Crossing the Border – To Mexico!

Pilots flying out of the country for the first time face a list of confusing regulations especially when they are different for flying outbound from and inbound to the United States. Common to all flights departing or entering the country is that pilots must be on a flight plan when penetrating the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This includes flights originating in the US, overflying the border and returning to the US

ICAO flight plans are currently not required when traveling over land. [ICAO domestic flight plans take effect May 8, 2008.] A domestic flight plan form is used for VFR or IFR. Modifications to the domestic flight plan form remarks include ADCUS (Advise Customs), number of souls on board and the pilot's name (e.g., ADCUS 2 Smith). After filing your outbound flight plan, proceed as usual concerning activation for VFR flights and requesting your clearance for IFR flights. Remember to cancel your FP with ATC in Mexico.

When flying across the Gulf of Mexico, an ICAO flight plan form is required. To file an ICAO flight plan, call 1-800-432-4716.

Mexico requires landing at a Port of Entry, but does not limit which one you choose. You can depart the US then land and clear customs at any recognized Port of Entry. AFSS can be contacted for a list of the Ports of Entry.

In the last few years, many pilots have been flying into Punta Penasco (MMPE) on the western side of Mexico. This is not an official Port of Entry and Mexican authorities have informed the US that flight plans will not be accepted for Search and Rescue. However, they will provide Customs service, and many pilots do clear customs at MMPE. You must file and activate a flight plan in order to penetrate the ADIZ.

The content of preflight weather briefings into Mexico is limited. Weather products available to us include METARs, TAFs, satellite photos and on occasion some winds aloft. The winds aloft are listed by latitude/longitude rather than airport. Y our briefer will remind you to "check data as soon as practicable after entering foreign airspace, as our international data may be inaccurate or incomplete."

Returning to the US becomes more involved because requirements must be satisfied by two agencies—the FAA and the US Customs division of Homeland Security. Returning, you are required to land at the FIRST Port-of-Entry you encounter coming into the US To overfly the border and land at another airport, you must request overflight permission from US Customs in advance.

Customs requires notification of your flight at least one hour in advance of your landing at most stations. Some of the designated Ports require two hours to allow a dispatched agent travel time.

Following are several ways of meeting this requirement:

Prior notification of your return date can be called into the Customs office at your destination directly, or you can file a Pre-Filed Customs Notification through Flight Service prior to leaving the US

Some pilots mistakenly think that they are filing a flight plan from Mexico to the US However, AFSS cannot file a flight plan departing Mexico. This must be done with a Flight Service in Mexico. You are filing a Customs Notification only and it will not be used for Search and Rescue.

Upon Pre-filing a Customs Notification, you can ask Flight Service for a phone number to call in event of changes. The 800 numbers do not work in Mexico, so you will need a "local" Flight Service number. For flights landing in Texas or New Mexico, call 1-817-697-6110, for flights landing in Arizona or California call 1-928-778-0314. For flights east of Texas call 1-305-233-2600. It is advisable to make sure you have a phone number for the appropriate Customs Office and the correct radio frequency you will need as you approach US airspace to obtain a squawk code.

Once you have filed and activated a VFR flight plan with a Flight Service in Mexico, and are airborne heading north, contact an AFSS radio as far out as you possibly can. There is a possibility that your flight plan was not entered into the system from Mexico in a timely manner. Should that happen, your data will be need to be entered into the Customs' computer ASAP to ensure the hour notification required by Customs.

After establishing contact over the radio with an AFSS, you will be asked to provide the following information: aircraft ID, type, airspeed, altitude, departure point, destination, ETA, pilot's name, number of souls on board and their citizenship.

After you have given Radio this information, AFSS will assign a VFR squawk code to your aircraft. This informs Customs radar you are talking to ATC and are going to penetrate the ADIZ. Continue using that code until you have crossed the border or another ATC facility assigns you a different code.

IFR aircraft are tracked by radar the entire flight. Unless there is a change to the ETA of more than 15 minutes, a call to AFSS is usually unnecessary.

Remember, after landing, taxi directly to the Customs Ramp and stay in the aircraft until an official comes to the Aircraft. In the summer you may want to keep a cold drink on hand.

If you want to leave a US airport and fly along the border but do not intend to land in Mexico, you are still penetrating the ADIZ and are required to file a flight plan. Center ensures coordination with Mexico for IFR flights.

When filing VFR, ensure Radio assigns you a squawk code upon activation of your flight plan. This identifies you as "friendly" to Customs radar. This practice is common for aircraft crossing the Big Bend area of Texas or the boot heel of New Mexico. Unless you stray outside of Customs radar coverage, or over about 15 miles south of the ADIZ, it is not necessary to clear Customs or land at a Port of Entry as you cross back into the States.

Before you go to Mexico the first time, I strongly suggest you wander over to a Customs office or call them and get some information on what you are allowed and not allowed to bring back into the country. Start with their website – www.customs.gov. Take the time to know the rules.

This article was written by Rose Marie Kern who works at Lockheed Martin's ABQ AFSS.