Member's Home Forums General Discussion Central America Central America Aeronautical & Regulatory Ramp Checks - Beware!!

Mexico's Civil Aviation Authorities (DGAC) have implemented ramp checks at Mexican airports specifically targeted at US registered aircraft. These ramp checks started last Friday and are causing delays of up to an additional 1-2 hours or more to the normal processing time. In addition to being lengthy, the inspectors are searching for some items that may not normally apply to US registered General Aviation aircraft. We have confirmed with Mexico's DGAC headquarters in Mexico City that they will enforce Mexican regulations on US registered aircraft regardless of what the FAA regulations may be and that these ramp checks will continue. In this instance, FAR 91.703 applies.

For any flight to Mexico, in addition to the normally required aircraft documents, you must be sure to have the following on board:

> Original copy of your insurance policy (yes, paper copy, no electronic pdf)
> Original aircraft maintenance logbooks (yes, originals, no copies)
> Radio Station license. This is also a US FCC regulation
> Noise Certificate per FAR 91.703 (a) (5) "For aircraft subject to ICAO Annex 16, carry on board the aircraft documents that summarize the noise operating characteristics and certifications of the aircraft that demonstrate compliance with this part and part 36 of this chapter."
> You must have a weight and balance calculation for each flight, in addition to your Weight and Balance data sheet. We are checking on this as Mexican private aircraft are not required to have these so we do not understand why private US registered aircraft would have to have them
> You must have a life raft and life jackets on board for any over-water operations
> They are specifically looking for a First Aid kit in the aircraft
> You must have at least a current Jeppesen electronic "Trip Kit" containing the summary of Mexican regulations and procedure requirements in your MFD, iPad or in paper format
> We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bring a notarized letter that clearly documents the individually identifiable aircraft information (tail number, make, model, serial number), the names of the crew and the names of the passengers. The letter should attest that the crew are authorized to fly the aircraft, that the passengers are the owner/family/friends and that all flights are PRIVATE and not for any commercial purpose. A sample template (Private Operations Declaration letter) in Microsoft Word can be downloaded from the CST Member Website here Look in the Aircraft Documents section

I tried checking this before asking the question here... but, how do we know if our aircraft are subject to needed the Noise Certificate?
I fly a Piper Cherokee 235, but can't find anywhere whether I need that document or not.

Also, Rick, do you have any information if these ramp checks will end on June 20th? That's what I was told by a pilot.

The ramp checks are supposed to end June 20'th. However, there may be some "after effects" that may continue afterwards

The reason given is that there is a "significant" number of US registered aircraft being used in Mexico for illegal cabotage. This issue has been prevalent for many years in Mexico and has been highlighted in a number of high profile fatal accidents involving US registered aircraft owned in trusts and operated in Mexico. One that got notoriety was the accident of N345MC which was carrying the singer Jenny Rivera. There was another high profile accident at the beginning of this month of a Challenger 601 aircraft, N601VH, that went down returning from Las Vegas with the loss of 13 people. There is plenty of factual information and conjecture regarding these accidents to be found on the internet.

We were told by the DGAC in Mexico City that the intent of these ramp checks is to ensure the legal and safe operation of US registered aircraft in Mexico.

Since this went into effect last Friday, we have received numerous reports of aircraft throughout the country being ramp checked. Some checks were brief whereas one of our customers flying a Citation was ramp checked upon arrival at one airport and then again prior to departure from the same airport a couple of days later. Another Cessna 182 aircraft flying on Sunday was stopped in Tampico and again in Veracruz the same day resulting in turnaround times of just over 3 hours at each airport and being unable to make his intended destination that day. We have similar reports throughout the country of everything from Maules to large corporate jets being ramp checked with the time lost due to these inspections ranging from "cursory" to over 2 hours long. The length of the inspections have nothing to do with the size nor complexity of the aircraft. For example, the inspection of a Maule took almost 2 hours, in addition to the normal time required for formalities.

Senior authorities in Mexico City made it clear that they are expecting US registered aircraft to comply with Mexican regulations regardless of FAA regulations or industry best practices.

Most pilots are rejecting the idea of bringing the original aircraft maintenance logs on board the aircraft. A number of aircraft have gotten by bringing photocopies of the last pages of the logbooks that demonstrate that the aircraft is airworthy and in compliance with all regulations for IFR flight. While not exactly what we were told by the Adjunct Director in Mexico City, it seems to be sufficient for a number of inspectors. However, some aircraft have been detained when they could show no documentation whatsoever to the inspector.