Cliffy - 4-6-2015 at 04:29 PM
Just curious how many here fly their own planes down to Baja right now?
Maybe I could get some info on how its done today (haven't done it in 35 years in my own plane), how many on this forum are doing it? (I saw several
in Chivato last summer when I drove there).
Maybe the forum would set aside a Baja aviation room for those of us who fly and want up to date info as we go back and forth?
I know of BBBP and I have been a member but it always seemed dated or into other areas mostly instead of Baja.
What about a Baja specific flying forum room?
Maderita - 4-6-2015 at 11:22 PM
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your question. Are you aware of the front page list which includes Baja Special Interest Discussion Forum
"Baja Private Aircraft Travel" ?
Cliffy - 4-6-2015 at 11:26 PM
No I looked and must have missed it I'll go back and look again
Thanks
Maderita - 4-6-2015 at 11:26 PM
http://forums.bajanomad.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=36
Not much chat there, only 14 threads last year.
LancairDriver - 4-7-2015 at 07:59 AM
Cliffs, not much to misunderstand or comprehend for me on your question, which is appropriately posted under Baja Questions and Answers. You asked a
question, I'm throwing in an answer.
I used to fly down to Baja quite frequently, mostly from Southern Oregon to Mulege. If I'm in a hurry I still fly down making the trip in 5 hours
instead of three days in an RV. Lately, because I am not in a particular hurry and can take our dogs and have all the comforts of home along as well
as enjoying the scenery and camping on the beaches and pulling a Jeep along for side trips I am driving the RV down.
It has become a lot more complex flying down with filing an eapis report with the U.S. side covering the trip both in and out and paying a lot more in
various fees mostly to the Mexicans. Also many of the interesting old landing strips are gone thanks to the drug trade. To further complicate things,
Mexico has duplicated the U.S. eapis filing so you have the paperwork for both sides to deal with. The good news is if you belong to the Baja Bush
Pilots they will do all of the US and Mexican filing for you. Just $45.00 per year membership. A lot of pilots have become disillusioned with all of
this and have quit going. There seem to be some new pilots going now who hadn't experienced the "golden days" and it is still a flying adventure. You
won't see the endless fish boils from the air that used to be commonplace before commercial fishing has taken its toll on the Sea of Cortez. The days
when it was hard to find a spot to park your airplane at the Serenidad are gone, although still there on a greatly reduced level. To summarize, flying
is still there but not what it used to be.
capt. mike - 4-7-2015 at 09:06 AM
I have to 2nd all LAncairDriver says above. Spot on. My last trip was memorial weekend 2010. So makes it 5 years soon. But did have about 30 years of
good Baja and Mexico flying before I stopped. Reasons?? - too much regulation both sides, too many fees Mexico side. Many great strips no more. And
frankly - after so many trips, often 10 a year including Volunteer with www.flyingsamaritans.com , it become all predictive and therefore often less adventurous. Plus - cheap gas both sides no more. So - been there and
done it. If you take it up highly recommend you engage BBP BPI as your guide.
Cliffy - 4-7-2015 at 03:51 PM
Thanks guys. I did find the other chat room In fact I see I found it a long time ago just didn't remember it. I too used to fly down there 20+ yrs ago
and was thinking about it again but had much the same thoughts as were mentioned after I looked into it. I did fly an MU2 down to Cabo a couple of
times in the last 5 years but it was non-stop from Tucson. Corporate stuff. Not really Baja flying. Now that I have the time I have also driven down
and may just keep on doing that. Although it was fun landing a BOLA and parking right outside my room at Diaz and then going north and having dinner
with Papa when he had a runway on that side of the bay.