Baja Bush Pilots LLC
149 W Boston Street
Chandler, AZ, 85225
480 730 3250
www.bajabushpilots.com
January 14, 2017
Mr. Brian Conway
1060 Mountain Oak Place
Thousand Oaks, CA, 901320
Marina Plamira
LaPaz, BSC
Dear Brian.
I have watched the problems in Baja for the past several weeks and have not gotten involved as I really thought that reasonable minds would prevail and this issue would have been put to bed by now.
If I may.
Prior to 2002, there was not a Multi-Entry Authorization. (MU) In 2002, working with then Senator Alejandro Guetierrez Guetierrez from the state of Coahuila and then Captain Gilberto Lopez Meyer, Director General, DGAC, a law was passed to create a Multi-Entrance Authorization procedure. Called GHC-001, it was passed by the House of Deputies and, with myself on the Senate floor in DF, was passed by the Senate.
Director Meyer gave the responsibility to write up the Authorization to Sub-Director Piccolo. It was to be for one calendar year, Jan 1 through December 31.
For the ensuing 15 years, a precedent has been set that allowed an aircraft to enter Mexico prior to December 31 and when ready to leave, a new MU was written to cover the following year. Again, that has been the standard for 15 years.
When pilots checked into Mexico this past year as late as December 29, 2016, they were told by DGAC inspectors not to worry, that they could pick up their MU when departing.
I did not know about this until December 30 when a Bush Pilot Member called me from LaPaz indicating the problem. I confirmed this with the DGAC in La Paz and Loreto and issued an Alert to over 8,000 people regarding this issue knowing that it was too late for most to be able to get out of Mexico with one days’ notice.
What has happen must be a huge misunderstand. Although the MU is for the Calendar year, a precedent has been established for the past 15 years to allow MU issued after the fact. And to not inform incoming pilots about this change could be described as entrapment. This is just not right.
The other thing that concerns me is that seems to be only an issue on the West coast, primarily on Baja. In talking with others in the know in Monterrey, a city with a huge GA based presence with most aircraft registered in the US, this is not a problem. In fact, they had not even heard about it and continue to do as they have for the past 15 years, issued MU after the fact. I would ask that the DGAC check with other International Airports to see if they are enforcing this “rule”.
I urge that you share this letter with the authorities you are working with in order to get this huge problem settled. It is critical as this is creating a huge negative impact to those who travel in Mexico.
Sincerely
Baja Bush Pilots
Jack McCormick
President
CC: All 8,000 BBP Members.