Since this is the time of year that many of you will be heading south for warmer weather, I thought I would recap a couple of issues that might be of interest. My previous plane was a T-210 which I had for 14 yrs and 2,000 + hours. In March of '04, this plane was parked at the El Rincon dirt strip, a place I had flown into for over 20 yrs. I had a relatively cheap prop cable/lock, a throttle lock, and a hockey puck type window/door lock. Just before dawn one morning somebody started the plane and took off, never to be seen again. The only thing left was the sun shade for the co-pilots window. Nothing to indicate cutting, torching, or however they got thru the locks.

After my insurance company paid me, make sure you are insured for what you would sell the plane for, I bought my C-185. Many told me that I wouldn't have to worry as plane thieves weren't interested in taildraggers. Being somewhat the worrying type, I decided to do something to make an attempted theft more difficult. After much thought and talks with A&Ps, we came up with a method to disable the plane. I will gladly share my info, but not over the website. Anyway, this past January, we had just returned to Baja after having Christmas in Las Vegas. I parked the plane and did my "thing". About 5 days later, a friend with a Cherokee 6 that was parked next to mine, stopped by and said that all of his nearly full tanks of gas had been stolen. I said bummer and that since I had only about 15 gals left in my plane that I would fly into La Paz and top off and then allow him to siphon enough fuel to get him back to La Paz. He said that was great but maybe I should check my fuel to see if they had stolen that as well. Went to the planes and I climbed up on the strut, took off the cap, and, to my amazement, had full fuel! After getting over my shock, I examined the plane more closely. Tie down ropes in the plane, pilot's door unlocked, they got in thru the baggage door and my hockey puck lock was still in place, my green Wilson prop lock was gone, AND the co-pilots seat had been placed on the pilot's seat rails. I had taken the pilot's seat out for some cosmetic repair and had not re=installed it yet. There was also a long sleeved t-shirt left in the plane. Apparently somebody had taken the fuel out of the Cherokee 6 and put it in my plane, but could not get it to start. For the rest of the winter I also took off the tail wheel, hoping that this would further deter thieves from trying again.

This past annual, I had an additional disabling feature installed with the hope that this more obvious anti theft method would stop the attempted theft. If this was solved, the other method should prove unsurmountable. As most of you have read, many other planes have been stolen, some with locks, some without, and some at gunpoint.

My 2 cents worth is that locks are basically a waste of time but gives an appearance of security. Guards are not that effective as armed, serious thieves will prevail. Even, La Paz has had a plane stolen out of there. Maybe a military presence would stop theft, I don't know. As many lessons in life show, take responsibility for your own needs. We still fly and stay in Mexico as before, I just keep my insurance paid up and do what I can to make the bastards go somewhere else. Ford

The 200 series cessna is the most stolen in Mexico. An older 182 is a great plane for about anything you want to do in Mexico and not very popular with thieves. I have been in Baja Bush Pilots for several years and have heard of no 182's being stolen on their forum.

If any of you plan on going to mexico, join BBP, they are very helpfull.

Tim

Jeesh, what a horrible story. These crooks are clever & determined. It might be a good idea to pack one of those little battery powered, motion detection, IR cameras and mount it somewhere nearby, in an obscured location, to at least capture the crooks picture, anyway. Then it could be posted far & wide, and who knows, with a handsome reward, might even lead to their apprehension.
I've used the Game-view camera. It has a lousy quality photo, as it's only designed to show an animal's presence, but I'll bet that someone must make a portable that has good resolution, with IR for night, too.
I'd sure like to see these a**holes get caught. That's got to be one of the lowest class things to do, to steal someone's plane. Grrrr. Berk

Most of these planes wind up in the drug business. Those folks could care less if you took their picture.

Ford is probably right on with his recommendations.

I'd add one: Don't fly to Mexico. Mexico and its resorts derive a lot of income from tourism.

I would NEVER go to Mexico with an airplane, just because of this, and not because I'm afraid of getting my airplane stolen, but rather because the government could stop this BS if they chose to. But, you have to believe that there are those in officialdom down there who profit from these kinds of things as well.

To each his own. I'd rather go to Canada in the winter, personally .


MTV

Mike:I see your point of view on the government being able to do much more to stop the drug trafficing in Mexico. The closure of dirt strips and traffic stops only affect the normal people. Connected drug lords operate with impunity.

About not flying to Mexico, anybody that has spent 30 yrs or so in Alaska, then retire to Minnesota is definitely lacking in warm brain cells! Canada and Alaska are to be enjoyed with bugs and rain gear, not snowmobile suits.

Will talk to you about float flying this summer, maybe my insurance will let me go to Alaska this year, or if not, maybe liability only. Ford

Ford Wilson wrote:...the government being able to do much more to stop the drug trafficing in Mexico. The closure of dirt strips and traffic stops only affect the normal people. Connected drug lords operate with impunity...Ford

Squwaking 7500 for a bit, here:
The artificial scarcity that the illegality of drugs creates, causes the astronomical profits, hence the vast crime networks to reap the benefits of those artifically scarce products.
If our society chose to identify drug use / abuse as the medical problem that it truly is, rather than a criminal issue, then drugs could be made legal & cheap, eliminating excessive profit motives, and dispensing them from outlets that also provide counseling & information. The $$ that were previously wasted on enforcement and penal activities, could be funneled into public education of the dangers & issues.
A certain # of folks will always exhibit addictive personalities, and these are the folks who need medical treatment, and accurate information to combat their life's challenges, and to learn to make healthy choices.
The "war on drugs", and all of it's ramifications, is causing far more grief for all society in general, than a supervised, legal, taxable, dispensary would.
So, when *I'm* king.... Berk (cessation of transponder code 7500 - returning to 1200)

Berk

Typical California response. No need for treatment, first get rid of the Californicators and tree huggers. Second, just shoot the drug dealers and addicts and save on the rehab and treatment money. Bullets are cheap. One bullet can go along way to reducing the prison population unless you just like building new jails. We all would live with more money in our flying pockets.

Serious note:
Ford, how is the security down in La Paz or Cabo? Also is Avgas in supply and easy to get? I am planning a trip in March to lands end.

Will

Will: La Paz has a fence around it and private security in the terminal area. There is a large military hangar at one end of the airport but I have never seen armed soldiers around the general aviation/terminal area. To walk to the GA area you have to go thru a road block type thing with a private guard.

I have never flown into Cabo and it has been years since I have flown into San Jose del Cabo, aka, Los Cabos International. Los Cabos is expensive for all planes, especially so for single engine pistons. I believe I have read on the Baja Bush Pilots website that Cabo has some fuel and some security. Check the website to make sure.

I only buy fuel at the international airports, with Los Cabos being the exception. I fuel at the border, either Imperial or Mexicali and then, depending on winds, may have to stop at Loreto. I try and avoid Loreto as much as I can as they have hassled me over more petty things than all other places combined. Fuel has never been a problem though, at Mexicali, Loreto, La Paz, or for that matter, Los Cabos.

Let me know if I can help you anymore. Later, Ford

Ford

Thank you for the update. As the trip gets a little closer I will get with you for your best advice and tips.
Any tips or advice is welcome.

Zane, Start up a thread; Tips and Tricks to get back from Mexico or south of the safe zone.
Will

Oh, sure, Ford---pick on me cause I'm "northerly impaired" .

You do know that in Canada, a US citizen can learn the language in as short a time as a week or so, and be fluent in Canadian:

Practice this simple phrase: "Eh??" Now, at the end of any sentence, insert that phrase, as in "Hello, fellow backcountry pilots, my name is Mike, Eh??"

Much easier than learning Spanish.

I like Victoria better than any other big city I've seen. I like the countryside better than most places.

MTV

I'm with you 100% Mike. I bet it is pretty tough to find a place to ice fish in Mexico. Now, if we could just get that dollar conversion back to where it was 5 years ago.

My fave "Big City in BC" is Echo Bay!

Don't forget "oot", as in "I'm gonna fly oot to Echo Bay,eh?" Oh yeah, don't forget "shedule" either.


Eric

Oh Yeah, in order to round out your official Canadian vocabulary you have to get "Beeeeerrr" down pat!

No "doot" "aboot" it

Don't forget boosh, as in boosh pilot flies way oot inta the boosh.

I have lots of cousins in southern Alberta. You don't go get a soda you get a pop. On holiday instead of on vacation.

My older brother had to go to Pakistan a year ago on business. In there language he only had to learn two phrases. (1) No, I am accually from Canada. and (2) Oh yes, your trunck looks quite comfy.

Tim

heres a story for yah....this happened to my flight instructor who used to fly some metroliners with freight in them down to mexico...I guess one nigth he diverted to some small airport because of weather....leaving his plane there for the night he went to the hotel/motel.......he returned the next morning and decided to sump the tanks....he sumped one of the wings and noticed the fuel wasn't the right color....in fact it was clear but it had the typical jet-a smell....he decided to keep sumping until the color was right...thinking he had just summped a bunch of water...well after a few gallons of sumping he noticed he was still getting water...after a bit of research and sumping he realized someone had taken out the jet fuel and replaced it with water! good thing he checked! haha its one of those stories you'll never forget....

steve wrote:I'm with you 100% Mike. I bet it is pretty tough to find a place to ice fish in Mexico.

noy exactly "ice fishing".... but the Wx and scenery's not too shabby! Fishing looks....reasonable too

Ya, but if ya caught that while ice fishing, think of the size of the auger you'd have to use to make a hole big enough to fit it through?

As to the, er, decorations--they'd look good in fur hats, as well.....

MTV