again thanks for all suggestions
planning now one stop at MMAN then MMGL
jeppesen has a central american kit for the garmin so the approaches and charts are there
somehow i screwed up the database update but garmin is closed on weekends
database corrupt
leaving friday will post

When your in Guadalajara try to get to the Tlaquepaque area. It's where all the artists are. Very cool area. Alex can probably fill in some names to restaurants and galleries. Good things there.

And spending at least 800 USD for the "pleasure" of going through Aerotron on an international arrival. If money is no object - go ahead. And this comes from someone burning Jet-A based in Mexico. Give them a call and ask for a quote - you'll see what I mean.

$800 is the same quote I received for a SE bonanza.

Daniel - to be clear, 800 USD is for a light single engine piston - a US registered Jet would be twice that.

¡$ 800 USD! That sounds like the running thread on another "Criminal Enterprise!"

Thanks Alex. Will never- ever use them coming in from an International Flight.

If you travel to Mexico in a turbine and only get hit for $800 you are doing well.

I have paid more than that for parking... outside.

Most people have the perception that Mexico is cheap... not true when it comes to aviation. Everything is EXPENSIVE. Most of the operations in places like Guadalajara and Toluca are first class. Aviation is even more of a game of the wealthy there than it is here.

Not been my experience. I went to both Queretaro and Ixtapa. Alex G will get you sorted. Call him before you get nailed. He's the bomb!!!

I guess I should qualify that this was not an in and out trip. We paid 8800 pesos to park the airplane in Manzanillo for about 2 1/2 weeks. We actually had three airplanes down there and that was the price for each.

Community hangar space in Monterey, Toluca or GDL will cost you at least $3000 a month.

Maintenance is expensive, even consumables like tires and brakes cost almost twice what they cost here.

Chip - First - 8800 pesos for 2-1/2 weeks of parking at ZLO is about 30 USD per day for transient parking on the ramp of a beech resort. Sugarland, San Antonio and Hobby charge more for transient parking - 50 per day on the ramp - 200 per night if you want to use the hangar (talking jets and turboprops here). Some airports in the East Coast and popular destinations across the US are much worse (just read a couple of stories on the Signature thread or look at what it costs to fly into KTEB - it makes Toluca seem reasonable which it isn't).

Second community hangar space in Mexico is generally slightly more than the US (about 10%), but you get some side benefits like keeping your airplane spotless 100% of the time. This is with the exception of Toluca and Guadalajara which are examples of why we should be wary of privatization and user fee based structures of what are natural monopolies - airports, the NAS and ATC. Try thinking what would happen at any airport if you tell GA you have to use XYZ FBO if you land here regardless.

Finally, maintenance is more expensive on a transient basis - but these are airplanes - you can always fly a couple of hours back unless it is an unexpected breakdown. Flying down to Mexico to have a brake job is not something I would even consider.

Having said that, and getting back to the OP, there are things you should and shouldn't do if you travel to Mexico like clearing customs at MMTO or MMGL, unless you don't mind getting zapped with crazy fees and expenses.

Basic med is NOT accepted in Mexico. More importantly, cbp returning to the usa does have to see an faa medical. Hopefully that will change one of these days.

I have not researched the BasicMed issue in detail, but there are some US pilots in San Miguel I know are flying locally on BasicMed. If you are sure BasicMed is not accepted, it is entirely possible they are doing it and haven't been caught.

Chip - First - 8800 pesos for 2-1/2 weeks of parking at ZLO is about 30 USD per day for transient parking on the ramp of a beech resort. Sugarland, San Antonio and Hobby charge more for transient parking - 50 per day on the ramp - 200 per night if you want to use the hangar (talking jets and turboprops here). Some airports in the East Coast and popular destinations across the US are much worse (just read a couple of stories on the Signature thread or look at what it costs to fly into KTEB - it makes Toluca seem reasonable which it isn't).

Second community hangar space in Mexico is generally slightly more than the US (about 10%), but you get some side benefits like keeping your airplane spotless 100% of the time. This is with the exception of Toluca and Guadalajara which are examples of why we should be wary of privatization and user fee based structures of what are natural monopolies - airports, the NAS and ATC. Try thinking what would happen at any airport if you tell GA you have to use XYZ FBO if you land here regardless.

Finally, maintenance is more expensive on a transient basis - but these are airplanes - you can always fly a couple of hours back unless it is an unexpected breakdown. Flying down to Mexico to have a brake job is not something I would even consider.

Having said that, and getting back to the OP, there are things you should and shouldn't do if you travel to Mexico like clearing customs at MMTO or MMGL, unless you don't mind getting zapped with crazy fees and expenses.

well back from GDL followed advice landed monterrey local guy became handler got a bottle of scotch and money for tips, given entry papers, asked if anything else needed to go to MGDL, told local flight easy peasy. Landed MGDL first question :Where is the import permit? me -the what? local flight i said. Put in special room, told that airplane was illegally imported and subject to confiscation, big fine, GDL cannot issue permit since a/c entered monterrey. 2 hrs later passenger knew local big honcho that uses fbo, fbo boss got hold of someone in monterrey who agreed to sign IP provided he got copies (again) of medical, license, insurance, a/w registration all done via whatsapp 1520 pesos
next time when landing in entry airport ask for multiple entries annual permit so with this is possible to do dallas-MGDL direct
tlaquepaque great, tequila town better take a tour of distillery herradura food great traffic horrible dont fly in MGDL in pm during the summer bad storms txs for all the advice

Best to wear pilot attire....white shirt with captain epaulets and captains hat...when dealing with Mexican airport officials