Flying To Canada

[GaryP1007]

Looking for people to share experiences of flying from the US into Canada.  What is required and are there any "gotcha's"?

[kortopates]

AOPA addresses this in detail at http://www.aopa.org/members/pic/intl/canada/index.html - or - from the home page click Flight Planning -> International flights -> Canada.

Don't be put off by what seems an onerous amount of information - just go through it step by step. Recognize too after you get the border crossing procedures down you need to read up on differences between our regs and Canada so that you know about mandatory frequencies and controlled VFR to name just a few as well as learn about NavCanada for weather info etc. There are no gotcha's as long as you review and plan accordingly and its actually a breaze crossing into Canada compared to coming back into the US.

You might want to start right away on order your US CBP sticker for the airplane and getting an eAPIS account. You won't need a FCC radio license - no one will care or ask for it.

[201er]

I'm very interested in this as well. Someone told me that you have to depart from an international airport in the US when going to Canada. So if leaving from a small uncontrolled field, that you have to land in a US based international airport before going to Canada. However, the AOPA article doesn't mention this. What's the story with outbound procedures?

[kortopates]

Quote: 201er

I'm very interested in this as well. Someone told me that you have to depart from an international airport in the US when going to Canada. So if leaving from a small uncontrolled field, that you have to land in a US based international airport before going to Canada. However, the AOPA article doesn't mention this. What's the story with outbound procedures?

[Becca]

Quote: GaryP1007

Looking for people to share experiences of flying from the US into Canada.  What is required and are there any "gotcha's"?

[iAPIS]

Becca - great summary!  However, I need to make a couple of corrections:

 

• 
  
• You can certainly file eAPIS via your iPhone & iPad now.  If I may plug my app, please see iAPIS on the App Store.  It's a free download and has been fully certified by the CBP after several months of testing with them.  We do make a small charge per filed manifest (currently $2.99) but we believe the way the app streamlines and simplifies the eAPIS manifest filing makes this charge worthwhile (Fltplan.com charge $250 for a similar service!).
  
• When returning to the USA you must phone the CBP at the airport of arrival before departing, as well as filing the eAPIS manifest.
  

Also, it can be a bit confusing knowing what you need to do if some aspect of a flight changes (some passengers are no longer travelling, or date or time of flight is changing).  The CBP have rules on this and we have summarised there here:

http://iapis.tenderapp.com/kb/eapis/manifest-changes-do-i-need-to-resubmit-a-new-manifest

If there are any questions on eAPIS or even on the iAPIS app then feel free to ask me.

 

[iAPIS]

Quote: 201er

I'm very interested in this as well. Someone told me that you have to depart from an international airport in the US when going to Canada. So if leaving from a small uncontrolled field, that you have to land in a US based international airport before going to Canada. However, the AOPA article doesn't mention this. What's the story with outbound procedures?

[iAPIS]

Oops!

Beaten to it by a whole month by kortopates

[Becca]

Quote: iAPIS

Becca - great summary!  However, I need to make a couple of corrections:

 

You can certainly file eAPIS via your iPhone & iPad now.  If I may plug my app, please see iAPIS on the App Store.  It's a free download and has been fully certified by the CBP after several months of testing with them.  We do make a small charge per filed manifest (currently $2.99) but we believe the way the app streamlines and simplifies the eAPIS manifest filing makes this charge worthwhile (Fltplan.com charge $250 for a similar service!).

When returning to the USA you must phone the CBP at the airport of arrival before departing, as well as filing the eAPIS manifest.

Also, it can be a bit confusing knowing what you need to do if some aspect of a flight changes (some passengers are no longer travelling, or date or time of flight is changing).  The CBP have rules on this and we have summarised there here:

http://iapis.tenderapp.com/kb/eapis/manifest-changes-do-i-need-to-resubmit-a-new-manifest

If there are any questions on eAPIS or even on the iAPIS app then feel free to ask me.

 

[SkyPilot]

Just so you folks know, I have only filed a flight plan while flying in Canada once in the last 28 years. It's a real pain in the keister to have the FSS (Flight Service Specialist) phone you after you land and refuel just because you are 30 minutes past your planned landing time. Once was enough.

I let my wife or my buddy Jim know where I am going. I tell the FSS I am on a "company note" and that it the end of it. No flightplan.

You will have to file a plan to enter, but once here, we have very little controlled airspace at the lower altitudes and it is awesome. No fuss. I've looked at the US charts and thought: Wow, what a bunch of airports! Up here, I've flown 5 hours straight at 141 knots, without ever seeing a building or another sign of life. 

Flying in Canada is easy. Flying in the US looks daunting.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: SkyPilot

Just so you folks know, I have only filed a flight plan while flying in Canada once in the last 28 years. It's a real pain in the keister to have the FSS (Flight Service Specialist) phone you after you land and refuel just because you are 30 minutes past your planned landing time. Once was enough.

I let my wife or my buddy Jim know where I am going. I tell the FSS I am on a "company note" and that it the end of it. No flightplan.

You will have to file a plan to enter, but once here, we have very little controlled airspace at the lower altitudes and it is awesome. No fuss. I've looked at the US charts and thought: Wow, what a bunch of airports! Up here, I've flown 5 hours straight at 141 knots, without ever seeing a building or another sign of life. 

Flying in Canada is easy. Flying in the US looks daunting.

[Mw2307]

Same way just a different phone number.  In Canada you call 1-866-WXBRIEF (992-7433)

[WardHolbrook]

Quote: Becca

Yes.  We did this over the summer.  Here's a summary:

Outbound (to Canada)

1.  You must file a flight plan and activate a flight plan for your border crossing.  (Note, within Canada you are required to always be flying on an active flight plan for flights longer than something like 25 nmi from origin airport)

2.  You must put your flight plan on eAPIS at a minimum of 1 hr before your flight with a passenger manifest.  This requires you set up an eAPIS account.  Do not expect to do this on a mobile computing device (e.g. iPad or iPhone, though I understand there are now some apps in developmnet) but a real computer.

3. You must call an airport of departure in the US and notify them of the time you will cross the border.

4.  You must have a radio station license and an radio operators license.  But in all likelihood no one will check. 

5.  You must notify Canada 2 hrs-48 hrs before your arrival.  You must land at a Canadian Airport of Entry.  If you have time and the inclination (I think it takes 6 weeks), sign up for CANPASS, it gives you more options of what airports to land at (basically instead of being greeted by Canadian border, you just call them and say "hey, I'm here!").  This will also help you land outside of 9-5 weekday operating hours of some airports.

6.  You must also notify the closed US CBP airport to your departure of your plan to leave the country (because technically they can inspect out bound flights).  I can't remember where I read this requirement, but we notified Green Bay prior to leaving Oshkosh for Canada.

Returning to the US

1.  You need to get a Customs sticker for your airplane for the return to the US.   Most people don't actually affix these to their airplanes as required, CBP doesn't seem to mind.  In fact our sticker almost didnt arrive in time and CBP said it would be ok if we just presented a receipt for purchasing it.  Note these are good for one calendar year, no matter when you buy them, they are valid january to december.

2.  Schedule your arrival with your airport of entry (you may only land at an authorized airport of entry).  Be alert, many smaller airports have restrictive hours.  You only have to notify them 2 hrs in advance.  However, if you plan on landing at 10 am on Monday and they open at 9 am and are closed weekends, you really have to notify them on Friday.

3.  File eAPIS for your return at least 1 hr before departure

4.  You must file and be on an active flight plan when you cross the border.  (This was a challenge for us leaving Kingston, Ontario as it was just a couple miles from the border and we had to circle for a little while while opening our flight plan)

Also, note US VFR sectionals and foreflight cover a little bit over the border not much, after that you have to buy a Canadian subscription to foreflight and/or Canadian paper charts.

[xftrplt]

Ward, thanks for the FlashPass tip.  I've already downloaded it.  It certainly appears to simplify the paperwork. 

(We enjoy flying up to the summer Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ont, but SWMBO has been put off by the mediocre lodging facilities in town.  Suggestions are welcome.)

[aviatoreb]

Quote: Mw2307

Same way just a different phone number.  In Canada you call 1-866-WXBRIEF (992-7433)

[Mw2307]

yes you can cancel in the air with ATC but towers no longer automatically cancel when you land so you have to call in if you have not already cancelled with ATC in the air.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: Mw2307

yes you can cancel in the air with ATC but towers no longer automatically cancel when you land so you have to call in if you have not already cancelled with ATC in the air.

[Ned Gravel]

Quote: Mw2307

yes you can cancel in the air with ATC but towers no longer automatically cancel when you land so you have to call in if you have not already cancelled with ATC in the air.

[BorealOne]

This is also new, and may catch a few American fliers (and possibly some Canadians as well) unawares:

A VFR flight plan or flight itinerary should normally be opened with a TWR, an FSS, an FIC or a CARS upon departure to activate the alerting service. The pilot is responsible for extending or cancelling the flight plan or flight itinerary if the flight is delayed or cancelled. If an extension or cancellation is not received by the proposed departure time, the responsible ATS unit will activate the flight plan or flight itinerary, using the ETD as the actual time of departure (ATD).

 

[drpep]

Hello there from a Canadian on the West Coast!

Anyone interested in flying to beautiful Qualicum Beach in British Columbia please consider joining us at our fly in on July7th 2012. We will do our best to attend to our American neighbours so feel free to make this a holiday visit. Need more info about Vancouver Island call or email me at 250-468-2771 or drpep@shaw.ca 

[yvesg]

Philip, saw your airplane is for sale in COPA. Trying to get a hold of you. Please email me. yvesg@semo.ca

Regards,

Yves

[wiguy]

 You guys seem to have fun, so I signed up.

 

  I recently flew 'over Canada'. We flew from North of Detroit over Ontario direct to Niagara Falls, KIAG. We has passports & I am registered on eapis, but didn't want to go through the drill of in & out with customs. I filed a VRF flight plan, activated in the air with FSS, & got a squawk with FF from ATC all the way. My XM radar even worked for some light rain in S Ontario.

 

  I do plan to go on a fishing trip in the next year or so to Ontario.