Member's Home Forums General Discussion Mexico Mexico Aeronautical & Regulatory GPS approaches in Mexico: Impossible for GA

In August of 2017, Mexico’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) published GNSS (GPS) approaches for Acapulco (MMAA) and Ixtapa/Zihuatenejo (MMZH). These complement the GPS approach for Toluca (MMTO) published earlier. Part 91 operators should take note that these approaches require prior special approvals from the FAA and Mexico’s DGAC. Failure to obtain prior approval may result in fines.

Mexico’s DGAC has published 2 mandatory Circulars that govern the use of GPS approaches as well as any other navigation routes that require Performance Based Navigation (PBN). As these Circulars currently read, to use a GPS approach in Mexico, you must first obtain a Letter Of Authorization from the FAA, which the FAA does not issue for Part 91 GPS approach operations. Once you have the FAA authorization you must contact Mexico's DGAC to get approval. This must occur BEFORE you can request or accept a GPS approach to one of these Mexican airports which makes this an impractical, if not impossible, requirement. Unfortunately, the Circulars as they are currently written specifically indicate that foreign operators -including USA and Canada- operating under Part 91 rules of the USA FAR's must comply. While this may have been an unintentional oversight, it is now written into these mandatory Circulars which any DGAC official at these airports would be within their right to enforce. Recent actions by Mexico's DGAC would indicate that regardless of past procedures or verbal indications by local DGAC officials to the contrary, they WILL ENFORCE and fine pilots for violating any Mexican regulation regardless of the reason or circumstance. In conclusion, this means that General Aviation operators will not be able to take advantage of the benefits and safety of modern GPS technology.