Contact San Diego Flight Services via telephone to create / open 2 VFR flight plans: the first is your southbound flight from KCXL to MMCN (or other airport of entry); the second is your return flight plan from MMCN back to KCXL with your estimated time of arrival. Make sure you have a copy of the WAC chart CH-22 or the Foreflight downloaded charts.

Fly from your destination airport to Calexico area to cross the border.

Open your U.S. flight plan and make sure you are squawking the correct transponder code provided by ATC or Flight Service. You do not close it when crossing the border, it just goes away. After crossing the border squawk VFR and contact Mexicali Tower on 118.2 with a position report (Point of Departure, Destination, Souls on Board, Bearing from MMML, DME and altitude).

While flying in Mexico, Liga strongly recommends that you monitor the Liga frequency on 123.45 for weather, traffic and emergency notifications. We no longer require the Liga roll-call or for you to make "On the hour" position reports. if you provide a position report, it should be made as follows: The station or airport you are navigating TO; your bearing TO that station and your DME (ex. Obregon, 122 degrees; 248 miles out). It is recommended that you also write down the positions of the other aircraft on the trip. If you notice that traffic is in your vicinity, you should contact that traffic to coordinate your altitude and speeds.

Mexicali Tower will transfer you to Puerto Penasco (MMPE) on 122.8 about 50 miles out. MMPE will typically give you a squawk code and provide traffic advisories. They will request reports 30 miles out and overhead. They will tipically transfer you to Hermosillo (MMHM) approach 121.4

When within 80 NM from Hermosillo (MMHM) contact them on 121.4 for transition guidance. Note there are some military MOAs that may be hot in the MMHO area. Hermosillo will coordinate your arrival to Ciudad Obregon (MMCN) on 118.3 about 50 miles out.

Upon landing at Ciudad Obregon (MMCN) RW 31/13 118.3 follow the taxi instructions via Taxiway A/B and proceed to the general aviation area. Flight line personnel will provide you with parking guidance or park by the other GA Aircraft.


As you exit the aircraft you will be greeted by military personnel requesting some basic information regarding your flight, your pilot's license and aircraft ownership information. Hand them the eAPISfile.com "Landing Document CEN" which provides all the information they want in English and Spanish. or You can write down the information in his book.

You may also be greeted by Immigration officials and maybe the dog. They will look in your plane and either inspect the luggage on the ramp or request you bring it to immigration for processing.

You should also request your fuel from the fuel truck coordinator at this time. Most pilots like to stay with the Fuel Truck and get the receipt. If not, you can pick it up at the ASA office.

Send your passengers to the Customs and Immigration area south of the GA area in the terminal to process their passports. Each person in the aircraft will be required to prove their citizenship with passport, birth certificate, voter's registration card, or military identification card.

You can provide your Passport and eAPISfile.com generated Immigration document to your Passenger to speed up the process. As pilot you are now required to PAY for your Passenger immigration, but you are exempt (approximately $40/pax).

You should proceed to the GA Commandant office with the following paperwork ready to show or purchase your Multi-Entry Permit:

• Prior Multiple-Entry Authorization.
• Your aircraft registration and airworthiness certificate.
• Your pilot's license and medical certificate (photo copies acceptable for Mexico, the U.S. requires originals).
• Your Mexican liability insurance.
• Notarized letter from the registered owner giving you permission to take the plane into Mexico if you are not the person shown on the registration

It is best to request a Multi-Entry Authorization (Good for the entire calendar year : 1/1 to 12/31). You will need two copies of all your paperwork plus the originals for this to be issued. If you are staying over New Years - Get a 6 Mo Entry Permit.

Go to the FlightPlan office, located behind the GA Commandant office to complete your Arrival and Flight plan documents. If you printed your Arrival document (2 copies) and your FlightPlan to El Fuerte (4 Copies) on eAPISfile.com you can skip this step and proceed to customs and immigration area south of the GA area to meet up with your PAX and get your FlightPlan Stamped as well as pay for the immigration fees and get your Passport back. Customs & Immigration will each take a copy of your FlightPlan.

Next proceed to the Cashier office (Between the GA Commandant office and the ASA Fuel Office) Here you will Pay for your Fuel and landing fees (approximately US$7.00 for single, US$15 .00 for a light twin). The Cashier will also stamp your FlightPlan.

You should now have 2 copies of your FlightPlan with 4 stamps (Commandant, Immigration, Customs, Cashier). Go to the FlightPlan office, located behind the GA Commandant office to complete the filing of your FlightPlan. They will ask or give you a release time and contact the Tower.

Find your Passengers and return to your plane. Check Fuel, Oils and do a walk around and prepare for take-off.


Review the recommended Liga XFTE VFR or Liga XFTE Low Altitude procedures into El Fuerte (MM79) and El Fuerte Airport information. Depart MMCN, and report 20 mile out. When within 20 NM of El Fuerte alert traffic on VHF AM 122.80. The winds usually favor runway 32 at El Fuerte and the windsock is not a reliable indicator. Look for local smoke.

Upon arrival at El Fuerte find a parking space in the ramp on in the dirt by the taxiway. Note: No Seems (biting small bugs) are usually at the airport. Put bug spray on in MMCN or as you exit the plane.

As you exit the aircraft you will be greeted by military personnel requesting some basic information regarding your flight, your pilot's license and aircraft ownership information. Hand them the eAPISfile.com "Landing Document XFTE" which provides all the information they want in English and Spanish. or You can write down the information in his book.

Taxi cabs will be available to take you into town and to your hotel. Load up the cab and Lock and Cover your Plane. You should check in at the La Choza Hotel and let other Liga folks know that you have arrived. There is a mandatory pilot's meeting at 6:00PM local time on Friday (Mexican Mountain Time; one hour ahead of PST) at the bar/Patio at the La Choza Hotel.

Most people leave El Fuerte at 7:00-8:00AM from El Fuerte. Please caution your Passengers to stay away from aircraft with moving props or flashing beacons. Review the recommended Liga XFTE VFR or Liga XFTE Low Altitude Departure Procedures from El Fuerte (MM79) After take-off from El Fuerte and at least 40 NM south of Ciudad Obregon you should contact Ciudad Obregon (MMCN) RW 31/13 118.3 and indicate your intention of landing at Ciudad Obregon.

When you land, request your fuel from the fuel truck coordinator. Most pilots like to stay with the Fuel Truck and get the receipt. If not, you can pick it up at the ASA office.

Go to the FlightPlan office, located behind the GA Commandant office to complete your Flight plan documents. If you printed your FlightPlan to Calexico (KCXL) (4 Copies) on eAPISfile.com you can skip this step and proceed to customs and immigration area south of the GA area to meet up with your PAX and get your FlightPlan Stamped and turn in your immigration cards.

Next proceed to the Cashier office (Between the GA Commandant office and the ASA Fuel Office) Here you will Pay for your Fuel and landing fees. The Cashier will also stamp your FlightPlan.

You should now have 2 copies of your FlightPlan with stamps. Go to the FlightPlan office, located behind the GA Commandant office to complete the filing of your FlightPlan. They will ask or give you a release time and contact the Tower.

Find your Passengers and return to your plane. Check Fuel, Oils and do a walk around and prepare for take-off.

After departure from Ciudad Obregon, resume contact with Hermosillo (MMHM) on 121.4 for transition guidance when handed off by the MMCN tower. Monitor the Liga frequency on 123.45 and communicate with Hermosillo, Puerto Penasco (MMPE) on 122.8 and Mexicali on 118.2 just as you did on the southbound flight.

When near Punto Penasco (PPE) contact Flight Services (San Diego Radio) to both amend your arrival time, number and nationality of passengers and to open your USA flight plan. They will assign you a squawk code to use until you cross the border. Remember you must arrive at the time you plan to arrive or up to 15 minutes late, but not even a minute early. You must give US Customs one hour notice prior to landing, however, you can amend a flight plan with 30 minutes notice. The fine for breaking this rule can be up to $5,000.

Upon landing at Calexico, taxi to Customs (indicate your intention to stop at Customs on the CTAF) and all must stand by your aircraft until directed otherwise by a US Customs agent. Your passengers will need their passports or proof of citizenship. You will also need originals of all your pilot and plane documentation. You will have to either present or purchase a U.S. Customs Sticker ($25 per year).

If you did not close your flight plan in the air upon crossing the border, be sure to call San Diego Flight Services to close your flight plan.

Get Fuel, a drink or ice cream say your goodbyes to other Liga volunteers and take off to your home airport. Thank you for all you did to make a difference this weekend.