Flying over Canada VFR

[B. Jensen]

I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to
upstate NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in
Canada, and since my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if
any, are there for doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you
need a FCC radio license for your aircraft since you would be
transmitting in Canadian airspace, and are there any ATC fees to pay for
using Canadian airspace?

The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
flight IFR?

Thanks,

BJ

[Marc CYBW]

There are new regulations!

You must send a cheque for $25.00 (Cdn) to every licensed pilot in Canada -
a bottle of Jack Daniels would be good too :-)

OK, so those aren't the real regulations, but it would have been nice to try
a little sipping bourbon.

As for the radio stuff, according to the latest COPA publication, you need
your US Restricted Radiotelephone Operators Permit.

Marc CYBW


"B. Jensen" > wrote in message
...
>I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
>Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to upstate
>NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in Canada, and since
>my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if any, are there for
>doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you need a FCC radio license
>for your aircraft since you would be transmitting in Canadian airspace, and
>are there any ATC fees to pay for using Canadian airspace?
>
> The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
> flight IFR?
>
> Thanks,
>
> BJ
>

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, "B. Jensen" > said:
>I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
>Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to
>upstate NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in
>Canada, and since my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if
>any, are there for doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you
>need a FCC radio license for your aircraft since you would be
>transmitting in Canadian airspace, and are there any ATC fees to pay for
>using Canadian airspace?

You need to be talking to some ATC while you're crossing the border. It's
easiest if you get flight following the whole way. NavCanada will send
the aircraft owner a bill for $15, but will cover the aircraft for the
whole quarter, if you decide to do it again.

Nobody is going to board your plane in mid-air to look for a radio
license.

>The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
>flight IFR?

Well, it makes it easier to be talking to somebody as you cross the
border. Otherwise, no change.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
When C++ is your hammer, everything looks like a thumb.
-- Steven M. Haflich

[B. Jensen]

I thought you guys were beer drinkers!

I have a radio license, buy my experimental A/C does not. Do I need a
radio license for my A/C?

Thanks,

BJ

Marc CYBW wrote:
> There are new regulations!
>
> You must send a cheque for $25.00 (Cdn) to every licensed pilot in Canada -
> a bottle of Jack Daniels would be good too :-)
>
> OK, so those aren't the real regulations, but it would have been nice to try
> a little sipping bourbon.
>
> As for the radio stuff, according to the latest COPA publication, you need
> your US Restricted Radiotelephone Operators Permit.
>
> Marc CYBW
>
>
> "B. Jensen" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
>>Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to upstate
>>NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in Canada, and since
>>my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if any, are there for
>>doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you need a FCC radio license
>>for your aircraft since you would be transmitting in Canadian airspace, and
>>are there any ATC fees to pay for using Canadian airspace?
>>
>>The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
>>flight IFR?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>BJ
>>
>
>
>

[B. Jensen]

Paul,

If I'm VFR, do I need to file a VFR flight plan even though I'm not
landing in Canada?

Also, since I fly an experiental A/C, are there any other requirements?

Thanks,

BJ

Paul Tomblin wrote:

> In a previous article, "B. Jensen" > said:
>
>>I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
>>Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to
>>upstate NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in
>>Canada, and since my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if
>>any, are there for doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you
>>need a FCC radio license for your aircraft since you would be
>>transmitting in Canadian airspace, and are there any ATC fees to pay for
>>using Canadian airspace?
>
>
> You need to be talking to some ATC while you're crossing the border. It's
> easiest if you get flight following the whole way. NavCanada will send
> the aircraft owner a bill for $15, but will cover the aircraft for the
> whole quarter, if you decide to do it again.
>
> Nobody is going to board your plane in mid-air to look for a radio
> license.
>
>
>>The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
>>flight IFR?
>
>
> Well, it makes it easier to be talking to somebody as you cross the
> border. Otherwise, no change.
>
>

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, "B. Jensen" > said:
>Paul,
>
>If I'm VFR, do I need to file a VFR flight plan even though I'm not
>landing in Canada?

KROC, where I'm based, wouldn't give you VFR flight following if you
weren't on a flight plan. (Everytime I mention that on this newsgroup, a
bunch of people tell me I'm crazy, and then one or two people mention that
it's the same at their airport too.) So I've never tried to cross the
border without being on a flight plan, either VFR or IFR. I got my
instrument rating 3 or 4 years ago, and I haven't tried to cross the
border VFR since then, so I don't know if that's changed.

>Also, since I fly an experiental A/C, are there any other requirements?

No idea.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Heaven has all the lusers, a generous supply of larts -
and no PHBs anywhere in sight.
-- The BOFH Heaven, according to Suresh

[George Patterson]

Marc CYBW wrote:

> You must send a cheque for $25.00 (Cdn) to every licensed pilot in Canada -
> a bottle of Jack Daniels would be good too :-)

That square bottle is a safety feature designed for Canadian drivers. It keeps
the bottle from rolling to the other side of the car when they turn. :-)

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Longworth]

Paul,
Last year, we made two trips (NY-MI-NY, NY-MI-MN-IL-NY) under VFR
flight plans. This year, we made another two trips (NY-MI-IL-NY and
NY-MI-CO-MI-NY) but under IFR flight plans. For the firsrt two trips,
we flew over Canada for at least 1/3 of the distance and were in
contact with Canadian ATC (under flight following). For the last two
trips, we were further south and were only over Canada for short
durations. We have not received any bills from NavCanada. I recalled
reading some older posts that the $15 fee applied for aircraft landing
in Canada.

Hai Longworth

[Chris]

"B. Jensen" > wrote in message
...
>I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
>Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to upstate
>NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in Canada, and since
>my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if any, are there for
>doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you need a FCC radio license
>for your aircraft since you would be transmitting in Canadian airspace, and
>are there any ATC fees to pay for using Canadian airspace?
>
> The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
> flight IFR?

As you cross an international border you need to file a flight plan even if
you are not landing.

If you were doing it properly and planning for every eventuality you might
treat the trip as if you were landing and ensure that you had all the
necessary documentation.

I recently flew from Madison to Niagara Falls IFR in a 172 and I ensured I
had the Canadian issued low level chart and instrument approaches. I never
needed them but there was for a few minutes a thought that we might have to
land to avoid some nasty weather and having the charts gave some comfort.

Later at Oshkosh I visited the NAV Canada stand and they told me there would
be no nav charges because I did not land.

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, "Longworth" > said:
>durations. We have not received any bills from NavCanada. I recalled
>reading some older posts that the $15 fee applied for aircraft landing
>in Canada.

Come to think of it, I think you're right - I recall that the US
threatened to charge Canadian overflights of the US in retaliation, so
NavCanada backed down.

I'm in a club, and the planes I fly land in Canada a lot so I wouldn't
notice whether an overflight was subject to the charge because we end up
paying the fee every quarter anyway.

--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Did you know that "Gullible" is not in the dictionary?

[john smith]

> You need to be talking to some ATC while you're crossing the border. It's
> easiest if you get flight following the whole way. NavCanada will send
> the aircraft owner a bill for $15, but will cover the aircraft for the
> whole quarter, if you decide to do it again.

Not necessarily.
I fly from Columbus Ohio to Port Huron Michigan. Heading 005 degrees.
I go feet wet at Sandusky Ohio, cross between Middle Bass and Kelly's
Islands; fly west of Pelee Island and go feet dry at Leamington Ontario.
I then go feet wet again at the south shore of Lake St Claire and feet
dry at the mouth of the channel leading to Lake Huron.
If I go IFR or use flight following, I never talk to a Canadian
controller (Columbus, Mansfield, Cleveland, Detriot, Selfrige). Or, VFR,
I may not talk to anyone.
No ADIZ flight plan, not NavCanada fees.

[tony roberts]

He Lied.
Jack Daniels, Bubonic Plague and any beer imprinted with the phrase
"Union Made" are all pretty much banned here.

The good news is that all single malts and premium Irish Whiskeys are
tax exempt. In fact, the premium singles even come with a cash back,
free radio licence, free flight following and lots of other goodies.
Just send me your address and a list of exactly what you will be
bringing - I'll take care of the rest :)

Tony


--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Malcolm]

BJ,

You might try checking out the AOPA website or calling them. I've
never flown to Canada or over it, but I do know that AOPA advises
people of non-US flights regularly.

-Malcolm Teas

[Mike Rapoport]

"Paul Tomblin" > wrote in message
...
> In a previous article, "B. Jensen" > said:
>>I have a question regarding flying over Canada VFR without landing in
>>Canada. For instance, if I takeoff from Saginaw, MI and fly VFR to
>>upstate NY, I would fly in Canadian airspace. If I don't land in
>>Canada, and since my flight originated in the US, what requirements, if
>>any, are there for doing this? Is a VFR flight plan required, do you
>>need a FCC radio license for your aircraft since you would be
>>transmitting in Canadian airspace, and are there any ATC fees to pay for
>>using Canadian airspace?
>
> You need to be talking to some ATC while you're crossing the border. It's
> easiest if you get flight following the whole way. NavCanada will send
> the aircraft owner a bill for $15, but will cover the aircraft for the
> whole quarter, if you decide to do it again.
>
> Nobody is going to board your plane in mid-air to look for a radio
> license.
>
>>The last question is, what would be the difference if I did this same
>>flight IFR?
>
> Well, it makes it easier to be talking to somebody as you cross the
> border. Otherwise, no change.
>
>
> --
> Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
> When C++ is your hammer, everything looks like a thumb.
> -- Steven M. Haflich

I have flown through Canadian airspace from the US to AK numerous times
(always IFR) and never recieved a bill for it. I flew from Europe to the
US, which involved three landings in Canada and I was billed byNav Canada
that time. I think that you are only billed if you land in Canada.

Mike
MU-2

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, "Mike Rapoport" > said:
>"Paul Tomblin" > wrote in message
...
>> easiest if you get flight following the whole way. NavCanada will send
>> the aircraft owner a bill for $15, but will cover the aircraft for the
>> whole quarter, if you decide to do it again.
>that time. I think that you are only billed if you land in Canada.

Yes, I corrected that in a later post.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"You're one of those condescending Unix computer users!"
"Here's a nickel, kid. Get yourself a better computer" - Dilbert.

[ZikZak]

On 9/30/05 6:57 PM, in article , "B.
Jensen" > wrote:

> If I'm VFR, do I need to file a VFR flight plan even though I'm not
> landing in Canada?
>

You need to file a flight plan, not because you're crossing a border (as
others have said), but because Canadian regulations require all flights not
in the vicinity of an airport be on a flight plan. Also be careful if you're
flying high; in many parts of Canada, airspace above 12,500' is class B.

Nav Canada does not charge for overflights.

Since 9/11, you need to be talking to ATC and squawking a unique code when
you're crossing the border.