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.

6/24/14

We have continued to receive reports from members of going through Tijuana and being charged the Overtime fee by Immigration (Derecho de Tiempo Extraordinario). We are aware of what the rule states and how it is to be carried out but it is clear that there are several things, even with the new DGAC Multi Entry passenger process that are left open, so that it allows for misinterpretation or left up to the individual airports to "figure out". Hence, we have different airports enforcing the same rules in different ways. After speaking not only with Tijuana immigration supervisor but also with their main person in Mexico City, we offer the following:

In Tijuana, until they receive an official notice in writing from Mexico City, they are enforcing the rule in the following manner:

If you are flying an aircraft that is registered to a company/entity/partnership, anything that is not your personal name and you are flying with people who are not your family, they have no choice but to assume that you could potentially be flying those people for profit. If you present them with the Corporate permission letter that DGAC law requires you to carry, that states your flight is not for profit and that you are the owner, etc., they will accept the letter but must obtain validation of such a letter, from their main offices in Mexico City (which by the way, will never be open on the weekends) on a case by case basis. If they cannot get the "they are ok, let them pass", you will be assessed the fee. This is in AND out of the country if you are flying on the weekend.

Tijuana has adopted giving pilots the "option" of having their passengers walk across the border and then they would not be "transporting" people so they are not charged, but how many people want to do that?! We personally took the cases that were documented and reported to us to our meeting with Immigration in Mexico City and they apologized for the liberties that their officials were taking in enforcing the new regulations and indicated that without a doubt, they were in the wrong. They acknowledged that sometimes their officers were so afraid of not charging someone even if there was any doubt, because if it is due and they did not charge it, they have to pay out of their own pocket and could possibly be reprimanded. INAMI stated that they would be speaking with their Tijuana office and clarifying the procedures. To date, we continue getting reports of this nature out of that particular airport.

So, we will not say use or do not use a particular airport, but be aware that presently, this is how this rule is being enforced in Tijuana.

In the event that it is found that you were wrongfully charged, the process for getting your money back is complicated. It can be done in no other way than going personally and waiting at the Hacienda (IRS equivalent) office and making an appointment. Then, going back for the time and date that they give you the appointment for and complying with what they ask of you, to prove that you are due a refund.

We are following up with both Mexico City and Tijuana. If clarification is given and their enforcement of this law is amended, we will send an updated message.

Your BBP Team

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Our next mission trip to Rosarito Jan 3-5 will be partnering with Capilla Calvario Church Rosarito, Sierra Madre Rotarians, Rosarito Beach Rotarians, and Tijuana Rotarians to serve 130 seniors aged 65-103 who live in sub-standard conditions with few resources.

A pilot is needed to carry passengers and/or gifts for the seniors that weekend.  If you are a pilot with an airplane, or are qualified and current to fly one of the ministries aircraft, then please call Dr Budincich at 626-893-3025 for more imformation.

  Manos Con Alas Ministries is looking for IFR pilots with 400 plus hours TT who are willing to serve 1-6 times a year to fly their own aircraft, rented aircraft, or mission owned aircraft to Baja California for our regularly scheduled trips south of the border.

 

We are looking for pilots who have a calling to be in the service of others by the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.  Isaiah 58 servants with a great heart and talent to fly and use aviation talents for humanitarian aid and service.

 

We are looking for experienced pilots that can fly into dirt airstrips when needed, and fly non-precision approaches into occational low marine layer ceilings near costal airports in northern Baja.  VFR pilots are not discouraged from applying, but may have limitations in their ability to fly in all weather, and that may require cancellation of some flights, or weather delays.

 

400 plus hours is optimal for consideration, but time may be built as "second in command" with other pilots to learn the ROPES of a particular area or clinic location.  Low time pilots are encouraged to participate, but may be limited in PIC time with passengers, or could do cargo flights with no passengers when more equipment is needed to transport.

Cessna N6402N. Cessna Centurion model T210N

This specially configured 6 place retractible gear single is equipped with a Factory installed Robertson STOL kit (Short Takeoff Or Landing), stabillator abrasion boots, turbocharger, intercooler, Long range tanks. It can carry a payload of 1000 lbs of passengers and baggage after the tanks have been filled, and travel over 1000 miles before refueling. A workhorse of a bush aircraft.

 

Cessna N756DW Stationaire TU 206G

This powerful single engine turbocharged bush plane can lift 1000lbs including six adults and baggage with full fuel payload of 80 gallons, and land in a distance of only 500-600 feet. This is important when operating out of short dirt runways in Baja such as El Buen Pastor, Pedrigal, Vizcaino, Rancho Magana, Meling Ranch, Campo Lorenzo, or other strips we have operated out of. An extremely safe and simple aircraft with proven reliability.

 

This aircraft is owned and operated by Dr Kevin Baines, a JPL planetary scientist who donates his time for our missions.  This is a 4 seat "glass panel" aircraft with a composite hull and a 3 bladed prop.  This aircraft is not operating our of dirt airstrips now due to the restrictions of the owners, but is regularly used for teams into Ensenada and Tijuana.

 

Michael Budincich, D.C. flys Cessna T210 N6402N Oregon based,Cessna TU206 Cessna 756DW EMT based

Kevin Baines, PhD, CFII flys Cessna TU206 756DW, Cessna R182 N2333C, Cirrus and other Piper singles and twins. Based at EMT. Owns a Cirrus 22 and Piper Meridian

George Hines flys Cessna R182 N2333C  Currently out of area.

Hovannes Sarkissian flys Cessna 182, Cessna TU206  based at EMT

Grant Vorster,O.D. flys Cessna 172, Cessna 182  Based at Burmuda Dunes

Richard Smith flys our Cessna TU206G, along with Bonanzas, & C-182 based at EMT

Capt Jim Nielsen, American Airlines commercial pilot flys Piper 411 twin, Twin Commander, and Navion, and any other airplanes Based at Reid Hillview San Jose, and South County airport

Raymond Bouchereu, DC flys a Cessna T210 Based at La Verne-Brackett Field