Fly with the Bush Pilots
The following indicate BPI trips that have been completed, are open for registration, or are in the process of being setup.
To see more, click here
BBP Group Trips
|
2012 |
Trip |
Days |
Status |
|
Jan 21 |
CenAm 2012 |
10 |
Completed |
|
Mar 8 |
Whales 2012 |
5 |
Completed |
|
Apr 21 |
Pancakes @ Pegasus |
n/a |
Completed |
|
July 8 |
Copper Canyon |
7 |
Open |
|
Oct 11 |
AOPA (Palm Springs) |
3 |
Non BBP |
|
Oct 14 |
Explore Loreto (Post AOPA) |
4 |
Open Soon |
|
2013 |
Trip |
Days |
Status |
|
Jan 6 |
CenAm 2013 |
10 |
Open Soon |
|
Mar 14 |
Whales 2013 (Loreto) |
4 |
Open Soon |
Bush Pilot Alerts
San Felipe Immigration charges... 04/03/2012
We have been notified by San Felipe that an official notice has been issued for a change in the procedure for charging people the Immigrationfee when entering Mexico via aircraft. To see the document, click here.
San Felipe indicates that according to the document received, it is a nationwidechange. To make sure, as we always do, we checked with several other widely used AOE both in Baja and Mainland Mexico. No other airport reported having received such a notice and therefore continue to charge Immigration fees (DNI) per usual procedures.
That being said, if you use San Felipe as an AOE, be prepared to abide by the change that is being enforced there....which would mean you get a visa but do not pay for it until you exit the country....and know that if you continue on to another controlled airport, you will be charged because you will not have a visa stamped "pagado".
We know....it doesn't make much sense but...
Also, we are slowly updating several sections on the site and opening them up in the menu section. Though not all have been brought over, we have opened up the "Alerts" page in the members section (below the Forum). And, be on lookout for many new additions to the Photo/Video Galleries!
Prize Winners, Whales 2012
Grand Prize won by "Nacho" Lozano, photo with Claudia and Jack on website
2nd, Registration for one person, CenAm 2013: Bill Allen, CA
3rd, Registration for one person, Whales 2013: Vin Nitido, AZ
4th, Five Year Membership, BBP: Doug Winston, CA
5th, Five Year Membership, BBP: Rich Barclay, CO
6th, Five Year Membership, BBP: Bob Holt, UT
7th, Five Year Membership, BBP: Patty Bishop, NV
8th, Five Year Membership, BBP: Leticia Lozano, CA
9th, Weekend at the Oasis for two: Linda Campbell, TX
10th, Set, Mexican VFR Charts: Keelan Wolper, CA
11th, Pair, BBP Cap and Tee Shirt: Lorrie Natido, AZ
12th, Pair, BBP Cap and Tee Shirt: Jeanne Fleck, AZ
Pancakes at Pegasus.... 3/23/12
Join us for our third annual BBP breakfast, and it is free. Fly in, do breakfast, walk the static line, talk to others with similar interest, and enjoy the peaceful quiet and country atmosphere that Pegasus offers.
Sponsored by the Baja Bush Pilots, Kim, Claudia, myself, and many of the Pegasus residents of our airpark will be there to meet and greet you.
Mark your calendar.... April 14, 5AZ3, pancakes, sausage, eggs, drink, and a lot of good fun and conversation.
Click here for poster
Whales is a wrap.... 3/12/2012
Most all are back from Mexico, one of the best Whales trip ever. I don't know of anyone who did not get up close and personal with a whale on this trip. And, there where about 130 adults and kids who did it.
International check in at Loreto for the 55+- aircraft averaged about 8 minutes an aircraft and clicked like clockwork, I don't believe there were ever over three aircraft in line for fuel. It all worked. Will be doing a full blog in the near future. Jack @ BBP
CenAm is a wrap.... 2/4/2012
All have checked in and are home or headed further South. Baja 1 (the Commander) purred like a kitten on the 32 hour, 5,112 mile flight until landing at Nogalas where on a perfect touchdown, the nose wheel went flat and there we were, sitting in the middle of the runway with nowhere to go.
First thing we did was to call Unicom and told them to hold up on the four cheeseburgers we had ordered (via radio) as we will be running a little late.
Then, as a white pickup truck came screaming up to us from across the field, who would believe it was the FAA who wanted to investigate the "incident" gold badges and all.
No harm, no foul. A flat tire is not an incident so, after a quick rampcheck (well, a runway check) the badges went away, they got back into their pickup truck, and indicated we were free to go. Sure, flat nose wheel in the middle of the runway and we were free to go.
However, Larry Tiffin, owner of the FBO at OLS, came to the rescue, moved us to his hangar where I changed the tire, all re-ordered our hamburgers, and it was on our way home.
What a hoot. Ocean, miles of jungle, dinner in a brothel, and a lot, lot more. I am working on the blog for the trip, will post as soon as I can. Jack @ BBP
Central America is on.... 1/17/12
We are departing in the morning for Florida and will meet up with all Saturday Morning where we will depart for the Bahamas.
To follow Baja 1 via SPOT, click here
Rocky Point Airport MMPE (Puerto Penasco) is OPEN to International Traffic.
December 23, 2011 BPI Alert
Alonzo just emailed to indicate that Customs is back and international flights are welcome
Airstrip at San Miguel de Allende 12/22/11
Just had word from Randy Henson that the reworking of the airport is just about done. It has been lengthened, widened, and has a hard surface.
Randy indicates that all hope it will be open by Christmas Day.
Increase in parking fees in Costa Rica 10/25/2011
We have just confirmed that Costa Rica has implemented new parking fees.
It must be pointed out that these fees are for any aircraft be it a Cessna 152 or a Boeing 737, foreign or national. Landing fees remain about the same and are computed by the ton.
We are writing a letter of protest to the Government of Costa Rica regarding this issue.
To see more, go to "Member Section", "Country Information", Costa Rica".
Military may have reversed their position on the closure of Ensenada 8/18/2011
We have been given information from persons who wish not to be identified who indicate that although the paperwork continues for the closure of the airport, they have been told that this will not happen.
They indicate that the decision has been made to separate the airport so that the military and the civil activities are no longer together but separated into their own areas.
There has been a lot of pressure on the military to change their position on this situation and, if it would have happened, it would have had a giant impact on Ensenada and the surrounding area.
Again, the official position is that it is closing however, again, the people close to it as well as the press indicated it will not happen. Jack @ BBP
Why Bush Pilots International? - 12/9/2010
Yes, there has been a change. Over the past period of time, without expanding our base, our business plan just does not work out.
The decision was not easy but with GA travel into
Mexico down about 60%, it was necessary. If I may:
Click here to see parts of our business plan as well as what we now offer.
BPI Hours - 12/5/2010
Just as a reminder, BPI office hours are from 9:00 to 5:00, Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday. (Arizona does not observe daylight saving time)
If you have a critical need, you can email us at
bbp@bajabushpilots.com. We monitor this site on a regular basis. If you need insurance, this can be purchased on our website. Just go to Mexican Insurance either on the public or member area on our main menu. Fill out the form and you will receive your certificate instantly. Jack @ BBP
CBP & Mex records - 5/24/2010
One of our members was contacted by the CBP about five months after a short trip to Mexico. The member was told that he was subject to a US$10,000 fine as their reports only show a return eAPIS on file. They had no record of an outbound eAPIS (from the US). The good thing is that the member did file his eAPIS outbound and inbound and the better news is that he had copies of both. He responded to the CBP’s letter by providing copies of both eAPIS and the matter was dropped.
The lesson is that it is critical that you print out your eAPIS request and, when you get back home, file it away with the other paper work you save for each trip. Along with the eAPIS, information saved should include Mexican flight plans, fuel receipts, landing fee / parking fees, etc. Jack @ BBP
Bay of LA Status - 1/7/2010
We have been advised that some Mexican AOE´s have been filing aircraft into Bay of LA. At the prompting of several of our members, Claudia made a series of calls to AOE´s in Northern Mexico and found that the Bay of LA closure NOTAM is still in effect with the exception that some permits are being issued for samaritan operations. They are date and aircraft specific and any request must be made thru the department of state tourism representative, a mayor, etc. These requests must be made to DGAC officials in Mexico and if they fall within the emergency guidelines, a temporary permit will be issued.
We understand that the same process is being used at El Fuerte.
Line up and Wait - 2/19/2010
Some joke about the Controlers in Mexico and Central America when they say "Line up and Wait" however.... From BBP Member Sanders Achen
TOWERS MAY SOON TELL PILOTS TO “LINE UP AND WAIT”
Soon controllers may be issuing new instructions to pilots when they are given permission to taxi onto a runway before issuing a takeoff clearance, if a new Air Traffic Control phraseology is adopted. The FAA Safety Risk Management Panel concluded that it is safe to replace the FAA phraseology, "position and hold," with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) phraseology,
"line up and wait."
The National Transportation Safety Board previously recommended that the FAA amend order 7110.65, requiring the use of standard ICAO phraseology for airport surface operations.
The change, which is being coordinated within the FAA, requires an extensive awareness campaign to ensure pilots and controllers are informed. If approved later this month, the changes could be implemented by June, 2010.
Bad News at Bahia de Los Angeles - 12/1/2009
Impending permanent closure of Bay of LA airport (BAX)
Bahia de los Angeles has not had a permit for many years. It has been ignored as the three identities, the State of Baja Norte, the City of Bahia de Los Angeles, as well as the Ejido all claim that they are not the responsible party for keeping the airport licensed. The Government has informed all three entities that the strip must be licensed or it will be closed and no one reacted.
The Ejido indicates that the State is responsible for airport and is therefore responsible for the licensing and the State indicates that it is not, and that the Ejido must take responsibility for licensing.
With no action by either side for a number of years, the government has stepped in and 1) has closed the airport by NOTAM, 2) circulated said NOTAM to all AOEs in Baja and Mainland Mexico indicating it is closed, (3) informed the military based there to turn away any incoming traffic and if the traffic refuses, to confiscate the aircraft, and 4) that if there is no action by the responsible party, (whoever they are) the strip could be physically closed in.
Since a NOTAM has been out for a few days and no DGAC office at an AOE will be filing a flight plan to Bay of LA, any plane landing there, just like at any other unlicensed airstrip, can, under the authority of the Law of Aviation, have their plane confiscated and the pilot can be detained.
The strip is critical for both the people who live there as well as is a huge paved emergency landing source located midway between San Felipe and Loreto. In addition, it is used on a daily basis for charter service from Cabo San Lucas as well as there is a tour operator who flies people to this strip where they are transferred by boat to their private camp on a weekly basis.
If this strip is closed, it will have a major impact on the people who live and work there as well as be a major safety concern.
We urge anyone with any connection to contact official persons so that this airport will continue to operate
Corrections to Airports of Mexico - 11/16/2009
We have added an additional menu choice to "Airports of Mexico" to show changes, additions, and or deletions to the airports/airstrips in the book.
We are requesting that our members be the eyes and ears for us regarding airports / airstrips.
If you see a change of a permanent nature to one of the airports that we have in the book or, if you see an addition that is registered with Mexico which is not listed, please let us know so that we can confirm and add to this area.
Thanks in advance for this help, Jack
New Mar de Cortes International (Rocky Point) airport is now open for International flights - 10/29/2009
We were just told at 6:00 A.M. this morning (Sat, Oct 31) that Immigration and Customs are now at MMPE. And the name is Mar de Cortes International Airport. To see more information on the new airport, click be
low.
To see airport website: (note, weight of aircraft is in tons)www.aeropuertomardecortes.com
