Flying Into Mexican Airspace

[birdus]

I'm planning a trip during which I'll be flying along the US-Mexico border. However, while flying in western Arizona, there's a restricted area along the border—R-2301E and R-2301W. I'll ask for permission to zip through there (should take only about an hour and I'll be low and close to the border), but if I don't get permission, I was thinking maybe I could just pop across the border, flying right along the border in Mexican airspace.

Do I need permission from Mexican ATC to do this, since I wouldn't be landing? Any other considerations? I'll be flying form east to west, so I'd come back over the border around Yuma.

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

Those are part of the Goldwater Firing Range. Lots of airplanes firing live ammunition so you don’t want to stray in there when it is hot. It usually is on weekdays, but you can often get permission to transit on the weekend.

Yes, you need a TSA permission to renter the US and ATC clearance to go into Mexican airspace. I believe you can apply for it online.

If you will be flying near the border like this you may also want to review the rules for what happens if you are intercepted by a CBP or military aircraft. They have procedures they want you to follow.

Normally people just fly to Gila Bend and around those on the north side. You can get a transition from Marcus to Gila Bend if you wanted to go a bit further south out of Tucson to start with even when the range is hot. Requires permission from ATC and involves flying 500’ AGL over the road there.

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

So really, my primary concerns are that balloon and then the restricted area in AZ.

There are also the balloons near Sierra Vista AZ and Deming NM.

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

I'll plan on giving Albuquerque Center a phone call and see what they say.

I suspect you can easily get a clearance on many weekends and it will very difficult to get one during the week when there tends to be a lot of activity on the Goldwater Range. It is used by a variety of nearby stations and bases as their primary gunnery range.