28 June 2011 Rio Branco - Leticia, Colombia

Choose again IFR, as low clouds, and made an IMC approach to Rwy 21 to the capital of the Colombian Amazon province. Saw the great river (and, luckily, the runway) just on short final, after getting out of about 1000ft low clouds. Great reception in Leticia, security, Aerocivil, Police, military, looked like a state visit!

Also, before entering Colombia (for more than 48 hours) you have to send the form found on http://portal.aerocivil.gov.co/portal/page/portal/Aerocivil_Portal_Internet/home_tramites/Empresas_aeron%E1uticas/empresas_aeronauticas , attach required aircraft and pilot doc scans, and get a reply. Call them on +5714251000, ask for Operaciones Aereas, and follow up. Spanish helps, but some will be proud to show off their English. Don't take manana for an answer. In your formal request, include as many airports on your route as feasible. We had to divert before an Andes crossing due to low clouds, and the alternate was not on the list requested. We got stuck, and only high-level intervention (with a Tenente Coronel) got us out of there. Also important to get approval from DIAN, the Customs authority. This is more complicated, requiring the use a of a local broker, as a bond has to be posted. Your plane may be impounded if this procedure is not followed!

In Colombia, we got accustomed to the police dogs at every airport, sniffing around our bags and into the plane. Also, never felt so safe, on all airfields, our plane was guarded by heavily armed military.
The local head of Aerocivil, Julio Cesar (in the blue dress), was a great help and guide for us, gracias amigo!
Leticia has no AvGas, at least officially. But JC found some, at horrendous prices, but better to have some reserves before you cross another 500nm of jungle with no alternatives.

Leticia is an interesting place, links straight into Tabatinga, the Brazilian outpost, and a Peruvian town on the other shore of the great river.

Stayed at the fashionable Decameron Hotel, and where greeted by the famous "Tarzan of the Amazon".
In Leticia, I had also troubles with money: the ATM didn't take foreign cards, and the Cambios only accepted "new" unmarked pristine Dollar notes. Was hard to find a few of those in my stack.

Before leaving,  Monica and Veronika had to get their exit stamped in Brazil, to get an entry into Colombia. Fortunately, the Brazilian police station is just 5 minutes across town!