Baja Bush Pilots Welcome Purge of Allegedly Corrupt Mexican Officials

The president of the Baja Bush Pilots says he’s looking forward to getting back to business as usual with the Mexican government after it fired the senior leadership of its equivalent to the FAA over a corruption scandal. Gen. Miguel Vallín, the director general of the Agency Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC), was fired along with his senior staff earlier this month amid allegations that they instituted a systematic web of bribery and corruption. It’s alleged that everything from the issuance of pilot and controller certificates to routine administrative approvals risked denial or delay unless the correct palms were greased.

The Baja Bush Pilots represent U.S. pilots who frequently fly to Mexico, and a letter to members by President Jack McCormick indicates relief that the purge should eliminate roadblocks to initiatives undertaken by the group. “I have and will continue not to offer bribes and favors to get things done in Mexico,” McCormick said. “Because of the changes, we will aggressively ‘start again’ the process of eliminating the restrictions that the past DG and his staff have imposed.” He said he will be working with other groups to reestablish relationships with Mexican officials. “I anticipate that once we get the ear of the new DG, we will get things back to normal.”