[Rick Gardner]

Hi Ernie. Let me try and answer your questions.

1) We normally do fully escorted FLY-IN's where we travel through the Yucatan on different types of adventures. For a convention like the SOAP FLY-IN, we could offer several different types of service. We could assist in making local arrangements in Cancun or Campeche or whatever destination the members desire. We also offer a Vacation Planning service where we develop custom travel plans for each customer including recommended lodging with special rates, all charts and guides necessary, arrange ground transportation and provide pre-flight consultation to orient the pilot on Mexican procedures and important items like documents, getting fuel, filing flight plans and special use airspace. This could be of benefit to participants to help guide them through the process of getting into Mexico and to Cancun. We would guide them to GA friendly airports where we have good contacts and alert the airports of their planned arrival. If the group wishes, we could arrange for either self-fly or guided day trips to local destinations like Chichen Itza, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel or any of the amazing destinations on the peninsula.

Any fee that we may need to charge would depend on what would be required from us.

2) The fees vary by airport but typically for a skymaster the approximate fees would be:

Entry permit for the aircraft: $ 50 USD (We would arrange for multiple entry permits which are valid for the calendar year)
Immigration fee: $ 25 USD per person
Landing fee: $ 10-15 USD
Ramp fee: $ 10-15 USD per night.

3) Cancun is one possible destination for the group and there are many hotels we could recommend for this event. However, there are other interesting possibilities that we could recommend that are further into the peninsula. From Key West, FL it is approximately 360 NM to Cancun. We could orient pilots on how to make this trip while staying as close to land as possible (Cuba) without entering territorial waters. There is no Cuban overflight required for this trip. The distance from Brownsville, TX to Cancun is approximately 1,050 NM.

4) For those that do not meet the insurance requirement, you can obtain the Mexican liability insurance for around $ 150-200 USD. We can help members obtain this insurance.

5) During the month of May hotels in Cancun range from $ 150-250 USD for a good 4-5 star hotel. We can help get good rates.

6) The cost of 100LL in Mexico is around $ 3.60 per gallon with all taxes paid. I sure do appreciate those 150 gallon tanks in our Skymaster!

We are based in Cancun and are members of the Mexican General Aviation council and regularly travel throughout this region. It would be a great pleasure for us to help host this event in Mexico and meet fellow Skymaster pilots and share all of what the Yucatan has to offer, from a native's perspective. Please let me know if there are any other questions or concerns that we can address.