Several Aircraft Grounded In Mexico After Fines Assessed

Late in December, pilots visiting Mexico were informed that all foreign aircraft were required to leave the county by January 1. Failure to do so resulted in aircraft being grounded until a fine of up to $4,000 was paid to the Mexican government.

A few pilots have refused to pay what they say is an illegal fine, and Newbury Park, CA resident Brian Conway has established a GoFundMe site to raise money for legal fees for those pilots and owners who are fighting the imposition of the fines.

According to Conway: " Mexican attorneys that have been engaged by these pilots have determined that no law was broken and, in fact, Mexican authorities have refused to give any written statement to any of the fined pilots delineating what law was broken and what provision of the law determined the amount of the fine, the amount of which varied from airport to airport and airplane to airplane.

"At this time, I have initiated paperwork to mount a legal challenge to these illegal actions that adversely affected so many law abiding pilots that have always followed the rules presented to them when flying in Mexico.

"I would like to raise as much as possible to mount this challenge and let the bureaucrats know that this kind of treatment will not be tolerated or accepted without a fight," says on the GoFundMe page. "Money raised will be used to cover legal fees only and not pay anyone's fines."

The goal for the campaign is $10,000. Nearly $3,000 was raised on the first day.

FMI: GoFundMe page