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President Obama will be visiting Costa Rica from May 03-05, 2013 and a NOTAM has been issued prohibiting all General Aviation operations from May 03 to 05, 2013. At the present time, there are already US military transport aircraft flying into and out of MROC delivering equipment. Although it is not yet published, we also expect that the NOTAM will be extended to May 06 or May 07 as US military transport aircraft will be returning to MROC to pick up the vehicles etc. after the president's departure and significant disruptions are expected. Furthermore, it appears that the Blackhawk helicopters and other related aircraft related to President Obama's visit will be using the international General Aviation airport in San Jose- Pavas (MRPV) for parking as there is no parking space at MROC (this is published in a separate NOTAM). This will also restrict available ramp space at MRPV and additional NOTAM's may be possible.

If you are planning a trip to MROC or to MRPV from May 03 to May 07, 2013, you should take note of these activities/limitations and plan accordingly. If you have any questions or require more detail, please call us at 1-786-206-6147.

The impact to general aviation from the planned visit of President Obama to Costa Rica continues to grow. Today we were advised that ALL General Aviation (GA) flights will be prohibited in San Jose, Costa Rica during President Obama's visit.

GA flights at the San Jose-Santamaria airport (MROC) will be prohibited from May 03 to 05 and flights will be prohibited at the San Jose-Pavas airport (MRPV) from May 03 to 04, 2013. Although not yet official, we expect additional restrictions and disruptions to General Aviation flights to Costa Rica during this time period.

It is very disappointing to see that ALL General Aviation aircraft of Costa Rica or foreign registry will be completely blocked from the capital of Costa Rica with no recourse or special procedure to facilitate their travel.

If you are planning a flight to Costa Rica during, or near, these dates, you should review your itineraries to avoid disruptions to your travel plans. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact us at 1-786-206-6147.

Costa Rica has closed its doors to General Aviation at a a third airport; Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB) from April 26 to May 06, 2013 due to the arrival of President Obama. This leaves only the Limon, Costa Rica airport (MRLM) as the last remaining international airport not restricted by the president's arrival. Unfortunately, MRLM is woefully inadequate and does not have the infrastructure to handle any significant volume of traffic and has very limited parking ramp available. Therefore, Costa Rica has essentially shut its doors to General Aviation. In addition, all airline flights to San Jose, Costa Rica have been cancelled for a 24 hour period around the president's arrival. To make matters worse, not all of the NOTAM's have yet been published, our information is coming from our agents and local authorities of what is being planned.

If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica between today and May 07, 2013 you should carefully assess your travel plans to ensure that you will not be affected. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-786-206-6147.

As a clarification to our previous posts. The restrictions on General Aviation aircraft is primarily for over-night parking in Costa Rica. If you are plnning to make a technical stop in Costa Rica without remaining at the airport over-night, then you may still be operate. Nonetheless, you should still verify with the airport you plan to use to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Latest information as of Monday, 29-APR-2013.

San Jose-Santamaria (MROC):
No over-night parking for General Aviation (no end date). Aircraft can only drop off passengers and must depart immediately for another airport. Additional airport closures related to President Obama's arrival expected but not yet published.

San Jose-Pavas (MRPV):
Airport closed to ALL operations from 03-MAY-2013 at 1600Z to o4-MAY-2013 at 2100Z

Liberia (MRLB):
No overnight parking for General Aviation from 26-APR-2013 to 06-MAY-2013. Aircraft can only drop off passengers and must depart immediately for another airport. In some rare exceptions, we can obtain special permission for customers to park overnight.

We have been told to expect additional NOTAM's to be published today.

UPDATED 03-MAY-2013

Costa Rica has published additional NOTAM’s that are even more extensive than originally anticipated. These NOTAM’s confirm that BOTH airports in San Jose, Costa Rica (MROC and MRPV) will be CLOSED to General Aviation from May 03-04, 2013.

Also the Liberia, Costa Rica airport (MRLB) is CLOSED to General Aviation on May 04, 2013.Also, General Aviation will NOT be allowed to park at (MRLB) until May 07, 2013 and at MROC indefinitely. In addition, Temporary Flight Restrictions and special transponder and communications requirements are established around the San Jose, Costa Rica VOR “El Coco” – (TIO 115.7) extending out 35 Nm in radius which will impact all flights at or below 18,000 MSL.

Anyone planning to visit Costa Rica or planning to over-fly Costa Rica in the coming days should check current NOTAM’s carefully to verify that they will comply with all restrictions and special procedures.

Pilots should take note that these airspace restrictions will impact many aircraft trying to fly IFR or VFR at or below 18,000 over the country of Costa Rica including aircraft transitioning north/south, to/from Nicaragua and Panama.

The following are NOTAM's we have received. THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE LATEST NOTAM'S AND ADDITIONAL NOTAM'S OR CHANGES TO THESE NOTAM'S MAY EXIST OR THEY CAN CHANGE AT ANY TIME. CONSULT THE APPROPRIATE FLIGHT SERVICE, AIS OR ATC FACILITY TO OBTAIN THE LATEST UP-TO-DATE NOTAMS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE PROPERLY BRIEFED AND COMPLY WITH THE LATEST PROCEDURES AND RESTRICTIONS.


Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB)
A0710/13 - GENERAL AVIATION ACFT NOT ALLOWED ON THE APRON. 26 APR 13:00 2013 UNTIL 06 MAY (Translated to NO over-night parking for general aviation aircraft)
A0762/13 - IGA NOT ALLOWED. MAY 03 1800/2130 MAY 04 1600/1900, 03 MAY 18:00 2013 UNTIL 04
MAY 19:00 2013. CREATED: 03 MAY 12:27 2013


A0760/13 - AD SCHEDULE COMMERCIAL FLTS ONLY. 04 MAY 16:00 2013 UNTIL 04 MAY 19:00 2013.
CREATED: 03 MAY 01:12 2013


San Jose-Santamaria (MROC)
A0747/13 - GENERAL AVIATION ACFT NOT ALLOWED. 03 MAY 06:00 2013 UNTIL 04 MAY 19:00 2013.

A0232/13 - REMOTE APRON OVERNIGHT FOR GEN AVIATION RESTRICTED (Translated to NO over-night parking for general aviation aircraft)

San Jose-Pavas (MRPV)
A0745/13 - AD CLSD. 03 MAY 19:00 2013 UNTIL 04 MAY 20:00 2013. (AD CLSD = Airport CLOSED)

Costa Rica Airspace:
A0750/13 - RESTRICTED AREA MRR4 IS ESTABLISHED IN THE AIRSPACE OF CIRCULAR GEOMETRICAL CONFIGUATION CENTERED IN COOR 095901.20N0841410.17W IN A 35NM RADIUS AT THIS RESTRICTED AREA ONLY ALLOWED OFFICIAL AND POLICING FLTS. SFC - 18000 FT AMSL, MAY 03 1900/2130 AND MAY 04 1800/1930, 03 MAY 19:00 2013 UNTIL 04 MAY 19:30 2013.

A0749/13 - ALL ACFT BTN 21 NM AND 35NM CENTERED IN COORD 095901.20N 0841410.17W VOR TIO MUST BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH ATC AND TRANSPONDER ACT. 03 MAY 21:30 2013 UNTIL 04 MAY 18:00 2013. RESTRICTED AREA MRR5 IS ESTABLISHED IN THE AIRSPACE OF CIRCULAR GEOMETRICAL CONFIGURATION CENTERED IN COOR 095901.20N0841410.17W IN A 21 NM RADIUS. AT THIS RESTRICTED AREA ONLY ALLOWED PRESIDENTIAL, SCHEDULE COMMERCIAL AND POLICING FLTS. SFC - 18000 FT AMSL, 03 MAY 21:30 2013 UNTIL 04 MAY 18:00 2013.

Airways Affected by Airspace NOTAM’s
R773, G440, B767, A502, B690, A322

I know this is an old thread but I just want to say... with my experience in Liberia, I'd say that the Costa Ricans are doing the best they can do to make it prohibitive to fly GA planes in CR. See my other thread...