Member's Home Forums General Discussion Mexico Mexico Airports MMUN - Cancun Meetings with ATC in Cancun to address concerns

We have had 4 meetings with ATC so far this year to address concerns expressed by domesitc and foreign pilots flying into the Cancun/Cozumel TCA. The specific issues that were identified as priorities are:
> Avoiding unnecessary maneuvering of VFR aircraft for sequencing. Many pilots complain of having to make 360 degree turns for spacing when traffic volumes have not appeared to warrant such maneuvers.

> Controllers complain of VFR aircraft departing the Playa del Carmen airport that depart runway 11 for Cozumel and enter the Cozumel TCA without immediately communicating with the tower or approach. As the direct route from Playa to Cozumel underlies the approach path for IFR traffic into runway 11 at Cozumel, an aircraft departing Playa can suddenly appear on RADAR climbing into an aircraft on approach to Cozumel triggering an alert and distress. This has caused controllers to instruct VFR aircraft to take circuitous routes to Cozumel causing unnecessary delays.

> Pilots complain of ATC restricting climbs above 1,500 feet until 20-30 NM from the Cancun or Cozumel airports. Maintaining such low altitudes presents a safety risk, causes difficulty with communications and presents an uncomfortable environment for passengers.

Of the 4 meetings, the first was an initial airing of concerns, the second two were to review airspace design and regulations currently in place to establish a common understanding and the fourth was a private meeting between CST and ATC management.

We are planning a 5'th meeting for early May to travel to the Playa del Carment airport to review a proposed departure procedure for aircraft flying to Cozumel from runway 11 at Playa. We all believe that a simple solution is possible without requiring any changes to airspace design or restrictions. As pilots based at the Playa del Carmen airport would be most affected, we are planning to have the meeting there.

Right now there are good intentions and ideas, we now want to see how successful we can be at converting them into positive, actionable items. We will keep everyone posted.

A quick question for those of you who have experience in the area. I am planning to fly to Cancum from Key West and after entry proceed to Playa del Carmen airport. Any suggestions, comments, precautions, about going to Playa del Carmen airport? I already know from the forum that I would need to be careful if I plan to fly from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. The airport is not listed on "Mexico airport lists" on the internet and I assume that services may be extremely limited there. Any comments good or bad will be appreciated.

Hola Fernando. First, we would recommend that you have a copy of the CST Pilot's Guide to Mexico which contains information and aerial picture of the Playa Del Carmen airport. The runway parallels a road which has been mistaken for the runway to the surprise of motorists and pilots alike!

We regularly fly into Playa with our Skymaster and it is not a problem as long as we are not too heavy. Runway 11 is the favored runway in Playa due to the prevailing wind and it is 2,133 feet but has a displaced threshold. The threshold is right at the edge of the main highway from Cancun to Chetumal and there is a Chevrolet dealership on the other side other highway on the approach path. At the other end of the runway there is a 2-story building and numerous towers and antennas.

Due to the obstacles at each end of the runway and absence of any over-run areas it is not a forgiving runway. More than one Cessna 182,206 and 210 have either blown their tires trying to get stopped or have gone through the airport fence because they were too fast landing, forgot to set takeoff flaps or waited too long to go around.

If you have a good short field performing airplane and you are proficient at short field landings then you should be fine. If you are not on the ground by the first 1/4-1/3 of the runway go around while you still can. If you are not comfortable with s true short field environment then I would practise before coming or consider leaving the plane in Cancun.

There is some parachute jumping activity over the airport as well as banner towing with banner drops and pickups over the Playa runway. When you depart Cancun they will hand you over to Cozumel tower who will provide you with traffic reports until about 2-3 Nm from the Playa airport and then they will let you switch to the CTAF. Bear in mind that most of the local communications will be in Spanish so don't be put off, they will understand your English. Some of the pilots that fly out of Playa speak excellent English but some do not. Report in the blind as you would at any non-towered field and fly a left hand pattern.

Yeah, I got the guide already from you guys as well as the maps which you suggested. Sounds good. I also speak Spanish so (hopefully) I will understand them. We are lucky to have you there Rick. Is it safe to leave the airplane parked at Playa for a few days? I will be staying for a week there. I am bringing a prop and an ignition lock just in case (maybe too cautious, but better safe than sorry, I guess). I will make sure I come and visit with you Rick when I arrive to Cancun. Planning to arrive on July 5th. Will you be there?
Thanks for all the help.
Fernando

Hola Fernando, yes I consider Playa to be safe. Actually, I am flying over there in about an hour for another meeting with ATC regarding the departure procedures.

We havea trip to the Bahamas in July but I believe that we will still be here on the 5'th.

Saludos

Rick

We had another productive meeting with the management of ATC in the Cancun-Cozumel area. The two major topics covered were procedure for flying from the Playa del Carmen airport to Cozumel as well as the design of the TCA around Cancun and Cozumel.
To address the concern of ATC regarding aircraft departing from runway 11 at the Playa del Carmen airport (PCE) bound for Cozumel that are not in radio contact and could interfere with the final approach course to the Cozumel airport. While the TCA around Cozumel extends 10 Nm from the Cozumel VOR to the surface, the ATC management have agreed to establishing a new procedure which allows departing aircraft to continue eastbound without having to make an immediate right or left turn to remain outside the TCA until establishing radio contact. Aircraft departing runway 11 at PCE will maintain runway heading and climb to 1,500’ while attempting to establish radio contact with Cozumel tower. If unable to contact the tower due to frequency congestion, aircraft will continue on the same route until reaching the northwestern most point of Cozumel island and then turning south towards the airport. This will allow aircraft to continue their trajectory towards Cozumel without wasting time and fuel loitering outside the TCA waiting to establish radio contact. This route parallels the approach path to Cozumel but is displaced about 4 Nm to the north of the final approach course to runway 11 in Cozumel.
During the meeting, we also discussed how the floor of the Cancun-Cozumel TCA extends from 1,500 out to a distance of 50 Nm from the VOR of each airport. This effectively creates an enormous block of controlled Class D airspace that is 130 NM in length and 100 Nm in width with a base of 1,500 MSL. The consequences of this airspace design is that it restricts departing VFR aircraft from making ascents when departing airports underneath this airspace. The ATC management has agreed to pursuing a total re-design of this airspace with a “stair-step” increase in the floor of the TCA with increased distance from the airport. The resulting airspace would look similar to Class B airspace designs in the USA and other TCA’s in Mexico. By freeing up this Class D airspace which is not being used anyway, VFR aircraft could begin ascents for higher altitudes without requiring clearances from Cancun approach thereby avoiding flight in turbulence or into clouds while waiting to establish communications and obtain a clearance.

By the way, I am already in Mexico and I must say that the 2010 Pilot's Guide to Mexico is INVALUABLE. Is is the best investment that any pilot coming to Mexico can make. Thanks Rick. (disclaimer: I do not get paid to say this, I am just a very satisfied customer!)

Thanks to the guide, I had no problems whatsoever when I entered Cancum (MMUN) via Key West. Customs people were very nice, polite, and helpful. I think that speaking spanish to them helped BUT it would have not helped had I not had all the paperwork in order, which I did thanks to the Guide and Rick's tips. The flight to Playa was uneventful and I quickly learned the ropes about how to follow a protocol that is very different from the one US pilots are used to. I have one recommendation for people coming into Mexico with their airplanes for the first time: BUY the guide, subscribe to the Caribbean Sky Tours Pilot's Association web site and when in doubt, email Rick. Thanks Rick!
Fernando