As far as I can tell, all the SPEs issued to all the training providers have been updated by the FAA in recent years to explicitly prohibit using it outside the US. The standard phrase in the SPE is:

"This exemption is not valid for operations outside the United States."

It isn't clear to me the US has jurisdiction over a pilot operating in a foreign country if that foreign country would allow use of the US SPE.

One of the negatives of a 550/560 Citation is the uncertainty with regards to SPE internationally. I do hear stories of people going SP internationally, like yours, but wonder if there aren't cases when it goes badly.

Mike C.

It isn't clear to me the US has jurisdiction over a pilot operating in a foreign country in that a foreign country could allow use of the US SPE if it chooses to do so.

One of the negatives of a 550/560 Citation is the uncertainty with regards to SPE internationally. I do hear stories of people going SP internationally, like yours, but wonder if there aren't cases when it goes badly.

Mike C.

Next time you head down to Mexico I'm sure you can buy a co-pilot rating for Blondie while you are in town.

Problem solved.

Andrew

Don't all US aviation regulations apply to all "N" registered aircraft regardless of where they are flown? My understanding was that when international, you had to adhere to the host country's regs as well as the FAR (whichever is more restrictive). Would this not fall under the same umbrella?

No, there is a distinction between operating rules and certification rules.

When you are in a foreign country, you have to operate by their rules in terms of procedures and flying behavior, required equipment, etc, EVEN if this contradicts US rules or is more relaxed than US rules. You have to act like a local.

But, per ICAO and bilateral agreements, your aircraft can be certified and registered in the US. That means, for example, your plane can have an STC that is allowed on a US airplane but not yet approved by a foreign country on their registered aircraft, say a G600 install.

An example is transponder rules. If you go somewhere that requires mode S or ADS-B, you have to be equipped because that is an operating rule. Similar for a 406 MHz ELT.

The gray area here is that the SPE isn't clearly an operating rule or a certification rule. The FAA did not clarify that earlier on, but lately they removed the ambiguity by simply disallowing international use of SPE.

Further complicating things is that many foreign countries require SIC to be typed, the US does not. So not only would an SPE not work, now you need a high grade SIC.

What would "solve" this problem would be an actual STC applied to the aircraft which changes it into an SP plane. Then we can dispense with all this SPE shenanigans and that would "fly" in foreign airspace just like an out of the box SP jet does now, say 525 series. I keep wondering what prevents such an STC from existing. We already have the CE500S type rating that would work for the 500, 550, S550, 560, and the equipment requirements (boom mike, ident on yoke, autopilot) already exist on all of them.

Mike C.

Yes, Sir. Are we cleared to enter now? Have a good day.

Have the script and move on.

Blondie looks like she is more comfortable in the right seat now.

I think the only way to solve this would be to start capturing audio and video of these wonderful encounters and then sharing with your congressmen.

I get the fact that the CBP folks need to be on their game and preternaturally suspicious. I just don't get the aggressiveness and condescension. Perhaps (and I'm stretching here) this is deliberate technique to get people off guard...

I've heard anecdotes about Israeli security at airports. I recall comments about very focused and intent questioning, but I don't recall hearing about belittling the subject. Again, I am referring to airport screening, not a West Bank checkpoint.

I have been through Israeli security in a private airplane and even a West Bank checkpoint. Yes, it was a bit intense, but not condescending. They are just good at what they do. Most of the pricks seem to be at the U.S. Customs offices.

I commented on that today to her. Very much so.

I'm missing me some waves I am, trying to rally to get to Troncones next weekend.

Straight to Ixtapa!!!!

I did not have as much issue with filing as Mark seems to have had. You gotta get the 'right' handler...........

Mexico is awesome baby, just awesome.......

I think the only way to solve this would be to start capturing audio and video of these wonderful encounters and then sharing with your congressmen.

I get the fact that the CBP folks need to be on their game and preternaturally suspicious. I just don't get the aggressiveness and condescension. Perhaps (and I'm stretching here) this is deliberate technique to get people off guard...

I've heard anecdotes about Israeli security at airports. I recall comments about very focused and intent questioning, but I don't recall hearing about belittling the subject. Again, I am referring to airport screening, not a West Bank checkpoint.

The way it works at Ben Gurion is, that you get profiled at the door (that is - someone asks you a few questions), and you get a sticker attached to your passport with a number. That number means how big of a security threat you are. If you have a 5, you can expect 3-5 hours in various checkpoints before the departure gate. I get a 2 thanks to my innocent face (and a clean friendly non-US passport), and I get a very quick inspection. Similar to TSA precheck in the US.

They are very good at what they do, and they don't seem to hire the TSA types...

Of course no trip report in the Citation is complete without...

The phone call to Customs depends on whether the field has a "landing rights" requirement or not. Scottsdale requires a notification call. Nogales doesn't.

Its always good to call before departure to give them an update and verify they are expecting you. Some offices are part time and if you show unexpectedly due to an eapis misfile they will not be happy and you will be stuck in a hot cabin until they drive out to the field.

Ok Mark... Watching your many videos flying with blondie on the right seat has finally made me take out the GoPro cameras out of the drawer and start recording some of my flights. I'll post something soon...

By the way, I may be able to go the CJP convention in Scottsdale after all. I hope to see you there.