Welcome back

Managua is the most expensive airport that I flew in to/out of. Yes they gave me rockstar parking but I ended up paying $60 for an overnite stay. Ripoff. Then, the next day, while I got to the airport at 915, it took hours to get out. And I had done it before. I needed to top up my fuel tanks as I was going over water and the flight time was 4 hours. I did not want to take the chance that I had enough fuel to make the trip, even though I was pretty sure I could make it on what I had. It took almost two hours to get fuel.  First they said they would meet me by the plane. So I waited by the plane for twenty minutes (this after I had submitted my flight plan and was ready to go). Well that didn’t work. So I flagged down a fuel truck and they called someone. Then they found out I wasn’t a turbine so I couldn’t use jet fuel. Oh, they said. Of course I had told this to them an hour ago. Then in 10 more minutes the head of the FBO came out with a linesman. Then you have to taxi to the aero club, on the opposite end of the airport, and the pumps are locked up as tight as a frog’s butt, so you have to bring a linesman with you. Then when you get there (off taxiway Delta) there are soldiers there with big guns, and you have to sign stuff and go through ANOTHER ID check. Then you need 5 minutes just to unlock all the locks. Then you need to place the fire extinguishers in case of fire. Then the guy fuels your plane. Then, when you are all done, you need to taxi back to the terminal, and walk to the FBO to pay for the gas. This takes another 20 minutes.  Oh yeah and the price of fuel is $6.50 per gallon.

refueling at Liberia

terminal parking, MNMG

After all that I was ready to grab my clearance. I called the tower and then they said they had not received my IFR flight plan. I told them to call flight ops, I had submitted it 2 hours ago. Then they found it, sorta. I say sorta because I had the entire route spelled out on the flight plan, from Managua to Cozumel. However the clearance was to the first intersection only. Whatever. Get me out of here. I took off and climbed to 11,000 feet, direct Bertha.

in the soup again

mountains at 11,000 on the coast of Honduras

The flight was long and pretty much uneventful, except over Honduras, when they diverted me around some active military airspace. Then it was straight to the Honduras coastline. The friggin mountains are huge there; at least 10,000 feet. Then, over water for a little over two hours. I figured I was about 100 miles offshore at the farthest point. It was an uneventful, but slightly unnerving, flight. To be 100 miles off the coast by yourself in a single engine plane provokes a certain level of attention. But I was tired too; I had not slept well for a few nites. Nodding off at 11,000 over the water is not a good idea. I was singing to myself, eating chocolate bars, playing with the GPS, whatever to keep me focused. Finally I was talking to Cozumel and 20 minutes out I began my descent. Cleared to land runway 11. Cozumel however has two runways. You would think I’d remember this fact from the first time; but my approach was different and the runways were not clearly marked. No excuse; I began my approach to the wrong runway and even though it didn’t look right, didn’t feel right, I kept going. I was maybe 500 feet above and ready to set down when the tower told me to go around and land on 11. Yeah yeah, you would think I would notice the runway was not 11 based on my compass/DG, but the crosswind was strong enough so that it was reading close to 11. And the runway was not marked (neither one). So here’s a tip; Cozumel has one, and only one, runway for us. Don’t land on the other one. When I landed there were a few extra dudes with guns and the operations officer was there and asked me why I was going to land on the wrong runway. I told him that I simply screwed up, that my GPS showed two runways and I thought 11 was the one on the left. Then he told me the runway I almost landed on was military, and had I landed there it would have been a big problem. I apologized and told him I felt really embarrassed I made such a mistake. I still am embarrassed.  But now,maybe you won’t make the same mistake.

There were a few N registered planes at Cozumel (two), one was a Cirrus turbo and one a twin. They remembered me; i was greeted at the airplane by customs who said, "Welcome back, Senor".

So now I am in Cozumel. I have been here for two days. I am wondering now, however, whether the stop in Cozumel is a mistake. But that's a different story. Maybe it is time for me to head home.

And I would, if it were not for the fact that it is like ten degrees in New York.