Flying South America
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General aviation flying in South America is generally a great experience. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, less traffic than in the US or Europe. Service at most of the larger airports is great. Most larger airports have good weather service. Keep in mind there's always possibility of convective weather around the equator.
Having said that, there is a fair amount of bureaucracy. I recommend using a handling agent to take care of landing permits, overflight permits, etc. You can do all that yourself, but in my opinion not worth the time and hassle.
If you want to take the really scenic route you could fly down via the Caribbean and Brazil, and return via the West side of S. America. In a C182 you can comfortably go Miami - Montego Bay - Cartagena - Cali - Guayaquil - Trujillo - Lima. All those places have avgas.
Lima to Miami by Cessna 182 « Contract pilot tales
I remember Trinidad having avgas many moons ago, best check but I think it still has it. I believe Manaus as well as some other interior airports in Brazil have avgas.
Feel free to PM me for further discussion.
Having said that, there is a fair amount of bureaucracy. I recommend using a handling agent to take care of landing permits, overflight permits, etc. You can do all that yourself, but in my opinion not worth the time and hassle.
If you want to take the really scenic route you could fly down via the Caribbean and Brazil, and return via the West side of S. America. In a C182 you can comfortably go Miami - Montego Bay - Cartagena - Cali - Guayaquil - Trujillo - Lima. All those places have avgas.
Lima to Miami by Cessna 182 « Contract pilot tales
I remember Trinidad having avgas many moons ago, best check but I think it still has it. I believe Manaus as well as some other interior airports in Brazil have avgas.
Feel free to PM me for further discussion.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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SADF SAEZ SARI
Doing immigration and customs at Iguazú Airport is a good option as well...you gotta be careful for some convective activity in that area beginning mid september but other than that, it's ok. You fly down into the BA area and then can continue all the way to the south.
You also need to take the appropriate precautions regarding The Puyehue volcano that has been sending quite an important amount of ashes in the air for the last 3 months now in continuous fashion. The volcano is located near Bariloche SAZS and even tho their emmissions have weakened significantly lately, some airports still have VA deposited on the ground and whenever the wind blows a bit, it goes back in the air. This happened in comodoro rivadavia yesterday (SAVC) Airports that have been affected the most by the eruption are sazs, sazy, sazn, sazr, savt, savc, sazb. Bariloche is still not being served by the two major airlines here since the volcano started smoking june 4th.
A good source of data for the volcanic activity (and weather in Argentina) is our national weather service. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Go to where it says "información aeronáutica" and then VAAC Buenos Aires, right at the bottom. They issue ASHTAMS every 6 hours I believe. Also most Flight Service Stations (ARO-AIS for ICAO) will show you a plot of the actual plume. You can also try to locate it yourself via satellite imagery but it will be hard to see, as emmissions are very weak. The volcano's elevation is about 7000 feet and the plume rarely exceeds 10K in altitude, not big a deal for airlines, but it could be a factor for a 182.
Let me see if I can give you quick set of tips for flying in Argentina.
You can't fly VFR at night in Argentina.
You are required to file a flight plan every time you depart out of a controlled airport, and you MUST close it either by phone or radio if you land at an uncontrolled field. Towered airports will close it for ya.
Every time you land at a controlled field they´ll normally ask you to stop by the FSS to go show them your licenses etc.
Some (most) airports close at night, there's no such thing as a towered airport that becomes uncontrolled when the tower controller checks out.
I recommend you stay within airports served by the airlines, there are quite a few of them well within the range of a 182. The reason for this is because at most places they will speak some english and if you have any problems you can quickly fly to BA to go get a spare. You can always find a good mechanic wherever there's a flight school. Controllers proficient in english anywhere besides airline served airport is something absolutely not guaranteed.
There 's a publication called MADHEL which is basically an Airport Facility Directory that you can buy for a good deal of info. You can also check notams and other info at ANAC - Administración Nacional de Aviación Civil Make sure you type in the local indentifier, ICAO codes won't do there. Local identifiers will normally agree with the VOR identifier if the airport has one. Good news is most airports do.
While enroute, at the altitudes normally used by a 182 you will, at some point lose contact with "center" (the ARTCC). If that's the case you can try to call any airline flight and they´ll be glad to do and air to air for ya at no charge ;-) Airlines also monitor 121.5 on VHF 2 so if you ever need it, you can try calling there.
Wind does become a factor in the patagonia, say from Viedma and south. Most runways have an east west layout and usually winds blow from the west, fairly straight down the rwy at nothing short of 20 kts. Western airports like Esquel and Calafate can have winds of more than 30 kts at times. A lot of fun, but keep that in mind when you park the airplane as well.
Places you DON'T want to miss from North to South: Salta, Mendoza, Bariloche (volcano allowing) Esquel, Calafate, Rio Gallegos, Ushuaia (careful there tho) and Puerto Madryn, where you can visit the Valdez Peninsula and check out the whales.
If there's anything I can do for you, contact me at [email protected]
Regards,
SW.
You also need to take the appropriate precautions regarding The Puyehue volcano that has been sending quite an important amount of ashes in the air for the last 3 months now in continuous fashion. The volcano is located near Bariloche SAZS and even tho their emmissions have weakened significantly lately, some airports still have VA deposited on the ground and whenever the wind blows a bit, it goes back in the air. This happened in comodoro rivadavia yesterday (SAVC) Airports that have been affected the most by the eruption are sazs, sazy, sazn, sazr, savt, savc, sazb. Bariloche is still not being served by the two major airlines here since the volcano started smoking june 4th.
A good source of data for the volcanic activity (and weather in Argentina) is our national weather service. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Go to where it says "información aeronáutica" and then VAAC Buenos Aires, right at the bottom. They issue ASHTAMS every 6 hours I believe. Also most Flight Service Stations (ARO-AIS for ICAO) will show you a plot of the actual plume. You can also try to locate it yourself via satellite imagery but it will be hard to see, as emmissions are very weak. The volcano's elevation is about 7000 feet and the plume rarely exceeds 10K in altitude, not big a deal for airlines, but it could be a factor for a 182.
Let me see if I can give you quick set of tips for flying in Argentina.
You can't fly VFR at night in Argentina.
You are required to file a flight plan every time you depart out of a controlled airport, and you MUST close it either by phone or radio if you land at an uncontrolled field. Towered airports will close it for ya.
Every time you land at a controlled field they´ll normally ask you to stop by the FSS to go show them your licenses etc.
Some (most) airports close at night, there's no such thing as a towered airport that becomes uncontrolled when the tower controller checks out.
I recommend you stay within airports served by the airlines, there are quite a few of them well within the range of a 182. The reason for this is because at most places they will speak some english and if you have any problems you can quickly fly to BA to go get a spare. You can always find a good mechanic wherever there's a flight school. Controllers proficient in english anywhere besides airline served airport is something absolutely not guaranteed.
There 's a publication called MADHEL which is basically an Airport Facility Directory that you can buy for a good deal of info. You can also check notams and other info at ANAC - Administración Nacional de Aviación Civil Make sure you type in the local indentifier, ICAO codes won't do there. Local identifiers will normally agree with the VOR identifier if the airport has one. Good news is most airports do.
While enroute, at the altitudes normally used by a 182 you will, at some point lose contact with "center" (the ARTCC). If that's the case you can try to call any airline flight and they´ll be glad to do and air to air for ya at no charge ;-) Airlines also monitor 121.5 on VHF 2 so if you ever need it, you can try calling there.
Wind does become a factor in the patagonia, say from Viedma and south. Most runways have an east west layout and usually winds blow from the west, fairly straight down the rwy at nothing short of 20 kts. Western airports like Esquel and Calafate can have winds of more than 30 kts at times. A lot of fun, but keep that in mind when you park the airplane as well.
Places you DON'T want to miss from North to South: Salta, Mendoza, Bariloche (volcano allowing) Esquel, Calafate, Rio Gallegos, Ushuaia (careful there tho) and Puerto Madryn, where you can visit the Valdez Peninsula and check out the whales.
If there's anything I can do for you, contact me at [email protected]
Regards,
SW.
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Southward tips
SW and WWEL,
Just the sorts of info that will help to fill in the gaps. Any suggestions for handling agents? I've never used that approach before, and generally had no problem just popping into various countries and trusting that we could sort out the paperwork. A friend commented upon using a handling agent, but his exact term was "ridiculously expensive handling agent". We're not ferrying an aircraft for a fixed fee, so if it takes a little extra time that is probably preferable to a large fee. Plus, our schedule may not be set in stone, so flexibility is helpful. Anyway, I'd be curious to check out what they do if I had a lead to contact one.
We were in Bariloche last November, and had a great time. Shame it's been so disrupted. Beautiful place. Maybe the volcano will temporarily reduce the inflated property prices?
Thanks for any and all details. You never know when one will be something we overlooked.
BTW, is 406mh ELT required anywhere in South America? It's on hold in the US and Caribbean.
Just the sorts of info that will help to fill in the gaps. Any suggestions for handling agents? I've never used that approach before, and generally had no problem just popping into various countries and trusting that we could sort out the paperwork. A friend commented upon using a handling agent, but his exact term was "ridiculously expensive handling agent". We're not ferrying an aircraft for a fixed fee, so if it takes a little extra time that is probably preferable to a large fee. Plus, our schedule may not be set in stone, so flexibility is helpful. Anyway, I'd be curious to check out what they do if I had a lead to contact one.
We were in Bariloche last November, and had a great time. Shame it's been so disrupted. Beautiful place. Maybe the volcano will temporarily reduce the inflated property prices?
Thanks for any and all details. You never know when one will be something we overlooked.
BTW, is 406mh ELT required anywhere in South America? It's on hold in the US and Caribbean.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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handling agents.
You won't need handling agents within Argentina. Tower will call the fuel truck for ya, or they'll approach your airplane. You'll be able to do just about anything for yourself.
Regards.
SW.
Regards.
SW.
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Hi Don,
I have not had a chance to visit this thread for about 10 days and some of the recent information is really helpful. Is the fuel tank mod to your Mooney a big cost? I think it'll pay off in Argentina as some of the flights to south are big milage. On the AVGAS issue the position in Cayenne seems to be OK. The airport information for Rochambeau contained in the French AIP says:
JET A1 : Hydrant system 1500 at 2300 l/mn 1 fuel truck 30 m3
AVGAS 100 LL : 1 fuel truck 1800 l : 400 l/mn
Extension pour vols réguliers programmés / Extension for scheduled regular flights.
PPR 24 HR 0(594) 35 62 10 - FAX : 0(594)35 80 92
Probably best to phone ahead. I've also looked at all the airports I mentioned in the planned Brazil and they are all listed as having 100/130 available.
I share your view on handling agents. I think I'd be happy to take the time to sort things locally.
My big issue is still insurance. I've only had one quote and for what was quoted we could fly down and up several times in 1st class. I think it was their polite way of telling me to 
!!! I can really only give this about another week before I revert to plan X. We do need to be in BA by mid-November and I want to allow about a total of about 20 days after we fly from Dublin to the US.
I have not had a chance to visit this thread for about 10 days and some of the recent information is really helpful. Is the fuel tank mod to your Mooney a big cost? I think it'll pay off in Argentina as some of the flights to south are big milage. On the AVGAS issue the position in Cayenne seems to be OK. The airport information for Rochambeau contained in the French AIP says:
JET A1 : Hydrant system 1500 at 2300 l/mn 1 fuel truck 30 m3
AVGAS 100 LL : 1 fuel truck 1800 l : 400 l/mn
Extension pour vols réguliers programmés / Extension for scheduled regular flights.
PPR 24 HR 0(594) 35 62 10 - FAX : 0(594)35 80 92
Probably best to phone ahead. I've also looked at all the airports I mentioned in the planned Brazil and they are all listed as having 100/130 available.
I share your view on handling agents. I think I'd be happy to take the time to sort things locally.
My big issue is still insurance. I've only had one quote and for what was quoted we could fly down and up several times in 1st class. I think it was their polite way of telling me to !!! I can really only give this about another week before I revert to plan X. We do need to be in BA by mid-November and I want to allow about a total of about 20 days after we fly from Dublin to the US.
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Mooney and insurance
The long-range tank mod for the Mooney costs $3,000 plus an estimated 60 hours of labor. Yikes. Fortunately, I'm an IA so can do and sign off the work myself. I've found a helper at a reasonable rate to do one side while I do the other, and we should have it wrapped in 2 - 3 weeks from start. Total of 88 gallons usable with max of 10gph consumption, and down around 8gph on longer legs.
There is what is described as a very nice 182 here being sold by the estate of a deceased fellow. Not being actively marketed. If you haven't bought yours yet and are interested I can check into it for you.
What's the hiccup on the insurance? Foreign ownership or just South America? I haven't checked into mine yet, but I'm going anyway.
What does "400 l/mn" mean? Does that mean minimum purchase is 400 litres? That's more than my airplane holds by a long shot.
There is what is described as a very nice 182 here being sold by the estate of a deceased fellow. Not being actively marketed. If you haven't bought yours yet and are interested I can check into it for you.
What's the hiccup on the insurance? Foreign ownership or just South America? I haven't checked into mine yet, but I'm going anyway.
What does "400 l/mn" mean? Does that mean minimum purchase is 400 litres? That's more than my airplane holds by a long shot.
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Hi Don,
What does "400 l/mn" mean? Does that mean minimum purchase is 400 litres? That's more than my airplane holds by a long shot.
This indicates the maximum pumping rate of the tanker - a delvery rate of 400 litres per minute. Probably useful if refueling a DC3. It's not a minimum. I'll contact you directly about the C182.
What does "400 l/mn" mean? Does that mean minimum purchase is 400 litres? That's more than my airplane holds by a long shot.
This indicates the maximum pumping rate of the tanker - a delvery rate of 400 litres per minute. Probably useful if refueling a DC3. It's not a minimum. I'll contact you directly about the C182.
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Departer looming
The date has finally arrived. All work completed on the Mooney, various paperwork items completed, insurance reluctantly extended by my carrier, grandson excused from school. We take off from northern Nevada on Saturday, April 21. First couple of weeks will be visiting relatives along the way and enjoying the Caribbean.
Current plan is to fly Barbados - Caryenne - Belem. From what I've read, I'd rather not spend the night in Cayenne, but based upon the weather maps I've been tracking, getting from there southward is better undertaken early in the day - on a good day.
My biggest concern is availability of 100LL/100 fuel. I now carry about 10 hours on board, so have some options if I get somewhere and they are out. Rather avoid that, of course. Anyone have a good source for fuel availability through South America?
Most legs will be 3+ hours, and I'm tempted to stretch those to 5+ if weather is favorable. Current route would be Belem, Palmas, Brasilia, Campinas -Amaraina, Foz Iguacu, Colonia, Mercedes.
Any recent updates of interest most appreciated.
Don
Current plan is to fly Barbados - Caryenne - Belem. From what I've read, I'd rather not spend the night in Cayenne, but based upon the weather maps I've been tracking, getting from there southward is better undertaken early in the day - on a good day.
My biggest concern is availability of 100LL/100 fuel. I now carry about 10 hours on board, so have some options if I get somewhere and they are out. Rather avoid that, of course. Anyone have a good source for fuel availability through South America?
Most legs will be 3+ hours, and I'm tempted to stretch those to 5+ if weather is favorable. Current route would be Belem, Palmas, Brasilia, Campinas -Amaraina, Foz Iguacu, Colonia, Mercedes.
Any recent updates of interest most appreciated.
Don
