Members: Mexico Airports

 Below are LMV volunteer pilot comments regarding airports they have used for LMV clinic trips. These comments are solely pilot observations and opinions based on conditions as of that time. Conditions change quickly. Do not assume they will be the same when you use the same airport.

Please also check our useful links page for additional information.

Bahía Tortugas, Baja California

August 2006-Tom Palmer

Runway Length: 6000 Heading: 29 Runway Condition: None.
Runway Elevation: SL Windsock: None. Runway Comments: Good.
Other Comments: Isabel translated; Russ helped with equipment and transportation.

August 2000-Max Trescott

Paved runway in excellent condition. The airport is open, and has always been open. For awhile, officials in Mexicali were saying it was closed and were not allowing people to file flight plans to there. If you run into this, just file to Guerrero Negro, pick up some gas (which was $4.42/gallon on August 10), and continue to Tortugas.

Easiest way to land is to make right turns over the Bay, and land over the city on 29. There are a few tiedown rings (though you won't tie into all 3 unless you bring long ropes!) in the tiedown area near the 29 end (I left my rope for a tail tie down--enjoy it!). Use rocks for the wheels. BTW, runway is paved and in excellent conditions for Baja.

June 1999

At the military air base in Ensenada, we were informed that the Bahía Tortugas airstrip was closed using old car tires. We filed for Cedros and notified the Baron of the "closed" airstrip and proceeded south. The Baron was about 30 knots faster than the Debonair and flew ahead, verified the absence of Michelins on the runway and both aircraft landed at Tortugas at about 4:30 p.m. We were met by the Military Police, who were not happy to see us. Benito, our host and newly elected member of city government quickly made it all better.

Fuel at Tijuana was $2.03 per gallon with LMV discount. It took 2 1/2 hours to clear customs in Tijuana. The $42 fee was charged in Tijuana. The LMV letter requesting this fee be waived was not accepted. The $42 fee was not collected at Ensenada (Tom Palmer cleared there), but fuel was $3.50 per gallon. There was no fuel at Guerrero Negro. The Bahía Tortugas airport is "officially closed". We were allowed to land but with much hassle and only because Benito, the local official, had obtained written permission prior to our landing. No searches by military personnel on the trip. Fuel at Punta San Francisquito for $3.00 per gallon. Mexicali is now privatized and charges a $15 per passenger airport fee (pilot and co-pilot are not charged). A copy of the letter from the Mexican government to the Baja Bush Pilots which states the $15 passenger tax will not go into effect until January 2000 is useless in Mexicali. They claim their fee is a local airport fee, not a federal fee.

Baviácora, Sonora

March 2006-Tom Palmer

The airstrip is about 4000 ft by 75 ft, dirt, well maintained and in good condition. Elevation 2000 ft. It is oriented roughly 18/36 and located on a mesa about 1/2 mile north of town. There is another feature that resembles an airstrip about 1 mile east of town, but is not. It appears to be used as a race track with a starting gate at one end. There is no wind sock. I landed and departed on 18 with a 10K crosswind from the west. I suggested that a white rag on a tree or a small smoky fire would be of great help when they expect us.

Cedros, Baja California: See "Isla Cedros" below

Ensenada, Baja California

August 2000-Max Trescott

Ensenada is now charging $45 airway tax, and requires tourist visas. Visas are $19 each, however you must take a taxi to pay fee at a downtown bank. Alternatively, you can pay at another location if you are continuing on to another airport. $12 landing fee. Gas was $3.60/gallon.

January 2000-Sam Bishop

$12 landing fee, $17 per night parking fee, total $51.00. Nothing else. No tourist visas, no general declaration, really simple this time.

September 1999-Tom Palmer

No difficulty; quick and easy. No aircraft importation formalities, no tourist cards, no charges except landing and tie down (see below).

July 1999-Max Trescott

Gas was $3.34 per gallon. Landing fee was $12, and parking for one night for a single was $15. No entry, exit or airway fees for overnight stay.

Granados, Sonora

 October 2006-Randall Sosnick

Airport sits on a plateau about 100 ft. above and west of the town. Length is 800 meters (measured with a car odometer). Elevation 1750 ft. 07/25 with rising terrain to the west. Slopes about 2% up from east to west. Hard-packed with a few rocks and many shrubs. Does not appear to get much use. Parking at east end. Small white cement run-up blocks at each end of runway help in avoiding propeller damage.

January 2001-Tom Palmer

09/27 is in good shape and located on a mesa above the town. Unobstructed approach to 27 for an uphill landing.

Guaymas, Sonora

October 2006-Elizabeth Collins

Runway Length: 7000'. Heading: 02/20. Runway Condition: excellent.

Runway Elevation: 60'. Windsock: yes. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: towered airport, airport of entry, customs, fuel, no night landings, bring your own ropes for tie downs.

October 2006-Rob Lober

Runway Length: 7000'. Heading: 02/20. Runway Condition: Excellent.

Runway Elevation: 60'. Windsock: Yes. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: No night landings, tower, customs clearance, fuel.

October 1999-Bob Horvath

Departed through Guaymas, big mistake! $159 For 55 gallons of gas [$2.89/gallon] (no LMV discount) landing fees, parking fees, $18/passenger departure tax.

Guerrero Negro, Baja California

December 2000

Call 011 52 115 70132; ask Mario about fuel availability

Fuel is generally very available in Guerrero Negro between the hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm. Mon - Sat. The fuel guy may come out on Sunday if you call and make prior arrangements.

Price reported to be over $5/gallon.

August 2000-Rob Lober

Fuel was $4.42/gallon. Had to phone fuel guy and wait over an hour for him to come to airport during business hours on a Thursday.

Hermosillo, Sonora

October 2006-Randall Sosnick

Fuel pump is out of service but fuel is available from truck. Therefore no apparent need to pull up to fuel pump (as previously required) instead of more convenient parking in front of terminal. Ramp in front of terminal is under repair.

January 2001-Tom Palmer

$5 landing fee but got fuel discount. About $2/gal

January 2000-Bob Downs

Gas was $2.30 per gallon with LMV discount. Immigration fees: $19 per person, pilot included. Customs fee: $57 levied on Tom Palmer's private flight at Hermosillo (only known case)

Hidalgo, Sonora: See "Villa Hidalgo" below

Huásabas, Sonora

October 2006-Randall Sosnick

Airport is currently unusable, with a horse racing gate on it and barbed wire closing off the south end. The village presidente told us that they do hope to re-open it "some day." Use the airport at Granados instead (7 kilometers to the south).

January 2001-Tom Palmer

03/21 is a little overgrown at the south end and we will try to get the town to clear the sides to make it easier to turn around. Land 21 and take off 03.

Isla Cedros, Baja California

October 2006-Dave Fulton

Runway Length: long. Heading: baja pilots has good info. Runway Condition: good.

Runway Elevation: 170' Windsock: yes. Runway Comments: easy.

Other Comments: they sold us fuel at a reasonable price. It really made the trip much easier for me. I was really impressed with the honesty of the police who sold the fuel to us. It was good quality.

October 2006-Tom Palmer

Runway Length: 5000. Heading: 34/16. Runway Condition: good.

Runway Elevation: SL. Windsock: west side. Runway Comments: good.

Other Comments: open hangar for parking. Got 100LL from fish coop through police dept.

February 2000-Dave Fulton

Fuel is now available on Isla Cedros! Price was $1.00 per liter. No other details available.

Kino Bay, Sonora

January 2001-Tom Palmer

Airport is reported to be closed. Hermosillo would not let me file for there.

Loreto, Baja California

1999

Navigation fee: $18 at Loreto only.

Mexicali, Baja California

October 2006-Randall Sosnick

Immigration is now at the Operations Building (unless there happens to be a airline arriving at the same time, in which case it is upstairs at the commercial terminal reached via the outside stairs).

October 2006-Dave Fulton

Despite representations that our new multiple entry permit to Mexico would allow us to fly directly from a none port of exit (like San Ignacio) to the US, I was ordered, after much protest, to land in a Mexican Port of exit. I did in Mexicali. I was lucky I had enough fuel to get from the Brown Area to Mexicali. Landing at Tia Juana was a possibility. It was IMC but still doable. I was told later that I had should have just told Tia Juana Approach that I was coming from Loretto or some other official port of exit.

October 2006-Tom Palmer

Mexicali would only issue 30 day visas.

August 2006-Tom Palmer

No landing fee at Mexicali. Gas $2.80/Gal with LMV discount. Brown field customs requested use of new customs forms. I have copies.

January 2001-Tom Palmer

Charged $23 for landing and Customs.

January 2000-Bob Downs

Gas was $2.20 per gallon. This was without an LMV discount. The refueler stated that if I had filed first and had an LMV confirmation statement on my stamped flight plan it would have been lower. Immigration fees. Inbound: $18.50 per person, pilot excepted.

November 1999-Tom Palmer

Entered through Mexicali. $41 fee still in effect in spite of word that it is supposed to be waived for general aviation. $17 per person tourist fee in effect. Got LMV discount on fuel. About $1.85/gal.

October 1999-Bob Horvath

Stopped in Mexicali southbound. Paid airway fee, and $207 for 91 gallons ($2.27/gallon). Pilot and passengers paid $17 each for a 6 month visa. $11 landing for twin. It was suggested by Mexicali officials that we depart the country either through San Felipe or Ensenada since they were not charging the $19/passenger fee that Mexicali and others were charging.

July 1999

We crossed southbound at Mexicali. New procures in effect for tower fee and tourist cards. We paid $41 for the tower fee. We did not have to pay for the tourists cards. They attached a slip to each tourist card directing you to go to a bank and pay the $15 fee. If you don't find a bank by the time you arrive at your exit airport, they will process paperwork and you will pay the fee. Of course, they told us they sometimes don't have the paperwork in which case you don't have to pay. Sure enough, when we exited through San Felipe they did not have the paperwork so we didn't pay. Tourist cards are only good for 10 days were told.

Mulege, Baja California

October 2006-Art Schmauder

Runway Length: 3,700 ft. Heading: 14/32. Runway Condition: Smooth dirt.

Runway Elevation: Sea level. Windsock: On hill east of 32 numbers. Runway Comments: Adequate.

Other Comments:

Nogales, Sonora

January 2001

Used as port of entry. In addition to the usual fees, I was charged $72 for two persons for the tourist card (instead of the previous $19). They wrote on the card that it was good for multiple entries for 180 days. I have not tried it yet.

Punta San Francisquito, Baja California

October 2006-Rob Lober

Runway Length: 3000'. Heading: 18/36. Runway Condition: Dirt.

Runway Elevation: 10'. Windsock: Yes. Runway Comments: Nice.

Other Comments: paved strip is in bad shape, use the dirt one.

October 2006-Elizabeth Collins

Runway Length: 3000'. Heading: 30/15. Runway Condition: dirt.

Runway Elevation: 10'. Windsock: yes. Runway Comments: good.

Other Comments: dirt recently dragged, good condition, a little soft. Do not use paved.

August 2006-Tom Palmer

Runway Length: 4000 Heading: 34 Runway Condition: Little soft but useable.

Runway Elevation: SL. Windsock: Runway Comments:

Other Comments:

January, 2001-Tom Palmer

Dirt runway 35/17 is reopened and is recommended. Paved 33/15 has deteriorated but is useable in a pinch. It is longer.

December 2000

Out of fuel for last 5 months.

October 1999

Reported to be out of fuel. Call (619/690-1000) to check on availability.

San Felipe, Baja California

October 2006-Randall Sosnick

Airport out of fuel (unfortunately a common occurrence here). Recommend calling (011 52 657 71368) or verifying status with tower prior to landing if planning to obtain fuel there. Also, Baja Bush Pilots website reports that as of Oct. 11, 2006 Puerto Penasco has fuel (and is also an airport of entry).

Call 011 52 657 71368 to check if they have fuel

December 2000

Gas was $3.70/gal

November 1999-Tom Palmer

On return, I went through customs at San Felipe. Good news! The immigration officer in San Felipe has unilaterally decided not to charge any of the charitable flights like LMV with the $17 tourist fee. He will just not issue nor require the tourist card, period. $4 landing fee and $1/liter of gas, though.

July 23, 1999 from Baja Bush Pilots Bulletin board

From what I gather from other pilots the only Airport of Entry in Baja that is not currently collecting the $ 42.00 airspace fee is Ensenada. I mentioned this to the woman that files flight plans in San Felipe and she said that if you go to another controlled airport and don't have record of payment they would charge the $ 42.00 there. So if you want to save $ 42.00 and you are not going to a controlled airport try Ensenada. I personally like San Felipe because I am farther into Baja with full fuel. Also, Ensenada can be foggy early in the morning. San Felipe had fuel. I called first @ 011 52 657 71368. The fuel attendant said he had 10,000 gallons of fuel.

San Ignacio, Baja California

October 2006-Dave Fulton

Runway Length: 4500. Heading: Runway Condition:

Runway Elevation: Windsock: no, it got ripped away by crosswind a long time ago. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: cross wind.

Despite representations that our new multiple entry permit to Mexico would allow us to fly directly from a none port of exit (like San Ignacio) to the US, I was ordered, after much protest, to land in a Mexican Port of exit. I did in Mexicali. I was lucky I had enough fuel to get from the Brown Area to Mexicali. Landing at Tia Juana was a possibility. It was IMC but still doable. I was told later that I had should have just told Tia Juana Approach that I was coming from Loretto or some other official port of exit.

October 2006-Elizabeth Collins

Runway Length: 5000 .Heading: 17/35. Runway Condition: good.

Runway Elevation: 800'. Windsock: none. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: needs windsock, typical winds strong from west, no tie downs.

October 2006-Rob Lober

Runway Length: 5040'. Heading: 17/35. Runway Condition: good.

Runway Elevation: 800'. Windsock: no. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: Needs a windsock.

October 2006-Tom Palmer

Runway Length: 4500. Heading: 35/17. Runway Condition: good.

Runway Elevation: 800. Windsock: on ground. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: windsock tower downed by hurricane john. Sock still attached.

October 2006-Randall Sosnick

Runway Length: 4,950 ft. Heading: 18/36. Runway Condition: paved.

Runway Elevation: 900. Windsock: Didn't see one. Runway Comments: good.

Other Comments:

October 2006-Art Schmauder

Runway Length: 5,040 ft. Heading: 17/35. Runway Condition: rough tarmac.

Runway Elevation: 800. Windsock: none. Runway Comments: satisfactory.

Other Comments: No tiedowns. Strong 90 degree cross winds.

January 2001

San Ignacio runway is normally closed with tires on the runway. Landing is only permitted by prior approval to have the tires removed.

October 1999-Bob Horvath

Mexicali airport stated that they thought San Ignacio was closed however when I told them that we had just been there the previous month, they allowed my flight plan. When we got to San Ignacio our fly by yielded tires along side the runway and on the runway (300 ft of each threshold). Landing was not a problem (Beech Baron)

September 1999-Tom Engleman

Paved runway but tie down area all gravel and sand with only one aircraft tiedown. Airport needs windsock.

March 1999

The airport is excellent. There is a slight uphill grade on 35, good surface and a badly worn windsock located near the east corner of the 35 threshold. Elevation is 800 MSL. Length is 5,000 feet (I believe it). Width 95'. Parking to the east with only one tiedown which I installed near the apron, midpoint on the pad. Very strong westerly crosswind during a 4pm local landing. Moderate northeasterly crosswind during a 3pm local take off. Tiedowns are highly recommended as the evening winds were very fierce in the protected town 5 miles away. There was military presence every time I visited the airport and a locked gate. The secretary of the town board is in charge of the airport. She owns a grocery store next to the gas station. Dolores Quiroz, gas station phone: 011-52-115-40060. The strip was closed prior to our visit and is currently on a 90 day permit. It is scheduled to close again April 23, 1999, unless the commandant of Loreto airport approves the town's plan to keep it open. I also met with the president of the board, Maria Nestora Arce, and she assured me that Loreto would soon approve the town's plan. She cautioned me that the airport would be closed for a short while for re-surfacing -- the key is to call ahead.

The downtown airport is closed. I walked it and you would not want to land there unless it was an emergency.

Thermal (Oasis), California, United States

October 2006-Bob Lamkin

Runway Length: 8500. Heading: 35/17. Runway Condition: Excellent.

Runway Elevation: -115. Windsock: At approach ends 35/17. Runway Comments:

Other Comments: Fuel cheaper at self serve pumps than at Million Air, even with discount.

Villa Hidalgo, Sonora

October 2006-Randall Sosnick

This 2900 foot long gravel strip is on a small mesa on the west side of the valley. While the length is adequate, the mountain adjacent to it requires an immediate go-around if the pilot is too high over the threshold.

The approach from the East allows about 1 mile for maneuvering onto final. Takeoffs are obviously from the West. There is a dogleg at the approach end of the runway (shown leading to the lower left of this photo), however the locals could not tell us why it was there. Don't land on it! Special check-our requirements apply to LMV pilots for this airport-contact chief pilot before going. The Huásabas airport to the South is recommended for larger aircraft.

Feb, 2000-Notes from Chief Pilot

Hidalgo or Oputo (On CH-22 chart this town is identified as Oputo.) airstrip information: Location: West edge of town. Coordinates: 109 deg. 19'6" by 30 deg 10'07". GPS is easiest way to go direct, of course, but LORAN south central U.S. held all the way in. Elevation: About 2300 feet MSL. Use Nogales altimeter setting acquired from San Diego FSS whose reach on 122.6 is pretty good. The MMML altimeter is not much different either. Runway: Coarse red gravel aligned east/west. Uphill gradient to the west, slightly curved. 2600 to 2800 feet in length. Some of the gravel on the west end is pretty sizeable. Rough field procedures recommended for takeoff. Traffic pattern: Unusual pattern procedures are not required. However, good airspeed and altitude control must be maintained so as avoid being high and hot. Make sure you know your 1.3, 1.2. and 1.1% Vs figures and fly them. Hazards: Loose roaming horses. Rising terrain makes it mandatory to land on Runway 27. Go-around should not be a problem if decision is made reasonably early. In hot weather, you may want to consider reducing fuel load out of Mexicali or Nogales so as to lower takeoff weight out of Hidalgo. Hermosillo and Nogales are not far away for refueling. A good hardsurfaced airstrip is located 24NM northwest. It is just north of the huge open pit copper mine located on the west side of the ridge just before you drop into the Bavispe river valley where Hidalgo (Oputo) is located. The airstrip, but not the copper mine, are on the charts.