Border Snafu Diverts Global Flyer

Editorial Staff

Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Spanish pilot Michel Gordillo, who completed a round-the-world flight in an RV-8 via both poles, was denied entry to the U.S. and consequently missed his scheduled appearance at Sun 'n Fun.
Gordillo's entry was blocked due to a bureaucratic mix-up at the U.S./Mexico border, where he followed an instructed procedure for a passport stamp that was later deemed incorrect by officials.
As a result, Gordillo altered his itinerary to overfly Florida, landing in the Bahamas before continuing his journey to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and across the North Pole to Europe.

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Michel Gordillo, of Spain, was scheduled to talk at Sun ‘n Fun this week about his adventures flying an RV-8 around the world, via both North and South Poles — but the intrepid pilot’s plans were derailed by border-crossing bureaucracy. Gordillo’s team said that when he arrived at the Mexico/U.S. border, Gordillo did as he was told — he crossed the border in Texas on foot to get his passport stamped, then returned to Mexico to his airplane. However, when he landed in Texas, another official said that procedure had been incorrect, and refused to allow Gordillo into the U.S.

“It is a very hard moment for Sky Polaris,” Gordillo told his online followers. “Sorry, guys!” Gordillo’s team said the amended plan was for him to overfly Florida and land at Freeport, Bahamas, and spend the night. He then will continue on to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and fly across the North Pole into Europe. “So because of this small inconsequential issue, Michel missed Sun ‘n Fun, missed seeing friends, giving interviews, etc., etc.,” Don Pearsall, a spokesman for the global flight, told AVweb. “This is a plan that has been in the works for years.”