Is Mexico Safe?

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

I can't think of a single regular or frequent poster here that wouldn't make a good pilot.

I probably wouldn't. I am horribly afraid of heights.

With that said I love aircraft and hit the museums whenever possible. Which reminds me - has anyone ever noticed the Mexicana 727 that is in a park on the south of Monterrey not too amazingly far from where this poor gal's Lear went down? One has to wonder how they dragged this thing through the streets because it sure didn't land in the driveway.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I probably wouldn't. I am horribly afraid of heights.

This is a common misconception.

I know a lot of pilots who are afraid of heights

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

This is a common misconception.

I know a lot of pilots who are afraid of heights

I have heard that, but on a bad day I cannot climb the ladder to get into the plane.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

....but on a bad day I cannot climb the ladder to get into the plane.

That is a delicate subject that we shall not get into here

[ben2go]

I start getting tunnel vision and vertigo above 30 feet.Flying an airplane doesn't bother me.I think it's the false sense of security provided by being inside the fuselage.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

That is a delicate subject that we shall not get into here

I agree.

[TRAVELGUY]

When living in Costa Rica I could buy a sim card for my cell phone to get local service and rates. Are sim cards available in Mexico now and where can they be bought?

Thanks;

TravelGuy

[PirateJohn]

This photo is probably within 10 miles of where air traffic control lost track of her plane. As you can see the mountains rise dramatically.

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

That is a delicate subject that we shall not get into here

Now, now. Those stories about the stewardess luring me into the plane with a martini are not totally true.

I did, however, get on an airliner once to find that not only had my date upgraded us to First Class, but there were two (2) drinks waiting at my seat when I got there. Yes, I am slightly afraid of flying.

[jimmex]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

This photo is probably within 10 miles of where air traffic control lost track of her plane. As you can see the mountains rise dramatically.

That looks like MX 85 close to the road to Rayones. Big Sierra.

[PirateJohn]

The plane was built in 1969 and the pilot was 78 years old. Trice ... honestly ... what are your thoughts? Accident waiting to happen or just a coincidence? Lears don't seem to have a particularly bad history considering how many are in the air.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2269085.html

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by jimmex

That looks like MX 85 close to the road to Rayones. Big Sierra.

Bingo.

It's somewhere north of Linares; air traffic control lost track of the plane due west of Linares somewhere over the mountains.

I think Linares is the town where I couldn't find a room and wound up riding into the night and stayed at a no-tell slightly to the north of town:

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

The plane was built in 1969 and the pilot was 78 years old. Trice ... honestly ... what are your thoughts? Accident waiting to happen or just a coincidence? Lears don't seem to have a particularly bad history considering how many are in the air.

Like motorcycle crashes, airplane crashes are usually a combination of factors.

I think I read they took off something like 3:30 am.

"Nothing good happens on a motorcycle after midnight", is an old saying. Well, at least it is with me.

If they took off at that hour, nothing would surprise me about the condition of the pilot.

[MikeMike]

For the SIM card question, try a Tel- Cel customer service centre, they are in most bigger towns throughout Mexico.
They should be able to set you up and they have the best coverage but not always the best rates.

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by TRAVELGUY

When living in Costa Rica I could buy a sim card for my cell phone to get local service and rates. Are sim cards available in Mexico now and where can they be bought?

Thanks;

TravelGuy

Just drop into a Telcel dealer, wave your arms about and keep saying "amigo" (their pay-as-you-go scheme) They have special deals in data but you need to text a code to them to activate it. The code depends on how much data you plan to use but I put in 500mxn a month, text BAT30 and get 3 gigs.