INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Prepare Properly, Reduce Risk for Safer Travels By Joe Dalton I n a perfect world, we board our aircraft and travel the world without concern. We do not live in a perfect world. Aviation has enabled us to travel almost any- where, almost anytime—but with necessary planning and caution. The first step? Decide on the destination—sometimes easier said than done. Certain locations once heralded as pristine travel destinations, like Acapulco, Mexico, haven’t lost their allure, but they may not be as safe as they once were, begging the question of whether the risk of travel to such destinations outweighs the reward. Cartel violence has had a major impact in many cities where tourism is the main economic engine. Reports from the Citizens Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice indicate Mexico as having four of the five spots on the world’s most dangerous cities list. The U.S. Government ranks Acapulco second on the list as a level 4 “Do Not Travel” based on its travel advisory system: https://www.state.gov/travelers/. Despite the possibility of violence, it is still estimated that roughly 35 million U.S. citizens traveled to Mexico in 2017. There is a lot to consider when the U.S. Government finds your travel destination unfavorable. Should you cancel your trip and pick another destination, or throw caution to the wind and go as planned? The answer could be one, or a mix. A little research and planning can go a long way in helping to make the decision. Before planning any trip outside the U.S., visit the Department of State’s traveler’s page. On the traveler’s page there are useful links that provide information on the following: entry requirements into foreign countries, travel resources, tips for international travel, security advisories, and, most importantly, a link to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you travel 52 abroad, be familiar with STEP. This program allows U.S. citizens to register their travel with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The major benefits of the pro- gram are safety notifications in your destination country and emergency contact from the embassy in case of a natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. Once you’ve researched a country on the Department of State’s website, use other open source sites to see what is said about safety and security of your chosen desti- nation. Focus on small, locally-sourced news outlets, blogs, and forums, as these sources offer more informa- tion than the larger news outlets. There is a tremendous amount of information posted daily. Remember, relying on one source is insufficient. Use various sources to cor- roborate the information. After choosing a destination, make sure you can fly there with ease. The FAA’s website provides everything you need to know from a flight operations standpoint including restrictions, prohibitions, and notices that may be in place. Also research the airport and fixed base oper- ator (FBO), including the hours of operations. It sounds simple, but sometimes it’s one of the hardest pieces of information to find, especially in remote locations that may have privately owned FBOs. Choosing housing and ground transportation also presents challenges. A hotel or resort may likely provide transportation and be your most convenient and safest option. What if you choose a rental home or a private seaside villa that is not connected to a resort or hotel? Do you know the surrounding area? Is it safe? Can you walk to a nearby market or take a stroll down the beach without imminent danger? Understanding the security of a country or a city is one thing, but exploring the local neighborhoods may Aviation Business Journal | Summer 2019
