000 and hold until cleared for NDB or GPS approach.
IFR landings to minimums are conducted on RWY 1 if foggy.
5. After landing you will be told to proceed to the ramp
and take position number 1,2, or 3
Do not stop at fuel pit or
park elsewhere. This is a military airfield and they take their procedures
seriously. SHut down engine and take all aircraft paperwork with you to
the pilot dispatch desk at the far north of the terminal nest to the rest
rooms.
6. Fill our a close of flight
plan form and write all passenger names in the comments box.
7.
Take this form to the comandantes office Carlos Julian Calls is the top
man here at MMES. He was a jet pilot in the military and is
friendly.
Here you will present the copies of all the documents
above and he will type up a "multiple entry aircraft entrance form”. About
a 3-4 page document. Expect to pay $80-100 US dollars for this document
which is good for the caledar year ONLY.
8. Have your passengers pick up and fill out customs and immigration
form as you will.
9. You will then take your papers to the
last office to the south to show passports and flight plan close
document
10. You and your passengers will fill our the
tourist Visa cards as mentioned in the small office on the east wall
adjacent to the comandantes office. They wil scan in each persons passport
and charge only the non-pilot passengers. Make sure a pilot who is your
passenger is filled out in the landing form as the official co pilot to
avoid the fee of $25-30 entry visa. PILOTS DO NOT GET CHARGED.
11. The customs and immigration people will scan your luggage on the
Xray belt.
12. Once all stamps are on all three forms of the
close flight plan form you then RETURN to te original north desk for final
stamp and to collect the copies and you keep a copy with you.
At this point you may reload passengers, taxi to
refuel, and depart for the next airport in Baja or stay there and taxi to
the parking area south of the main ramp behind the mechanics FBO where many
Cessna are parked. This has a lot of gravel and no tie downs. Bring two
sets of chocks.
GUARD your aircraft
documents carefully.
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Pilots information corner
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