Photographing the Playas

Chachacual   More Photos

Weather and Flight Plan

We headed to the Huatulco airport at 8:15am. The weather was sunny with calm winds. The Comandant was not in his office when we arrived but the guard summoned him and he came a few minutes later. I submitted a local flight plan using a 1/2-page form specifically for that purpose. I planned to fly direct to the coast and then along the coast to Punta Cometa, turn around and fly back to Rio Copalita, then return back along the coast to the airport. Cruise altitude is 500' while over the sea.

At the airplane, we were approached by the Spanish-speaking soldier who wanted the basic information again including where we were going and when we would return. We were also met by Airport Operations, who reminded us that we would need to visit his office to pay the airport use fee on our return.

The Flight

Takeoff: 9:40 am   Landing: 11:05 am   Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes

Santa Elena   More Photos

It took several calls to the tower before they finally answered. I got a taxi clearance and taxied out to the end of the taxiway to do my runup. I could have back-taxied to the end of the runway and done the runup at the turnaround there but wasn't sure if there was an area there at the time. We took off at 9:40 am. Huatulco Tower asked me to report 15 miles out. We flew the 5 miles to the coast at Bahía Chachacual. We turned westward and dropped down to 500' and flew over the ocean toward Punta Cometa. I attempted to contact Huatulco Tower to report 15 miles out but they were not receiving me clearly and asked me to report 10 DME on the return.

We proceed on to Punta Cometa. Actually I overshot Punta Cometa and flew to the next point of land which turned out to be Santa Elena, 22 miles further to the west. Although the winds were calm, the beaches here seemed to have some nice surf. We reversed course and flew back toward Huatulco. I was able to communicate with Huatulco Tower when within 10NM of the airport. The morning flight was quite smooth and I snapped about 250 photos out the pilot's window. When we reached Río Copalita we again reversed course for the return to the airport. I called Huatulco Tower and was told to land on runway 25 and report when on final.

Río Copalita

On the return to the airport, the winds had picked up somewhat. Final approach was bumpy but the turbulence subsided when close to the runway.

We taxied to parking. This time we were not met by a signalman so we just parked in the same location. I was directed to the Operations office and paid the airport use fee, about $8, and requested fuel.

When the fuel truck arrived, this time I requested that the tanks be filled to the bottom of the fuel neck so the fuel would not overflow. The Arrow took 47 liters (12.4 gallons). The attendant prepared the fuel tickets; this time he had already checked the Excelente box for me--for how I rated his service.

Three separate fuel receipts are prepared, each with copies. Two of them are under the heading of Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares. One of these has the total without tax, 461.50 pesos, and the other has the tax only, 160.68 pesos. The third receipt has the heading ASA Combustibles and is for the total without tax again. The amount that I actually paid, 622.18 pesos appears on no receipt, only on the calculator of the attendant. That works out to $4.66 per gallon. I pay $4.00 per gallon in Georgetown, Texas, but there are airports in the United States that charge $4.66 or more per gallon.

The next flight will be Huatulco to Tampico.