capt. mike - 9-16-2014 at 02:09 PM
Hurricane Odile
All airspace and airports in mid to south Baja are closed.
Claudia is in continual contact with SENAM regarding the status of airports in Baja. All airspace in the affected area of the hurricane as well as
the following airports are closed to civilian traffic via a Presidential mandated International NOTAM through September 22. This closure may be
extended without notice.
-Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo) -Cabo San Lucas -La Paz -Loreto
Mexico’s Military has taken control of the above airports and only Mexican military aircraft will be allowed to land/depart from those airports. Any
aircraft violating the airspace or attempting to land at any of the above airports will be grounded at that airport until the national emergency is
over.
This emergency is so extreme that the military has taken control of all phases of the situation and at this time, has not called in any of its
resources including the Mexican Red Cross. Claudia and I are in the process of ramping up in anticipation of a call from the Mexican Red Cross. At
that time we will be asking for medical support, relief items, as well as aircraft/helicopters and pilots.
With the Cabo, LaPaz, and Guerrero Negro having airports, we anticipate that our needs will be in mid Baja where there is little transportation. We
anticipate that we will be requested to obtain and deliver supplies as well as do search & rescue from the Mulege area. Last year the BBP had to
hire a loader, grader, and a dump truck to get the strip at Mulege usable. I have to assume it will be the same this year. Punta Chivato and Palo
Verde should be open however, the roads to both will be impassable.
Once our help is requested, I plan to drive to Guaymas where I will take the ferry to Santa Rosalia. There I will assess the damage and either drive
(questionable) or hitch a ride in a military aircraft to Mulege where I will start the process of determining where a landing area should be set up.
At that point, I will put out a call for people to bring down relief items.
This will be another long and complicated mission however it is something that we just have to do.
We believe our needs will be for:
*Pilots w/aircraft to solicit relief goods and supplies and to bring these goods to either Loreto or the landing area at Mulege when called for
*Pilots w/helicopters to work the back areas
Regarding money, in the past I was able to get Mexico to pay for some fuel and landing fees however, that happened about three weeks into the
operation. At this point, all will have to pay their own expenses.
That being said, anticipating another national emergency, we set up the Bush Pilot Foundation two years ago. It is a tax deductible 501 (c) (3)
corporation and is dedicated to, among other things, general aviation including search and rescue, evacuation, and disaster relief through the
transport and distribution of food and supplies in the United States and countries in the western hemisphere to provide humanitarian services in time
of need. At this time it has a little over $5,000
We are looking for donations for this cause. The BBP has contributed over $10,000 for relief efforts in the past. The BBP does not have that kind of
money now. Your help in funding our efforts is critical. Please send an email to the BBP office if you can help out regarding our aircraft/relief
needs.
If you can help out with money, our attorney indicates that you can use your credit card to contribute and we will move that deposit into the
Foundation account.
Our hearts go out to the people of Baja and how they must be suffering. The BBP is stepping up to the plate and hopeful that all who enjoy the
pleasure, people, and friendship that we gain in Mexico will also step up and donate to this critical cause.