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that at the major airports that receive the highest volumes of visiting GA aircraft, like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, the two Cabo airports, Toluca, Guadalajara and Monterrey, the impact has been less significant due to the efforts of the airport operators and local FBOs to keep things operating smoothly. Operators using ground handlers typically fare better because they have somebody on the ground who un- derstands the proper procedures and speaks the language. However, in all fairness to ground handlers, they cannot interfere with the actions of federal officials doing their duties. So, their abilities to minimize the inconveniences can sometimes be very limited, and it is also not in their best interests to antagonize those federal officials with whom they must interact every day.
At the other end of the spectrum, international airports and domestic airports that receive little GA traffic can sometimes be more onerous. What we have experienced firsthand is a lack of coordination between the different agencies which has provoked delays in arrival and depar- ture processing, frustration on the part of crew and pas- sengers as well as misplaced documents. For example, the National Guard (Guardia Nacional) will often request that all contents of the aircraft be removed and placed on the ramp to be searched on arrival and departure. Once com- plete, they may tell you that you can return your items to
guarantee the security, sovereignty and independence of Mexican airspace. How this new law will affect the AFAC and Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano (SENEAM), the civil entity that provides ATC services in Mexican airspace, has yet to be seen.
In the past, visitors entering Mexico had to complete a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (Multiple Immigration Form – FMM) for immigration control. The FMM is a two-part form that you fill out upon entering Mexico and the im- migration officer would stamp both parts of the form and return one part to the visitor. Upon departing Mexico, the visitor would surrender their part of this form. However, the present government is phasing out that form, and it is being replaced with a simple entry and departure stamp in the visitor’s passport. Depending on the international airport that you operate from in Mexico, you may or may not have to complete the form. It will depend on what stage of the implementation process they are in at that airport.
The Effect On General Aviation
It is difficult to imagine that these massive changes would be trouble-free during the transition. The reality is
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