Mexico

[loopy]

Looking for any advise on planning 604/704 trips into Mexico.

[amraam]

Loopy,

Care to give a better idea of what sort of advice you are looking for?

Are you looking for advice on flight planning, ground handling, permits, insurance, etc? What sort of aircraft type are we talking about?

amraam

[hawker driver]

Bring lots of cash for tips.

Use a handler for customs, fuel, hotels and transport.
Bring extra gear pins and don't forget the Mexican insurance.

[crooked timber]

been a while since i've been down that way but i second the handler and cash. we used skyplan and they did a great job.

[wallypilot]

We use Pegasus, a mexican handler and deal with them directly rather than going through a canadian or US provider.

Bring a good amount of cash for tipping and paying cabs, etc.

With a good handler, it's no prob. They'll even advise on insurance, permits, etc.

[loopy]

Don't handlers like Pegasus charge very hefty fee? Close to 100% more?

[amraam]

You don't really have much of a choice in Mexico except to use an agent / handler anyway.

In addition, the landing permit needs to be coordinated through a local agent (gets processed on arrival) and you'll have a lot less trouble with Customs / Immigration if you've got the assistance from a local agent.

Having said that, shop around a bit depending on the location in Mexico you're going to, there is a difference in price / services between the different handling agents. And make sure you get a good, solid quote on the price of fuel, they WILL try to overcharge after you've been refueled.

amraam

[Hawkerflyer]

Bring pesos. Tipping in US cash can now land you in the slammer. Part of the govt. new plan to curb the drug trade. Bring security tape for all your access panels. Also we leave the monkey suit at home and fly in business casual as to not bring attention to our profesion. It's a very different place than it used to be. ATC is good and have never had issues in that department. Use a handler!! We fly into the northern parts of Mexico so you can understand the extra precautions we take.

[wallypilot]

Bring pesos. Tipping in US cash can now land you in the slammer. Part of the govt. new plan to curb the drug trade. Bring security tape for all your access panels. Also we leave the monkey suit at home and fly in business casual as to not bring attention to our profesion. It's a very different place than it used to be. ATC is good and have never had issues in that department. Use a handler!! We fly into the northern parts of Mexico so you can understand the extra precautions we take.

Agreed when flying off the beaten path. We also do the odd charter to Juarez, Torreon, Zacatecas, Queretero, Hermosillo, and other points north, and try to work only in Pesos in those parts.

If flying to Cabo, Cancun, etc. $US is still no problem. But maybe Hawkerflyer has sage words if they are cracking down.

[wallypilot]

Don't handlers like Pegasus charge very hefty fee? Close to 100% more?

I don't know the cost, as dispatch always arranges it, but I can tell you that my operation is cost sensitive, so if it wasn't worth it, we wouldn't use it.

[hawker driver]

Here is a news story regarding using dollars in Mexico.


http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations ... s/127503/1

[wallypilot]

I remember hearing about that now, and makes sense that I forgot about it since we use the company CC for any large purchases and just use the cash for tips and smaller meals at places that don't take Credit Cards.

thanks for the link to the article.