Member's Home Forums General Discussion Mexico Mexico Aeronautical & Regulatory Update on meetings with DGAC in Mexico

We had a teleconference this week with top level DGAC staff in Mexico City to follow up on pending issues. Although they were reluctant to provide dates, we are told that we can expect to see significant progress on the Mexico insurance issue as well as the 406 MHz ELT issue as well. We will continue monitoring this situation.

The DGAC has been undergoing massive restructuring at the central and regional level. A number of airport comandantes have been re-assigned as well as inspectors who have been either dismissed or re-assigned. At the central level, a number of high level key positions have seen changes. Fernando Silva who headed the permit department has departed and replaced by Lic. Salvador Retana. Fernando Silva's departure is considered a loss as he was very knowledgeable about his department as well as general and commercial avioation and he was fair and objective. We hope that Mr. Retana will also bring positive leadership for this department. Another key change is the departure of Gabriel Tort who was Director over the technical department at the DGAC. Aside from being an engineer, Mr. Tort was also a general aviation pilot who helped bring a perspective to the department. Mr. Tort has been replaced by one of his subordinates, Agustin Cano. Fortunately, we have a good relationship with Mr. Cano and he has been our main point of contact regarding the 406 MHz ELT issue. With Mr. Cano in this position we at least retain continuity on this topic and hope that he will push for making this requirement unnecessary for aircraft visiting from the USA.

Right now the dust is beginning to settle at the DGAC and we will have to establish new relationships with the new directors and continue pushing for changes to facilitate general aviation travel.