Mexico Flying Tips

Ranferi Denova

Safety in Mexico is a foremost concern to tourists, especially those piloting their aircraft to the region. The headlines in the media frequently describe alarming events in the country, causing some to reconsider Mexico 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 noted, “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 establishes international standards and recommended 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.

The organization’s founder and president, Thierry Pouille, highlighted the challenge of finding twin and turbine operators 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 traveling 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 equipment. 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 first journey in a long time to Mexico. We have tried two or three times before but never got any takers, not enough to create a journey there.”

Air Journey is leading a trip to the country for the first time in many years this month. The ten-day guided journey, entitled the Hidden Jewels of Mexico, has pilots set to fly their cabin-class aircraft to Cancun International Airport (MMUN), Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (MMQT), and, Mérida International Airport (MMMD) from Palm Beach International Airport (KPBI). Pouille explained that this is a long overdue return to the country Air Journey has been looking forward to for some time.

“Keep in mind, we do go all the way around the world [with our guided journeys] and go to many, many places. We have our guidelines on what an airport needs to be deemed safe. For this upcoming journey, the three airports we will be using meet the guidelines of being ICAO-approved – with 24-hour security and other safety aspects. If we do our groundwork research and work with the local people, as we have, we expect there to be no surprises.”

Ranferi Denova is an instrument-rated pilot who is originally from Mexico. Combining his love for aviation and his homeland, Denova helps pilots fly south of the border through his company, Fly GA Mexico. He hosts an annual fly-out to a different Mexican destination each March to help educate and evangelize fellow pilots about the joys of flying there.

When asked whether it is safe to fly to Mexico without hesitancy, he enthusiastically replies – yes! Why is that?

“Safety in Mexico is a very valid question, and I get asked about it constantly. Before making my first flight there in 2016, I had difficulty finding a flight school, club, or anyone who would let me rent a plane and take it to Mexico. Everyone read online forums about all the crazy stories, and there was a strong perception that if you flew there, your airplane would be stolen or thrown in jail. But the vast majority of all the stories you hear are urban legends. I would say that many of the airports in Mexico are just as safe or safer than your municipal airports here in the United States,” he boldly claimed.

“In Mexico, virtually every airport is guarded 24/7 by the military. Even as a pilot and owner of an airplane, you can’t just walk right up to it. You have to show your identification, pilot’s license, etc. So, it’s heavily regulated and safe, and many of the stories you hear are not true.

Situations occur, though, when pilots fail to present the proper documentation. For instance, and I’ve seen this happen a couple of times if you fly to Mexico with an expired registration or don’t have insurance (at least liability), that’s a big deal. In most cases, they’ll impound your airplane until you can solve the issue, and there will be a hefty fine. As long as you have all your documents in order, it’s easy and safe to fly to Mexico.”

For those who have not flown to Mexico, there is one destination that Denova almost always recommends is Monterrey Del Norte Airport (MMAN). He asserts that this facility, roughly 292 nautical miles southwest of Austin, Texas, is very friendly to general aviation pilots.

“This is one of the easiest airports and cities to visit, especially for those in Texas. It’s an international airport, but they only cater to private and military aviation. They don’t have airline traffic of any kind. All of the offices for immigration, customs, flight service, and other services are right next to each other, so it’s straightforward. Also, the facility is busy enough that someone is always around and willing to help you.”

Denova advised some other places pilots should have on their introductory Mexican destinations.
“Once you get your feet wet, I like going to smaller towns. Mexico has this concept called ‘magic towns,’ ‘pueblos mágicos.’ They are small towns with cultural charm to them. They are trendy for tourists, safe, and lots of fun.”

To help ensure the flight there goes as planned, Denova has several tips he routinely advises other pilots. Overall, he said a friendly demeanor and willingness to take things as they come are essential traits to adopt before your trip south.

“Always have a friendly attitude, and don’t be demanding. Don’t be in a rush. Things in Mexico will happen slower than here; that’s how it is. Another tip is to prepare as much as possible beforehand, whether with information from several companies focusing specifically on Mexico or with AOPA, which has great information. Prepare all of your documents in order, and I find it useful to prefill as many of them as I can ahead of time, which usually makes the officials happy – because it saves them some time. By being ready, it helps make the process a lot smoother. Finally, if a pilot wants to fly to Mexico and isn’t sure about doing it solo, reach out to others with experience to see if they could join and provide their assistance.”

Mexico has opportunities to improve its perception among the North American flying public. How can it attract more tourists and those who fly their personal aircraft? Pouille and Denova suggested how perceptions can be changed for the country and described how they can attract more American aviators.

“If we do a parallel with The Bahamas [there is a lot to learn]. The Bahamas Aviation Authority came online for general aviation, not the airlines, and created the Flying Ambassador program. We now have people in the flying community talking about flying there and bringing groups of pilots to The Bahamas, with help from the government and tourist office. It’s a commitment from those groups to bring pilots to the country and show them how beautiful the islands are,” Pouille said. He hypothesized that a similar program in Mexico could be value-added in helping to improve perceptions about flying to Mexico.

Denova added, “There are certain people you will not change their mind, period. They are convinced that you can’t leave the United States because flying anywhere outside the borders is risky. But what I am doing with the annual fly-outs, at least here in the Texas area, has really changed the perspective of pilots wanting to fly south. Every time someone sees me at a fly-in or pilot gathering, they always come and talk with me about my experiences and what the process is. And often, they come along the next time we fly down there! I love the fact that people are taking an interest in flying to Mexico.”