Services

Southern Border Overflight Exemption (BOE)

When returning to the USA from Mexico or any country south of 30 degrees north, you must make your first landing at a CBP Designated Airport Of Entry (AOE) closest to the point of border or coastline crossing, UNLESS you have a valid Southern Border Overflight Exemption (BOE) and you comply with the requirements of the Exemption.

All General Aviation operators utilizing a BOE must abide by all the applicable requirements and regulations, including:

• An electronic or paper copy of the BOE letter must be kept on board 
• The aircraft commander, operator, or authorized representative must still obtain landing rights approval or permission to land directly from the U.S. CBP port of arrival and must provide advance notice of arrival
  
• Only approved aircraft capable of complying with regulatory flight behavior requirements may be utilized
• Operators of exempted aircraft must utilize a transponder that reports aircraft position and altitude (i.e., Mode C, Mode S)
• Operators of exempted aircraft must fly in accordance with instrument flight rules (IFR)
• Operators of exempted aircraft must maintain altitudes above 12,500 feet mean sea level (unless otherwise instructed by Federal Aviation Administration controllers

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Cuba Overflight Permit (COF)

Cuban overflight permits are required to fly through Cuban Airspace. However, there are a few airways that do not cross over Cuban territory where transit has been allowed without requiring an overflight permit.

Cuba is NO LONGER giving free overflight permits to light aircraft regardless of MTOW, ownership and purpose of flight. In the past, aircraft with an MTOW below 6,600 lbs, flown for tourism purposes by their owner, could be granted a FREE Cuban Overflight Permit. That exemption is no longer possible under the new rules and ALL aircraft that require Cuban Overflight Permits will be subject to the corresponding permit and airspace fees which must be paid to the Cuban government.

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International Permits

Certain countries will require aircraft to have a permit to overfly or land in their territory. 

The procedures to obtain these permits will vary in requirements, forms to be filled, documents to send and processing time. 

This service is an affordable option to obtain assistance with international flying in order to comply with local regulations and procedures without engaging full ground handling services.

The International Permits Service includes:

• Review of all aircraft, crew and passenger documents required for international flights

• Recommendation of suitable Airports of Entry (AOEs) and routes that best fit your needs (when required)

• Verification of fuel availability and fuel prices at selected airports (when required)

• Obtention of Overflight and Landing Permits required for your route of flight

• Process payment of applicable airspace fees after flight has been completed

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Airspace Fees

Most countries -including the U.S.- charge for the use of their airspace and ATC services.

• Some countries waive airspace fees if you land or depart from their country while others charge regardless of landing or departure point

• Some countries send you an invoice, others don't

• Methods, currency and ease of payment procedures vary by country

• Unpaid airspace fees can accrue back tax and interest, growing over time

• Aircraft can be denied entry into airspace or be detained upon arrival in a foreign country

• Regulations and procedures vary and can change at any time

When purchasing a used aircraft, make sure that you are not also purchasing the unpaid airspace fee liabilities of that aircraft. Most foreign countries assess the debts to the aircraft, not the operator. With our Airspace Fees services, we determine what you owe and get it paid for you.

If you think you may be liable for unpaid airspace fees for routes of flight through COCESNA, COLOMBIA, CURACAO, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PANAMA or PIARCO airspaces or if you receive an invoice for airspace fees owed and would like our assistance to:

1. Inquire about any unpaid airspace fees owed for your tail number, and/or

2. Make payment of airspace fees owed on your behalf

Please contact us by e-mail at info@cstflightservices.com

For processing of Mexico Airspace fees, please refer to the section on Mexico Payments for Past Flights and Mexico Payments for Current Flights below.

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Mexican APIS Submission by CST Flight Services

We can take care of your Mexico APIS filing for your next international trip and ensure that you are in compliance with regulations before you go.

If you would like to have us file your Mexico APIS you can still proceed with the purchase of Mexico APIS and have it processed by us. To do so, we kindly ask you to first pre-purchase the number of APIS submission that you will require for your planned trip(s). Please note that for all flights to Mexico you will require two APIS submissions, one for your flight into Mexico and a second one for your flight from Mexico. Please click on the button below to download the MX APIS form, fill it out, date and sign it and e-mail it to info@cstflightservices.com. Please make sure you have access to a computer with internet connection to be able to complete the Excel spreadsheet that will be sent to you once the payment form has been received.

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Mexico Airspace and ATC Over-Time Fees payment

If you are not landing at a Mexican airport and do fly through Mexican airspace, you will be liable for paying Mexican Airspace fees. If these fees are not paid, your aircraft may be denied entry into Mexican airspace on future flights or seized after landing at a Mexican airport.

The way Mexico's airspace regulations work is drastically different from any other country making it almost impossible for a non-Mexican pilot to comply on their own. What makes Mexico’s regulations unique from other countries are four things:

1. The regulations are published in Mexico’s tax code, not in their Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and therefore do not appear in any international aeronautical publications

2. Airspace fees are calculated based on the wingspan of the aircraft and NOT on weight

3. Mexico does not issue an invoice to advise pilots that they have incurred a fee. It is the pilot’s responsibility to correctly determine the amount owed per the regulations

4. Airspace and over-time fees can only be paid via a Mexican bank

CST Flight Services can help you stay in compliance with the payment of your Mexico Airspace Fees. The procedures are detailed below.

Due to issues with Mexican authorities we cannot make any further inquiries directly on behalf of aircraft owners. However, we can assist you with obtaining the information and the processing of payments.

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Mexico Payments for PAST flights

The pilot is responsible for determining any amounts owed for Mexican airspace or overtime fees with the Mexican government for flights already made. To do this, the pilot must contact SENEAM offices (Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano) directly.

We cannot make any further inquiries directly with Mexican authorities on behalf of aircraft owners. However, we can assist you with obtaining the information you need so that we can process the payments on your behalf.

In order for CST Flight Services to assist you in making the payment, you will first need to determine the amount owed for past flights.

For non members please contact us via e-mail at info@cstflightservices.com

For members. To inquire about airspace fees owed, please download the document below which includes a set of detailed instructions for determining any amounts owed for both Mexican airspace and overtime fees.

Once SENEAM has provided the information about the overflight(s) for which fees are owed, you will have to e-mail us the document that you received so we can calculate back taxes and international finance fees in order to make the payment on your behalf.

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Mexico Payments for CURRENT flights

If you wish to make payments to the Mexican government for present flights you must provide your flight history within the first 5 days of the month after the flight took place. The flight history must include:

• Tail number
• Aircraft Type
• Date of each flight
• Departure and Arrival airport of each flight

Once we receive your flight history, we will make the calculation of fees owed and send you a quote which will include our processing fee. (Special discount for our Online Services Subscribers)

To fill out and submit your flight history, please click on the corresponding button below:

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Ground Handling

For the owner-pilot who needs to expedite international arrival and departure procedures and make sure everything goes off without a hitch, Ground Handling provides the perfect solution. By leveraging our international network of agents, we can provide an unsurpassed level of customized service and personal attention. Our goal is to breeze you through international arrival and departure formalities and avoid unnecessary delays.

Ground Handling Services include:

• Review of all required aircraft, crew and passenger documents, route review and selection of suitable airports
• Overflight and landing permit(s)
• Charter permit (when needed)
• CBP Southern Border Overflight Exemption (when needed)
• Trip Briefing with International Weather and NOTAMs
• APIS filings
• Movement Reports
• Local agent at each foreign airport where Ground Handling services are being provided, for arrival and departure proceedings, filing of ICAO flight plans, processing paperwork and handling of all local fees
  
• Payment of all trip related fees (permits, airspace, airport and government)
• Fuel coordination with agent and local fuel company
• Ground transportation and/or lodging for crew and passengers*
• Additional Ground Support services such as Catering, Lav Service, GPU, PRIST, etc.*
• Inclusive quote, single Invoice

*Services provided upon request. Cost of service not included in quote.

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