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SMexico Flying Tips
afety in Mexico is a foremost con- cern to tourists, especially those piloting their aircraft to the region. The headlines in the media fre-
quently describe alarming events in the country, causing some to reconsider Mexi- co as a viable recreation destination. These unsavory reports often describe pervasive issues with drugs and violence, which don’t inspire confidence in those who otherwise would have no hesitation flying there.
A recent positive news story came in mid-September when the FAA announced that Mexico returned to “highest aviation safety status.” The FAA’s press release not- ed, “To obtain and maintain a Category 1 rating, a country must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation. ICAO estab- lishes international standards and recom- mended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.” We expect the change to have negligible effects on general aviation. Still, the efforts must be applauded – due to Mexico’s commitment to aviation and tourism and strengthening relationships with civil aviation organizations.
Other associations and companies have long kept a pulse on the aviation ecosystem in the country, too, including Air Journey, which leads escorted flying journeys worldwide.
by Grant Boyd
The organization’s founder and presi-
dent, Thierry Pouille, highlighted the
challenge of finding twin and turbine op-
erators willing to fly to Mexico. He also
explained that this isn’t the first time his
company has had to overcome a country’s
public image, as Air Journey helped to shift the dialogue of The Bahamas, mitigating safety concerns for pilots travel- ing to the nearby islands. Now, it’s one of the most coveted destinations for American aviators.
“Mexico’s perception is amazing [to me] and reminds me of the stories, at a greater level, about The Bahamas. When Air Journey started, our main focus was the islands of The Bahamas, and you heard all of these tales about what happened there, with thieves stealing planes and equip-
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Ranferi Denova
ment. As you dig more into it, you realize that it’s a lot of old, overblown tales and stories,” he began.
“Back to Mexico, it’s different because, in the general press, you get a lot of negative comments on what’s happening there. The newspapers carry every negative story, often getting front-page exposure. So, some of the fear is real, but some of it is created as well – in a way. With the perceptions and the fear of the unknown, trying to get people to fly to Mexico is often difficult. For us, though, we will run our