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  #1  
Old 02-15-2012, 03:25 PM
cholladay cholladay is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 171
Default Refueling in Mexico enroute to Belize

I am thinking about flying my RV from San Antonio to Belize. I was wondering if anyone has done this. I am planning on stoping in Vera Cruz Mexico (east coast) to refuel. My main question is. Do I have to jump through all the hoops(customs) in Mexico just to take on fuel? I am aware that I will have to get Mexico added to my Insurance. Anyone have any experience stopping just for fuel?
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Heritage Airpark TE86
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  #2  
Old 02-15-2012, 04:39 PM
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Ron Lee Ron Lee is offline
 
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I would consult

http://www.bajabushpilots.com/

Plan on all the issues with any new country.

AOPA may also have useful info.
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  #3  
Old 02-15-2012, 06:51 PM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default YES this is that RV-10

You must jump through all the hoops and I would check into the insurance requirements. When I used to fly down there a lot. I had to buy Mexican Insurance from a company that sells Mexican insurance (I believe the company name was McAfee & Edwards), have 12" registration numbers, a radio station license, file a border crossing flight plan, process through customs, process through imagration and file a flight plan for every flight in mexican airspace at an airport of entry even if the flight is a departure flight from Mexico. Really take it seriously because they can take some very aggressive action. I was always very straight with them, showed proper respect and never had a problem. Plan well and it will be a pleasant experience. A check with AOPA on current requirements is a good idea as well.

As Ron Lee suggests the Baja Bush Pilots go there all the time and keeping it open and an enjoyable experience is the reason for their existence - an obvious good contact.

Bob Axsom

Last edited by Bob Axsom : 02-15-2012 at 06:55 PM.
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  #4  
Old 02-15-2012, 07:06 PM
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Jamie Jamie is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,295
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There is a gentleman on this forum who has made multiple trips down through Central and South America in his RV. He has posted pictures and write-ups from time-to-time. Unfortunately I had no luck locating his posts in my quick search, but he's probably the guy you really want to speak with.

Edit: Found it!

Here's one of his posts. Warning: his pictures will make any adventure-seeking pilot just a little jealous.

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...=south+america
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Last edited by Jamie : 02-15-2012 at 07:08 PM.
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  #5  
Old 02-15-2012, 09:06 PM
don.olandese don.olandese is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 193
Default me too

chad - i'll be watching for your descriptions of your adventures and hoping to pick up some points on how to do something similar within the next year or two. our southernmost destination would be Panama. we are just settling into a place at Elm Creek about ten miles from you, with our RV9. post your adventures, please!
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  #6  
Old 02-16-2012, 05:43 AM
cholladay cholladay is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 171
Default

Maybe I just need to invest in tip tanks and some good pee bottles and bypass customs.
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  #7  
Old 02-16-2012, 06:58 AM
txnbuilder txnbuilder is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 66
Default This from an honest-to-gosh Mexican

I lived in Mexico about half of my life, speak Spanish fluently, have family there, and would love to just jump on the plane, fly 4-6 hours, spend one night and come home.

Instead, I drop about $1.5k or more to fly commercially every time my wife and I want to go visit.

I know plenty of people who have successfully flown there and back, had lots of fun, no problems, etc. I also know this is a country where the law is not what's written in the books, but what the guy with the gun and the uniform says it is. On top of that, there is a full-blown drug war going on, and the police/army's attitude towards general aviation seems to be that you must be running drugs unless you convince them otherwise. It only takes p**sing off the wrong guy one time for things to get bad in a hurry.

If I had been flying 10 years ago, *maybe* I would consider it. Now...no way I'd risk losing an RV I spent years building to some thug with a badge who likes my airplane, my money, or both.

Just my own perspective on things, which I admit is certainly biased -- I bet you can probably make it Veracruz, fill up and leave with no issues

Luis
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  #8  
Old 02-16-2012, 07:12 AM
diamond diamond is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 710
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I agree with Luiz for all the reasons he mentioned. I would consider flying in to and over Mexico in a small aircraft a high stakes adventure in these current times. How about flying to Destin Florida or the Keys instead? How about the Dominican Republic? The point is that there are plenty of great beach locations with far less risk involved.
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  #9  
Old 02-16-2012, 07:29 AM
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airguy airguy is offline
 
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Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
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Luiz and others - what about an overflight of Mexico to another destination, assuming you have the range? Barring an equipment failure that would result in a forced landing, are there major issues with that?
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  #10  
Old 02-16-2012, 10:01 AM
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Ron Lee Ron Lee is offline
 
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Here is a link to the 2012 BBP CenAm trip

http://www.bajabushpilots.com/docume...f139e978e6.pdf

I would have to check prior year events to see if they are deliberately bypassing mainland Mexico (see page 4)

I would also look into a Key West (or close by) departure over Cuba to Cozumel. Then on to Belize. If you consider that option, contact these folks for a Cuba overflight permit

http://www.caribbeanflyingadventures.com/

I do not know if there is an overflight corridor near the western end of Cuba. There is one almost directly between Key West and the Cayman Islands. Did that a few years ago. Neat trip.

Last edited by Ron Lee : 02-16-2012 at 10:03 AM.
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