Pilots -- Click here to visit our Baja Flight Planning page for tips on

Flying to and from Mexico.

Revised - 7/2005

click here To obtain the times of sunrise and sunset   The Logitude and Latitude of Lopez Mateos is:  Logitude West 112 degrees 7 minutes, Latitude North 25 degrees 11 minutes.

 EVERY TRIP IS UNIQUE.  BUT, THE FOLLOWING WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE LOS AMIGOS CHAPTER.  

OVERVIEW: 

The Flying Samaritans rely totally on volunteer participation.

Every one pays their own expenses for each trip.  We use pilots,

dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, nurses, doctors, physician assistants,

nurse practitioners, chiropractors, pharmacists, optometrists, interpreters and helpers. 

It is not necessary to speak Spanish.  Conditions are often primitive in the clinic village.

All participants on a Flying Samaritan trip must be a member in good standing and have signed a Waiver and Release of Liability.

AVERAGE TRIP

The average trip starts Friday morning with Friday as a day to travel to Baja and some time for relaxing or playing on the beach, fishing, etc. 

Saturday is a full clinic day and Sunday is return to Phoenix.

You'll need the required documents (passport or certified U.S. Birth Certificate), cash for tourist tax, room, food and miscellaneous items.  Many of the hotels in Mexico will not accept credit cards, or if they do, they charge an additional fee.  American dollars or Mexican Pesos is usually required.  We recommend that you bring bills of small denomination since change is often not available.  You will depart on Friday morning and travel to Baja Sur Mexico via private aircraft (4-6 place aircraft).  in route you will stop at an airport of entry to clear Customs and Immigration.  The total time in route to the overnight location is usually 4-5 hours, depending on the speed of the aircraft and the amount of time it takes to clear through Customs.  Once in Baja you are free to visit the town or cultural sites or just lounge at the hotel sipping margaritas.

Saturday morning you will leave for your assigned clinic via private aircraft.  Clinic is usually very busy.  On an average day clinic personnel see 250-300 patients (medical, dental, vision and chiropractic).  Patients often travel many miles over rough roads to receive care from the American doctors.  There is usually a short break for lunch from a local village taco stand or sometimes we are treated to a home-cooked meal prepared by the community.  Clinic must shut down well before dark since we must be able to fly back to our overnight location before it gets dark (dirt landing strips have no lighting).  Saturday evening is for socializing, shopping or whatever.

On the return flight to the United States on Sunday there will be a brief stop to clear out of Mexico -- usually at Loreto, Guaymas or Nogales, Sonora.  There will also be a stop in  Nogales, Arizona to clear back into the United States where Customs frequently inspects the aircraft,  passengers papers and baggage.  The last stop will be at your airport of original departure the previous Friday.

PILOTS ARE WEIGHT CONSCIOUS so pack lightly.  Ten pounds is usually okay.  Expect to be asked your weight and the weight of your luggage and equipment.  Soft baggage is essential.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:  Without exception, you currently need one of the following to obtain a tourist permit:  (1) Certified Original Birth Certificate, or (2) Current Passport. 

Beginning December 31, 2006, a passport will be required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.    Canadian and Mexican citizens, and US citizens returning from Canada or Mexico, will be required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States.   

Minors under the age of 18 need notarized permission from the absent parent to enter Mexico.  If you have a non-U. S. Passport it is your responsibility to ask the Mexican Consulate beforehand whether or not you need a special Visa or Permit to enter Mexico via private aircraft. 

PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT:  Consult Medical or Dental Coordinators regarding availability of supplies and instruments at clinic.  Volunteers should not donate money or usable items for use by patients at the clinic without express approval from the Board of Directors or the Trip Coordinator.

SCHEDULING A TRIP:  Contact your Specialty Coordinator at least 3 weeks in advance of the clinic date.  Since the Coordinators need to insure that the clinics are fully staffed for each specialty, reservations will be on a first come, first served basis.  Please make a firm commitment to your scheduled trip.  Clinic is taken quite seriously by sincere and dedicated workers.  A last minute cancellation imposes a hardship on other participants and jeopardizes a clinic's success.   Attend the pre-trip meeting or call you Specialty Coordinator for details of each trip.

COST OF TRIP:      Each person pays for their own hotel room and meals.  The hotel room is pre-booked by the Trip Coordinator and usually shared with another volunteer.  If you have single-room or roommate preferences you should notify the Trip Coordinator well in advance of the trip.  Each pilot calculates the pro rata cost-sharing in accord with FAA requirements based on actual flight expenses -- fuel, oil, airport fees & taxes -- in his/her airplane.  Hence, travel costs will vary between aircraft.   In addition, each individual is responsible for his or her own Mexican tourist tax or departure tax, if required, at point of entry or exit to or from Mexico.  Approximate total cost for the weekend is $200-$300, which is tax deductible.

Annual dues are $35 for an individual or $45 for a family.   You must be a current member to participate on a trip.  Membership Application  The membership year begins on August 1st and ends on July 31st.

DONATIONS ARE NEEDED:  If you  would like to financially help the efforts of the Flying Samaritans, Los Amigos Chapter, your tax deductible donation is always needed and appreciated.   We have no paid officers or members so all donations received go directly to support the health care mission of the Flying Samaritans, Los Amigos Chapter, in remote areas of Baja, Mexico.    You can make your check payable to, The Flying Samaritans, Los Amigos Chapter, P. O. Box 13513, Mesa, AZ  85016.  Please check out our Help Us Help section of this website for some of our current fund raising projects.