"Flying in Mexico" question....

[Mike]

This question is mostly for Rooster since I know he's been down there but maybe some of you will know as well:

Am I right to assume when I plan to go to an airport that's listed as "int'l" on the IFR charts and approach plates, and the funny VFR charts they have that they have Jet Fuel there??

Sometimes the GPS says yes sometimes it says only Avgas. But so far even the GPS said no, as long as it was on an IFR chart, there was Jet A....

Just wanted to see what you guys know / have heard....

[Fabo]

well, the best bet would be to take a look in the text part of AIP... but since Mexico is not part of Eurocontrol... I will try to find out if they have an online repository.

[Rooster Cruiser]

Mike, I've never used Mexico's aeronautical charts, so I have no idea how accurate they may be.  When I consider how long Jeppeson goes between issuances of approach plates and enroute charts I would consider Mexico's own charts may be out of date as soon as they are issued.  I am not attempting to demean anyone down there by saying this.

I always have used World Aero Data's Mexico webpage for flight planning and fuel.  http://worldaerodata.com/countries/Mexico.php  Even when I use this, I try to get independent confirmation by telephone when it comes to fuel availability.  Some parts of Mexico (like Baja for example) are at the end of very long supply lines, and they can often run out of fuel without notice.  Case in point:  If the fuel truck has a flat tire around a religious holiday, it might take the driver 3-4 days to get it repaired and back on the road.  This is how Mexico operates.  The clock is not a concern... the calendar is.

Bottom line:  When in doubt, call ahead.

Hope this helps, and good luck Mike.   

RC

[Mike]

Thanks for the link. Calling ahead is a good idea, but it works best if you speak the language.
my Spanish is more an "espaniol de emergencia"...

While we're working for the local Helo company here we could always get a fuel truck from them in an emergency, but we'd probably be stuck for a couple of days. You're right about the clock not being a concern here. I picked up on that.
For some reason, they also never seem to have fire on the weekends (or at least they're not concerned about fighting them)....

It's a totally different ball game down here than in the States. Keeps my job interesting though. You never know what's gonna happen....

[Artoo]

Like my mom says "Mañana doesn't mean tomorrow, it just means NOT TODAY!"

[Jean Loup]

Thanks for the link. Calling ahead is a good idea, but it works best if you speak the language.
my Spanish is more an "espaniol de emergencia"...

¡Bienvenido a México Desconocido!

For some reason, they also never seem to have fire on the weekends (or at least they're not concerned about fighting them)....

Semana Santa (Easter) is a BIG vacation brake...people that start (or fight) fires are either on holiday at the beach  or hustling gringo visitors in hely's 

 

[Mike]

For some reason, they also never seem to have fire on the weekends (or at least they're not concerned about fighting them)....

Semana Santa (Easter) is a BIG vacation brake...people that start (or fight) fires are either on holiday at the beach  or hustling gringo visitors in hely's 

 

somehow I am starting to get the feeling I will be spending yet another full week in Toluca . . . 

[G-man]

somehow I am starting to get the feeling I will be spending yet another full week in Toluca . . . 

Sure beats Rolla, MO..Comedian Lewis Black had a little something to say about the fair city.

"Even the people in Rolla, Missouri were worried about anthrax. That's right; I've performed in Rolla, Missouri because my life is a rich, full tapestry. And if you're thinking of killing yourself Rolla's the place to go. Because when you get there, you'll take one look around and say ‘I wanna end it all.’ You can't even get there directly. You fly to St. Louis and then you drive two hours on Route 66. They wrote a song about it; but not that part of the highway. It's completely desolate and the first sign I saw - bright blue background, white letters ‘Jesus’ - and there wasn't a phone number or nothing. And just as I was forgetting about that sign, there it was again - bright blue background, white letters ‘Jesus’. If you're Jewish, traveling alone on a desolate highway, and you see two signs that say ‘Jesus’, when you see the third one it's a tip to turn around and go home. But the people in Rolla were worried about getting anthrax. I said where are you going to get it? How? Huh? From a Kmart catalog? What are you people thinking? Nobody wants to kill you, look at where you live. You're already dead!”

[Jean Loup]

...somehow I am starting to get the feeling I will be spending yet another full week in Toluca . . . 

Go to Valle de Bravo  for Holy week  or México city is empty fot these holidays  nice time for a visit ; Toluca is an industrial HellHole...

 

[Mike]

I wish I could. We almost left for Valle de Bravo yesterday but with everything they wanted to take in the aircaft we were too heavy to take off and the mission got canceled. I don't think they know what a major effect 8,300ft and 30C makes on a Huey when you try to climb out of a soccer field surrounded by tall trees.....