Flight Planning

Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil
Providencia No. 807
Col. Del Valle
CP 03100 Mexico, DF

Attention: Ing. Guillermo Magaña Magaña

Dear Ing. Magaña:

AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) is a not-for-profit individual membership association, which effectively serves the interests and needs of its members as aircraft owners and pilots, and establishes, maintains, and articulates positions of leadership to promote the economy, safety, and popularity of flight in aircraft. AOPA currently has over 415,000 members and is the largest, most influential aviation association in the world. Amongst the many benefits AOPA provides its members, AOPA acts as an advocate for general aviation interests with all levels of government.

On behalf of our members, AOPA respectfully request that Mexico exempt U.S.-registered aircraft from the ICAO requirement for 406-MHz ELTs, which is due to go into effect in Mexico on July 1, 2008. This request is based on the fact that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States does not require 406-MHz ELTs for U.S.-registered aircraft. AOPA recognizes the benefits that can be derived from the advanced ELTs available today; however, the benefits of advanced ELTs must be balanced against cost and the needs of the individual aircraft owner. General aviation is an industry already struggling under the weight of increased regulation and mandated equipage. In light of the increased challenges involved in making an international flight to Mexico, along with increased fuel costs, implementing this requirement will have a significant negative impact on general aviation traffic to Mexico with a corresponding negative impact on tourism revenue.

We hope that the DGAC will consider this proposal and allow this exemption so that the U.S. general aviation population, which represents approximately 70 percent of all U.S.-registered aircraft, will be able to continue flying to Mexico without this restriction.

Sincerely,