Safety of aircraft in Mexico..

[Dan[_1_]]

I am contemplating a trip to Mexico. How safe is an aircraft parked at
a Mexican airport (say Guymas)?

Can I leave my 396, headsets, etc. inside the plane? I am wondering if
they are more at risk sitting in the plane, or in the hotel room....

--Dan

[Flyingmonk[_1_]]

Morgans wrote:
> I don't have any real local knowledge, but I'll add the obvious answer of
> "only if you want them to be gone!"
> --
> Jim in NC

Mornin' Teach! <g>

Monk

[Morgans[_3_]]

"Dan" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I am contemplating a trip to Mexico. How safe is an aircraft parked at
> a Mexican airport (say Guymas)?
>
> Can I leave my 396, headsets, etc. inside the plane? I am wondering if
> they are more at risk sitting in the plane, or in the hotel room....

I don't have any real local knowledge, but I'll add the obvious answer of
"only if you want them to be gone!"
--
Jim in NC

[Larry Dighera]

On 16 Jul 2006 23:06:31 -0700, "Dan" > wrote in
. com>::

>I am contemplating a trip to Mexico. How safe is an aircraft parked at
>a Mexican airport (say Guymas)?

I had no difficulty when I left my aircraft tied down there, but
nothing of value was visible through the windows.

>Can I leave my 396, headsets, etc. inside the plane? I am wondering if
>they are more at risk sitting in the plane, or in the hotel room....

Pose your questions here: http://www.bajabushpilots.com/

You don't want to fly in Mexico without a lot of the information
you'll find on this web site.

[Newps]

Robert M. Gary wrote:


>
> Guymas is an international airport your equipment is very, very safe in
> the airplane, certainly safer than in a hotel. In Mexico, airport
> security at most small dirt strips is tighter than security at LAX.
> Many airports have their own outposts complete with a hummer and 10-15
> guards with M-16's 24x7 (you can hear them listening to Shakira on the
> radio at night). Everytime you walk up to your plane you are greeted by
> someone with an M-16 asking you to demonstrate your paperwork.

You are not allowed to leave your plane overnight in Mexico unless there
is 24/7 security.

[Robert M. Gary]

Newps wrote:
> Robert M. Gary wrote:
>
>
> >
> > Guymas is an international airport your equipment is very, very safe in
> > the airplane, certainly safer than in a hotel. In Mexico, airport
> > security at most small dirt strips is tighter than security at LAX.
> > Many airports have their own outposts complete with a hummer and 10-15
> > guards with M-16's 24x7 (you can hear them listening to Shakira on the
> > radio at night). Everytime you walk up to your plane you are greeted by
> > someone with an M-16 asking you to demonstrate your paperwork.
>
> You are not allowed to leave your plane overnight in Mexico unless there
> is 24/7 security.

I"m not sure the interpretation of that law. Alphonsinas does not have
any military on the field but I've parked my plane there many times.
Perhaps the hotel manager is considered "security" in that case. I have
taken some late night walks down the runway and had the airport manager
ask what I was doing ("Bella Vista" is my limited Spanish response).
However, every other place I've even landed in Mexico that allows
overnight parking does have military on the field.

-Robert

[Larry Dighera]

On 17 Jul 2006 10:52:47 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" >
wrote in om>::

>Alphonsinas does not have any military on the field

What constitutes an airport in Mexico?


http://www.bajabushpilots.com/yabbse/index.php?action=display&board=21&threadid=1192
The runway at Alfies was completely flooded by the high tide
Monday around 1:45 PM. But by 4:30 PM, although the strip was
still damp, i had no problem taking off. Locals said that about 2
hours after the water recedes, the strip is essentially usuable.
I found that to be accurate.


http://www.bajaexpo.com/cities/gonzaga.htm
AIRSTRIPS
ALPHONSINA'S (THE OLD AIRSTRIP)
LOCATION: Located between the beach and the estuary.
SURFACE: Hard packed dirt.
ELEVATION: Sea level.
RUNWAYS: 18 / 36.
LENGTH: 2,290 feet.
TOWER: No.
Fuel: No.
AIRPORT OF ENTRY: No.
COMMENTS: A dependable north-south strip, except at very high
tides when it becomes flooded. Convenience is the name of the game
here. From the time you land your bird and shut of the mags, until
the time you are swimming in the water, it's usually less than 10
minutes. If weather dictates a longer, wider, or dryer runway,
Rancho Grande Airport is just a spit to the south, running east
and west.



RANCHO GRANDE (THE NEW AIRSTRIP)
LOCATION: Running between the main road and the Sea of Cortez.
SURFACE: Graded.
ELEVATION: 15 Feet.
RUNWAYS: 8 / 26.
LENGTH: 5,620.
TOWER: No.
FUEL: No.
AIRPORT OF ENTRY: No.
COMMENTS: A hard packed strip that runs east-west, from the beach
to the main highway. This airstrip is very long, and is in
excellent condition. A landing fee may be charged. Slopes uphill
from the beach. Market at west end of runway, palapas on the beach
at east end of runway!


GASOLINE
ALPHONSINA'S

Until the new PEMEX station is opened, gasoline options are
limited. Follow the signs off the main highway towards the beach.

Gas is sometimes available from large drums, but it's not
inexpensive.

[Robert M. Gary]

Larry Dighera wrote:
> On 17 Jul 2006 10:52:47 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" >
> wrote in om>::
>
> >Alphonsinas does not have any military on the field
>
> What constitutes an airport in Mexico?

A place where airplanes can legally land. You cannot open an airport in
your backyard in Mexico that way you can in the US. All airports in
Mexico msut be approved by the gov't and receive regular safety
inspections by the gov't (even small dirt fields). The main reason for
this is probably for security since the military makes regular visits
to the few fields that do not have military on sight.

-Robert

[Larry Dighera]

On 17 Jul 2006 11:51:15 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" >
wrote in . com>::

>All airports in
>Mexico msut be approved by the gov't and receive regular safety
>inspections by the gov't (even small dirt fields).

Given the fact that Alphonsinas "airport" is under water twice daily,
that government approval is interesting.

[Robert M. Gary]

Larry Dighera wrote:
> On 17 Jul 2006 11:51:15 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" >
> wrote in . com>::
by the gov't (even small dirt fields).
>
> Given the fact that Alphonsinas "airport" is under water twice daily,
> that government approval is interesting.

I'm not sure where that number comes from. In my experience it floods
for at most 3-4 hours per week.
The gov't has foced many recent changes at Alphoninas including new
signage and separation from the nearby road. Even though its one of the
few airports without locally based military they do come by at least
once a day to verify paperwork of all aircraft.

In the US private airports don't have nearly the same aviation safety
inspections or approvals.

-Robert

[Jose[_1_]]

>>Given the fact that Alphonsinas "airport" is under water twice daily,
>> that government approval is interesting.
>
> I'm not sure where that number comes from.

Tides? They are twice daily.

> In the US private airports don't have nearly the same aviation safety
> inspections or approvals.

If they did, they wouldn't exist any more.

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Robert M. Gary]

Jose wrote:
> >>Given the fact that Alphonsinas "airport" is under water twice daily,
> >> that government approval is interesting.
> >
> > I'm not sure where that number comes from.
>
> Tides? They are twice daily.

Only in certain conditions are the tides high enough to touch the
runway.
-Robert

[Larry Dighera]

On 17 Jul 2006 13:36:57 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" >
wrote in om>::

>
>Larry Dighera wrote:
>> On 17 Jul 2006 11:51:15 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" >
>> wrote in . com>::
>by the gov't (even small dirt fields).
>>
>> Given the fact that Alphonsinas "airport" is under water twice daily,
>> that government approval is interesting.
>
>I'm not sure where that number comes from.

Given the apparent fact that the field elevation is 0 MSL, I figured
it flooded at each high tide.
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/get_predictions.shtml?year=2005&stn=1812+San+Diego&secstn=San+Carlos&thh=-0&thm=9&tlh=%2b0&tlm=0&hh=0.0&hl=-0.2

>In my experience it floods for at most 3-4 hours per week.

Obviously, you, as someone with firsthand experience at Alphonsinas,
are in a much better position than me to comment of this.

>The gov't has foced many recent changes at Alphoninas including new
>signage and separation from the nearby road. Even though its one of the
>few airports without locally based military they do come by at least
>once a day to verify paperwork of all aircraft.

That's interesting. Thanks for the report from the front. :-)

>In the US private airports don't have nearly the same aviation safety
>inspections or approvals.

In the US, the CAP checks out the aircraft for the FAA.