Flying to Mexico

FlyingScot

FlyingScot

Spanish Proficient
My new job will have me flying to Mexico a lot part 91. I need to figure it out by Saturday for a trip to San Felipe with 3 more trips in December alone. i have applied for an eAPIS account and have read the AOPA article on mexico flying. I would appreciate any other advice on how to go about getting in and out of Mexico, things like who to "tip" to make sure my paperwork is correct. i was told wearing a pilots uniform made things easier but this was from a very old pilot.

Extra credit for suggestions on where to stay in Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel.
 
FlyingScot said:
My new job will have me flying to Mexico a lot part 91. I need to figure it out by Saturday for a trip to San Felipe with 3 more trips in December alone. i have applied for an eAPIS account and have read the AOPA article on mexico flying. I would appreciate any other advice on how to go about getting in and out of Mexico, things like who to "tip" to make sure my paperwork is correct. i was told wearing a pilots uniform made things easier but this was from a very old pilot.

Extra credit for suggestions on where to stay in Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel.
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What type of aircraft? Have you considered getting the first trip "handled" by a company like Universal? It might be overkill, but we usually like to have a trip to an unfamiliar destination handled prior to doing it ourselves.
 
Try to talk the boss into flying into Cabo San Jose (MMSD) instead of Cabo San Lucas (MMSL). Services at MMSD are way better.

We stay at the Hilton Los Cablos Beach & Golf Resort. Its really nice and you get a margarita on checking but the down side is its pretty far away from any action in town.

http://www.hiltonloscabos.com/

The eapis web page can be really irritating the first few times through so make sure you don't leave it till the last minute.

like C150J said a handler could be a good idea first time around.
 
M
samstanton said:
Try to talk the boss into flying into Cabo San Jose (MMSD) instead of Cabo San Lucas (MMSL). Services at MMSD are way better.

We stay at the Hilton Los Cablos Beach & Golf Resort. Its really nice and you get a margarita on checking but the down side is its pretty far away from any action in town.

http://www.hiltonloscabos.com/

The eapis web page can be really irritating the first few times through so make sure you don't leave it till the last minute.

like C150J said a handler could be a good idea first time around.
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We stay at the Hilton as well, I think being away from the action downtown is an upside. 6 year old meth heads selling dolphin shaped whistles? No thanks.

+1 on getting a handler until you get the routine.
 
FlyingScot said:
My new job will have me flying to Mexico a lot part 91. I need to figure it out by Saturday for a trip to San Felipe with 3 more trips in December alone. i have applied for an eAPIS account and have read the AOPA article on mexico flying. I would appreciate any other advice on how to go about getting in and out of Mexico, things like who to "tip" to make sure my paperwork is correct. i was told wearing a pilots uniform made things easier but this was from a very old pilot.

Extra credit for suggestions on where to stay in Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel.
Click to expand...

Wearing the uniform definitely makes things a lot easier. We use handlers at AMF of course. You will have to go to the flight office and manually open and close your flight plans. It's a huge PITA, but it shouldn't be so bad for you since you won't be having to make 30 minute turns.
 
I think people make a much bigger deal of this than it is. I have done both Mexico and the Bahamas. When I did the Bahamas, it was multiple back and forths in one day. Probably about 9 trips all together. eAPIS is a PITA, but it's more time consuming than anything. Just make sure in Mexico you grease everyones hands, and it makes the whole process go much smoother. And make sure you tell your boss that that needs to happen.
 
...you're not Mexican?

We stayed at the Hilton, too. Nice, pretty, expensive. *shrug* I liked it. I can go get drunk out of my mind and arrested at home. Wow, speaking of which, look at the time...
 
KLB said:
Wearing the uniform definitely makes things a lot easier.
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The person I was told about this was a very old shool, okay very old. He told me a story about relaying this to a friend who went to a costume shop and rented a Generalisimo costume with huge shoulder boards. He was saluted every time he walked into a building.
 
It also largely depends on where you're going in Meheecoe. Saltillo or God Forbid Nuevo Laredo are not Cabo or Mexico City. I few on-demand freight down there a few times back in the day and the experience was worlds apart from landing at Cabo in a Jeeeeeeeeeetttttttt. At Cabo I was greated by some Official-Type Muckity-Muck who conveniently seemed also to be our handler (news to me!) He let the pax deplane and leave, THEN he allowed the customs lady to go spend, as God is my witness, about 30 seconds in the cabin. Then we shook hands, he wished us a lovely stay, and he left. I can't be certain, but I don't remember anyone looking at my passport other than to see that it existed.

At the exciting Freight Garden Spots, I was usually met by, no kidding, a bunch of dudes with ARs in a jeep. They were nice enough, but there's something about a bunch of guys with automatic weapons that just puts one off. I was also given a lockbox with a grand in cash for uh "unforeseen emergencies".

Cabo might as well have been San Diego with better beaches. The Freight parts were more like Beirut with newer cars.

PS. Mexico is fun because everyone calls you "Captain". Whether you're the Captain or not. I was actually told "Ah, Captain Badenov, we have your rooms ready, if they are not to your liking, we will have the maid shot at dawn." Well, it was something like that. You are a Bigshot. Enjoy it, because sooner or later you're going to wind up back in the US...
 
Boris Badenov said:
At the exciting Freight Garden Spots, I was usually met by, no kidding, a bunch of dudes with ARs in a jeep. They were nice enough, but there's something about a bunch of guys with automatic weapons that just puts one off. I was also given a lockbox with a grand in cash for uh "unforeseen emergencies".
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I forgot about that part. It's always interesting when none of them speak English and they're trying to communicate with me.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Cabo might as well have been San Diego with better beaches. The Freight parts were more like Beirut with newer cars.
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I have only been once but found more people speak English in Cabo than in San Diego. Also the prices are higher. It felt more like being in Miami than anywhere else in Mexico I have been.


TFaudree_ERAU said:
Don't bother with the CBP eAPIS site to create the manifests. Buy eAPIS Tool (google it). WELL worth the money.
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Yep I am already over using the eAPIS site. I have tried to create a user account twice now and have not gotten a confirmation letter, back. The eAPISTool software seems a little steep for what you are getting. Maybe I am just jealous wishing I could create a program, sit back and reap in the cash.

I have contacted Universal Flight Planning and waiting to see back on what they can do for me. I might just be doing it full time if it can expedite matters. Is there any software to help me plan the trips into Mexico? I have Jepp FD which is pretty useless beyond drawing a line on a chart and displaying approach plates. I also have a paper chart but adding up the airways is a tedious process. Will I be able to fly Direct in Mexico or will I need to follow the airways?
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
Don't bother with the CBP eAPIS site to create the manifests. Buy eAPIS Tool (google it). WELL worth the money.
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Would be a lot better if the CBP eAPIS saved passenger info like the crew stuff. It can majorly suck if you're under a time crunch and you need to put 9 passengers into the system.

I never really understood why it's called a notice of arrival/departure? You still have to call and 'notify' them of your arrival, despite you giving very specific info in the eAPIS about border crossing location / time.
 
ryan1234 said:
Would be a lot better if the CBP eAPIS saved passenger info like the crew stuff. It can majorly suck if you're under a time crunch and you need to put 9 passengers into the system.
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I finally got on with eAPIS turns out my gmail acct was just tossing my registration confirmation. When I was playing with it last night it had a place where I can look at previous flights as a template for future or return flights and pick and choose the routes and players from previous flights. Maybe they have just upgraded the eAPIS system. I found fltplan.com works well with Mexico flight planning, once I got the ICAO information plugged in correctly. Just in time as I am flying to Mexicali tonight.

Anyone know how to update departure or border crossing times before launch or in the air?
 
We use ICCS for a lot of ground handling in Mexico. They also take care of filing the flight plan too. You also need to make sure you have insurance and permits to operate in Mexico. I am asked to provide copies almost everytime I go there. Never under estimate how far a cold bottle of water or coke can go to a ground handler on a hot day either. It can be good as a small tip sometimes depending on what is being done. Also don't forget to make sure your pax have PASSPORTS and you have given customs a two hour notice prior to your arrival. ADCUS no longer works on your flight plan.
 
FlyingScot said:
Anyone know how to update departure or border crossing times before launch or in the air?
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It's not necessary. As long as your departure and arrival DATE doesn't change. You also don't need to resubmit if you drop a passenger from the trip; only if you change crew or add passengers.
 
Bandit_Driver said:
We use ICCS for a lot of ground handling in Mexico. They also take care of filing the flight plan too. You also need to make sure you have insurance and permits to operate in Mexico. I am asked to provide copies almost everytime I go there. Never under estimate how far a cold bottle of water or coke can go to a ground handler on a hot day either.
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I've been asked about insurance and permits a time of two.

Other pilots and I routinely takea ground handler out to lunch.
 
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