Baha California Anyone?

We used to have a member that lived down there. I think he's since sold his Mouse and I think dropped out of BAC. If someone can remember his name we should have his last address.

I bet Tim Flight remembers who I'm talking about. Thinke he had a continental powered bird.
 
It was Allen Mason but our records still show an address down in Mexico.

I think he moved back up to the states.

Maybe someone will see this and know how to contact Allen.

He'd probably be willing to help.

Cloyd
 
I spent some time in Mexico (6 years) and it is pretty user friendly place to fly into. There is some expenses, but not much. A place that is a popular fly in this time of year though May is Rocky Point (Puerta Penasco). They have a wide variety of places to stay on the beach. The airport is a port of entry and I believe they have fuel now. I was planning to check it out as it's only an hour or so from 57AZ by Sierra. If there are people interested in this, I'll do some research and report.

Marty Vanover
Phoenix, Az.
 
When flying to Mexico (or anywhere South of the Border) Baja Bush Pilots (http://www.bajabushpilots.com/) is an invaluable organization to belong to as a resource.

Membership is $49/yr and includes benefits similar to BAC including discounted Mexican Liability Insurance, hotel and resort discounts at BBP associate members, and full access to the web site including forums and good, current information on things like airport conditions, fuel availability, etc.

Like AOPA, BBP actively lobbies for the interests of their members doing what they can especially on the South side of the Border, to keep flying affordable and easier. They've had many successes with DGAC in preventing, undoing or mitigating some of the more painful things that come down from Mexico City.

For $120 you can get their adventure kit which includes the 1st years membership, their excellent loose leaf bound Mexican Airports guide, the Mexican WAC of your choice, one more darn hat, and some other useful references (see https://id298.securedata.net/bajabu...action=category&previd=bestsellers&prevstart=.).
 
mgooderum said:
When flying to Mexico .....
Membership is $49/yr and includes benefits similar to BAC......

For $120 you can get their adventure kit ......
Click to expand...

I think a "fly-down" is a fantastic idea but I had to chuckle as I saw Gooderum posting membership fees and costs for adventure kits, all reasonable I'm sure, but with this group.....ROTFLOL!

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

But, seriously, I would definitely be interested in a trip to Mexico. I was interested in the Bahama trip but as was pointed out, it's a long way from the west. I have done it once from Salt Lake City to Marsh Harbour and it was a blast.

Great idea Hifiguy! Why don't you head things up to get the ball rolling!?!
 
Mexico

I've never flown down into Mexico, which is kind of hard to believe with as long as I have been flying around here. I have acquaintances who have done so and others who do it regularly, so working out the issues should not be too hard.

I'm happy to have HiFfiguy take the lead and perhaps Chris and I can try to feed in whatever information we can dig up. Let me know what I can do to help otherwise.

I would be looking for a fairly inproved strip for the Duchess. I'm not really interested in risking it to a rough landing strip.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley
 
The organizer for the 2005 whale watching trip was Carl Foster. I was very interested in going, but couldn't make it and did the Alaska trip instead. I even bought the insurance rider!

I still have copies of all his emails if anyone is interested. He had flown the trip several times and knew the procedures. If he is still around (I think he moved to a Cherokee Six), he would be a great asset.
 
Wow...

HiFiGuy! This one sounds interesting.. especially to a SanDiego born and raised couple displaced into FRIGID North east Oregon. We travelled this area frequently in the 70s and 80s, and love the culture and know it to be a friendly place. If you want culture, look no further. I would want to know more about the strip (thx Dan for taking the flak) and such. The area to the north ... like Scammon's Lagoon, LaBufadora and others offer absolutely fantastic SCUBA adventures, and east to Mulege and La Paz also great rainforest adventures. I would seriously consider at trip outta the cold to ol Mexico if I knew a little more!! May even pick up sme friends in IB on the way. We will watch this thread for sure!


How's the Instrument going? Lovin that new Sierra (Oh yeah.. and that so new baby).. Sell the old one? (plane .... not baby)
 
Flying in Mexico can be a blast, but it's also not 100% like flying up here. Besides the regulatory bits (customs, insurance, no night VFR) the usual assumptions about things like runway condition and fuel availability don't apply. Baja in particular is can be pretty weak in this area.

There are very few airports in the middle of Baja and AvGas availability is poor. Part of the problem is administrative - in Mexico the public airports are run by DGAC and the smaller ones have very little administrative autonomy. They get a budget to buy fuel and most of the money they take in goes back to Mexico City. They generally have limited ability to buy additional fuel on their own authority even if they have the $$ or the revenue forecast is above plan.

Staying farther north closer to the border it's a little less of an issue, but often it can be a bit dicey working out a route for a 400-500nm range bird that gets you all the way to La Paz or Cabo. In particular San Felipe is often out of AvGas and is pretty much an essential gateway airport to the penninsula proper if you want to avoid a long overwater leg crossing the Sea of Cortez.

On the flip side there are some great fly in destinations including a few that are almost exclusively served by air, what passes for "road" access in some of these places is marginal at best.
 
As some of you know there has been a group of us that go down to Mexico every year to pet whales. We have done this for about the last 3 years. We have had as many as 4 musketeers and 1 cessna 2 years ago. Planning is everything when going to Mexico. It is not difficult and the paperwork is pretty cut and dried if you have done it once. We have a pretty good system now. If anyone is interested please let me know and I will get back with you. We are planning this years trip March 8th 2007 until March 10th. We usually fly to Guymas as the first fuel stop and port of entry. Then across the Sea of Cortez to a place called Mulege to spend the night. The next morning we fly across the Baja to Lagoona San Ignacio on the Pacific side where the whales migrate to. Mulege and Lagoona San Ignacio are hard packed dirt strips that are kept in good shape. We usually fly down to Loretto for fuel and stay a night or 2 to eat and relax. That is our check out point when leaving Mexico also. I will also be going in January to Cabo for a week taking some family. What a blast!!!
 
I would be happy to organize something, but would be more than willing to lend a hand to someone with more experience. Thom, still have the musketeer, and it's been getting flown a bit while the Sierra is in shop. I discovered city of Oceano, airport is right on the Beach. While getting a ubg-16 installed, wouldn't ya know it, had to have exhaust rebuilt, fuel sellector rebuilt (Thanks Mike R.!) and a few other squaks.

So... how to fit a 8'6" surf board into sierra.
 
Fold down the back of the third row seats and fit a shelf over the autopilot. Theres a ton of length available without fouling any control cables. (or put a hinge in the middle of the surfboard!)
 
What about BAC Fest 2008 in Baja.

Or maybe more realistically a trip to Baja either right before or right after BAC Fest 2008.
 
BAC Fest

A side trip before or after might be interesting. If we can pull off a Baja trip in 2007, that will give us the experience.

HifiGuy: Helping is fine. What we ned to do is identify any BAC members who have experience already. So, BAC members, let us know.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley
 
I was thinking same thing Dan, about a side trip, to gain familiarity. A quick run down to Ensenada for Lobster and Fish Tacos would probably be pretty painless. It looks like Brown Field in SanDiego is a convenient departure point, and Ensenada is a port of entry. I am almost possitive the paperwork, ADIZ and customs part will far exceed the flying time.

Definately seems doable.
Buenos Vuelos!

Rich Kutzner
Bakersfield, CA
 
Just make sure you get a customs sticker for your plane and I have the web site if interested. It costs $25.00. It only takes about 2 weeks but you have to have one. If you are going multiple times in one calendar year you need to get a multi-entrance certificate to fill out along with 2 copies of your Plane Registration, Airworthiness, Pilots Certificate, Medical and Mexican Insurance along with 502 pesos or approximately $50.00. This takes the place of a visa. Also don't forget after January 23rd 2007 you will have to have a passport as your birth certificate will no longer work. I have other info if anyone is interested.
Gary Cavasos
N6969Q
Los Alamos, NM
 
Mexico Information

Gary,

You bet, why don't you forward the informaton to Rich Kutzner and I, or post it here. Let us know which works best. Also, if you have any websites that document the requirements and/or destinations that would also be helpful.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley
 
Dan,

I will put together a comprehensive list of details and send it to you. Since we go a couple of times a year and have been for a few years, I take for granted what others may perceive as critical so I need to write it down anyway.

Gary
 
Dan,

I have sent you the last trip to Mexico itinerary and some extra info to your email. If you need anything else please let me know.

Gary
 
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