APA Getway Flight to Guaymas, Mexico
February 5-6-7, 2016
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Host – Brad Lawrence
602-460-4286
A special thanks to APA member, Gene Bourdage in Guaymas, for all the local
assistance with the tower, hotels, rental cars, and the multi-entry permit process.
Organize Required Documentation
eAPIS registration
https://eAPIS.cbp.dhs.gov/
eAPIS Flight Plan Departure and Arrival w/ Confirmation #’s
Mexican eAPIS (Spreadsheet filed on line with email prior to departure)
Pilot’s Certificate and Medical Certificate (Not Valid for Student or Sport Pilots)
Registration & Airworthiness Certificate (No Temp Registration)
Notarized letter from the registered owner giving you permission to take the plane
into Mexico if you are not the person shown on the registration. (Corporation or LLC.)
Notarized letter for any Minors from BOTH Parents giving you permission to
take the a Minor into Mexico – Needs BOTH Parents – even if you are one of them.
US Insurance showing Coverage in Mexico or Mexico Insurance policy
U.S. Customs Decal
$27.50 Purchase via website https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/
Passport is REQUIRED, do not forget it.
Large ‘N’ Numbers - Required for US Return (12” Temporary OK)
Mode – C or S Transponder - Required to cross ADIZ
Put ALL your required forms and flight plans in a single binder (football). In addition to the annual permit
from Mexico, be sure you have the following additional documents organized and ready for your departure:
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Insurance Coverage in Mexico
You must have an USA insurance policy clearly stating you are covered in MEXICO
or a policy issued by a Mexican liability carrier before you travel to Mexico. First start
with your current insurance broker to get your policy to cover you in Mexico or add a
Mexico rider to your policy.
• If your domestic policy has coverage in Mexico, have your insurance agent send you a
cover letter in Spanish that explains you have coverage in Mexico (min $300K liability)
• If your domestic policy DOES NOT have coverage in Mexico, an add-on policy will be
necessary for coverage in Mexico. You can usually buy this for the whole year or for
the period of your trip. This policy or the cover letter should be written in Spanish.
2007: The Mexican government has made a recent change that allows US liability
insurance to provide protection when in the Country of Mexico. In order for this to be
accepted, the words "Liability Insurance in Mexico" must be stated in your policy and
that the limits of coverage are covered.
You must carry a hard copy of your insurance policy illustrating coverage Mexico!
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Flight Planning & Preparation
WAC Charts – CH 22 for Guaymas
Jeppesen Mexico Trip Kit ( IFR)
Airports of Mexico Flying Guide ($ 45.00 – Baja Bush Pilots)
This is a great guide for flying in Mexico – Photos of most landing strips, GPS
coordinates, Phone Numbers etc.
Baja Bush Pilots Website www.bushpilotsinternational.com/
Lots of latest information, Gas Prices & Availability, Chat room w/ lots of Mexico
experienced Pilots.
When preparing for your flight to Mexico, one of the first things you will want to
obtain is the appropriate aeronautical charts.
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File a USA Flight Plan
Call Flight Service 1 800 WXBRIEF (800 992-7433) and file your IFR or VFR flight plan. This is Lockheed Martin contracted flight service. Or file online. We recommend that all pilots either be on an IFR or VFR flight plan in U.S.
airspace. VFR flight plan requires the standard domestic format, IFR requires the ICAO format (go to the website and get instructions e.g. equip is very different.)
When you complete your flight plan, tell Flight Service that you need a “return customs notification” for the date of your return. (ADCUS in the remarks section (Advise Customs)
You must indicate the U.S. Airport of Entry to which you will be returning, generally Nogales (KOLS), Tucson (KTUS), Bisbee/ Douglas (KDUG), Douglas (KDGL) or Yuma (KYUM), and the time at which you anticipate you will return.
Flight Service will then notify Customs when to expect you. Call Prescott radio 122.4 to request updating customs if your ATA is > +/- 15 min.
The IFR or VFR flight plan to Mexico can be filed up to 22 hours in advance of border crossing (the usual flight plan limitation).
The return flight plan from Mexico to the US can be filed 30 days in advance. The Return Flight Plan should be scheduled for the days you expect to return.
eAPIS will not allow you to file for a return date later than expected.
FSS and eAPIS are not connected; FSS will not perform eAPIS updates for you. 5
Day of Departure
Passports REQUIRED for All Pilots & Passengers
Multi-Entry Permit or 2 sets of Required Documents (if first time for year)
Pilot’s License & Medical Certificate
Registration & Airworthiness Certificate
Notarized letter from the registered owner (if appropriate)
Mexico Insurance policy
Optional: Draft Copies or Completed Copies of MX Flight Plans etc.
Cash for Fuel & Fees w/ Small Bills – Do not expect much change
eAPIS filing (on eAPIS Website) for Departure and Return Print out and keep with you the eAPIS confirmation # for both flights
Mexican eAPIS, email the spreadsheet
Flight Plan and Return Flight Plan Filed w/ US Flight Service
WAC Chart 22, Mexico IFR Flight Pac and Baja Bush Airports Guide
Prop Lock, Tie Downs
2-4 Qrts of Oil, Basic Repair Tools.
Basic Survival Gear (Water or Land)
Backup Nav/Com Radio, GPS, Personal ELT etc.
Hats, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Water, Snacks, Camera, Proper Clothing
The following is a Check List for the Day of Departure:
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Flying across the ADIZ to Mexico
Open your Mexico IFR or VFR Flight Plan on the Ground or in the Air.
You will be provided a Discrete Transponder Code to Cross the ADIZ
If you are told to squawk 1200 before crossing the border, ask if you can keep your current code until reaching the border or call Prescott radio on 122.4 / 122.2 and request a new squawk code. If its cancelled in 10 miles of the Border it’s OK
If you land at a southern AZ a/p for fuel en route to Mexico, call FSS 800-992-7433 on the FBO phone, and they will give you a new squawk code.
You will be Dumped by US Controllers 1-10 miles before the Border.
As you cross the border heading south, call the nearest towered airport and report crossing the border.
Controllers in Mexico are excellent.
All speak English and will have little trouble understanding you if you speak slowly and distinctly.
When you call Mexican controllers, first state your N number and await a response.
Then state your type aircraft, departure point, destination, altitude and position.
Expect to repeat some information.
You will be given a squawk code and asked to report at various positions and then told when to leave frequency and the next frequency suggested.
Mexican controllers prefer that you speak English unless you are 100% fluent in Spanish.
Unless otherwise instructed, contact Mexican Towers 50 DME out.
The following is what you can expect as you fly across the USA ADIZ into Mexico:
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Mexico eAPIS
NOTE: (New as of September 2014)
Mexico eAPIS is similar to the US process, but it’s an Excel Spreadsheet.
It must be emailed to [email protected] within 24 hours of departure.
You must then re-send the same form to confirm your flight
to [email protected] 30 minutes prior to takeoff. You will receive a reply
from Mexican Immigration that the manifest has been received.
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See separate Excel File for Mexico eAPIS
US AOE Customs for Return
Airport Code City Hours (7 days) Phone 1 Phone 2
Bisbee/Douglas International KDUG Douglas 8AM-4PM 520.364.8486 #2 520.364.1250
Douglas Municipal KDGL Douglas 8AM-4PM 520.364.8486 #2 520.364.1250
Nogales International KOLS Nogales 8AM-4PM 520.375.5785
Scottsdale International KSDL Phoenix 9AM-7PM $50 Fee
Req pre-arrangement 480.312.8483 602.914-1400 ext 0
Sky Harbor International KPHX Phoenix 8:30AM-7:30PM
No private a/c on w/e
602.914.1400, ext 0
Soft Cargo / CBP office 602.392.4440 ext. 166
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway KIWA Phoenix
8:30AM-4:30pm M-F
Call 2 days ahead for
weekend service.
480.279.2928 602.763.6631
Tucson International KTUS Tucson 8AM-8PM
Call for after hrs service 520.799.8348 #5 520.799.8388 fax
Yuma International KNYL Yuma 8:30AM-4PM
Call for after hrs service 928.314.1295 928.941.5419
The local CBP office will see your flight planning on the eAPIS, but it would be appreciated for a call to the local office in order to have officers at the airport for your convenience. APIS filing >24hr in advance of landing helps to have an officer ready so you don’t have to wait on the ramp. Hours listed are normal hours. If you will be arriving outside these times call and let them know so they can be at the airport for you. (E.g. the Nogales CBP offices are manned 24hrs, but not necessarily at the airport location.) Verified numbers (Nov 2015)
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Typical Procedures for Your Flight
US eAPIS filings must be completed by you.
• Filed more than 60 minutes prior to ‘Departure’ (out) and ‘Arrival’ (back in)
• FSS is NOT connected to eAPIS. Don’t ask FSS to make changes in eAPIS
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US
Mexico
• File Flight plan for Departure and Arrival in advance with ADCUS (Advise Customs in remarks).
• Email Mexico eAPIS spreadsheet within 24 hrs of departure.
• File US eAPIS > 60 min prior to flight (Dept & Arr).
• Email Mexico eAPIS within 30 min of departure again.
Open flight plan
Get a squawk code
Alert ATC of your crossing
Contact first Mexican Tower
ID / Position report
Land at Guaymas
Go thru customs, etc.
• File Mexican Flight Plan
• Adjust US eAPIS if ANY changes are required
• Call US AOE Customs if return ETA is changed
Guaymas will issue a squawk code.
Radio Prescott 30 min. out and get a secure squawk (>9500’)
Land at AOE
Close your Mex flight plan
Go thru customs, etc.
Handoff to Hermosillo.
Direct you to contact Prescott Radio 122.4 (a little early)
(Your flight plans closes)
Multi-Entry Permit 2016
For the APA Getaway Flight to Guaymas we have the opportunity of sending our
Multi-Entry Permit application material ahead to Guaymas for pre-processing which
will save you a lot of time after landing in Guaymas. If you want to take advantage
of this generous offer:
Scan and email (preferably in one PDF file):
1. Airman Certificate
2. Medical Certificate
3. Aircraft Registration
4. Aircraft Airworthiness Certificate
5. Mexico/US Insurance Policy
6. Notarized copy of authorization to fly a/c, if it is not registered in your name.
The DGAC person down in Guaymas, Alvaro, will process the multi-entry permits you send
down prior to your arrival. He will be happy to assist you. Let him know you’re with the APA
and yoiur arrival date. Email address: [email protected]
11 DGAC - autoridad aeronáutica (Aviation Authority)
On-Airport Rental Car - Sixt
Taxi fares have been established by the local taxi union at $30/taxi from the airport
into San Carlos and the same returning. Taxi into Guaymas is less.
The Sixt Rental Car manager on site at the Guaymas airport is Karina Moran. She
will be happy to help the APA members when arriving in Feb 2016.
Karina Moran
Office: 622-222-5500 From the US start with 01152 then the number.
Cell: 622-139-0949 From the US start with 01152 then a 1 then the number.
(They have many cars including a 7 passenger Town & Country and a Suburban. Those
going to the Carnival parade should probably walk from the hotel because parking is at a
premium on the parade route.)
Brad Lawrence (Getaway host) will be organizing groups for the rental cars. If you
already are teaming with passengers in your planned rental car, let Brad know your
plans.
Welcome to Guaymas!
Slow Down, Relax, Treat the Mexicans with Respect, Enjoy the Experience The nicer you are the better their English is !!
Brad Lawrence APA Getaway Host (602) 460-4286 [email protected]
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