On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 19:44:18 -0600, "Henry Kisor"
wrote:

All:

Can a 172 flying at 200 feet above water across Lake Superior get through
undetected by radar or AWACS? Are there holes in radar coverage?

Under normal circumstances, that would be an unequivocal yes. However
these are not normal times. The northern borders are pretty heavily
patrolled and like coming across the Gulf it's unlikely the plane
would make it undetected.

Also, IF detected coming across Lake Superior at 200 feet? That is
more than a little suspicious.

I'd bet dollars to donuts the plane would be greeted at the US side
with an escort. That is of course if they were not coming ashore near
a sensitive area. Then they'd pick up an escort and be "urged" to
change course and come ashore where the military preferred.

Fail to change course and ... well, Lake Superior is large and they
don't have to worry about *stuff* falling on civilians.


I ask cuz I'm a mystery novelist at work on a new whodunit and wonder what
goes on when a small plane flies from Canada to the United States over a
Great Lake. I presume the small plane has to land at an official port of
entry so Customs can go over it looking for bad stuff.

Also, when a plane crosses the border does it have to be in radio contact
with ATC? (Being deaf, I'm a NORDO pilot so don't know anything about that
stuff.)

Are you a Pilot?
Without going into detail, NOTAMS and FSS will brief a pilot on what
is required and what must be done.

I do not think it wise to give out that particular information on a
news group, even if it is widely available to all pilots.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member & Great Lakes area pilot)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com


Thanks to all.

Henry