Flying from Washington state to Canada

I am planning my first international flight from the Seattle area to
Port Hardy, BC, Canada during the week of July 4th. I have bought all
the relavent Canadian charts (VFR and IFR), and have Googled for previous
discussions on flying in Canada. However, I would appreciate any
tips on the actual USA - Canada transition with regard to ATC. Will
US ATC hand off VFR to Canada at the border, or will I need to
call up on my own? "Knock, knock, can I come in, eh?" Same question
for returning to the USA.

Any suggestions on routing? Is it advisable to fly over top of
Widbey Island NAS, or better to remain east and cross to the north?
What is the best route past Victoria heading up Vancouver Island's
east coast?


Thanks,
Ross Oliver

US ATC will hand you off to Canadian ATC. The only difference seems to be
that they say "radar identified" instead of "radar contact". You should
file an ICAO flight plan instead of an FAA one. Flight Service will help
you with this one.. AOPA has a booklet about flying to Canada. You have to
enter at an approved airport both entering Canada and re-entering the US.
Be sure you understand and comply with the customs requirements in both
directions! These Airports of Entry are listed in the AOPA guide.

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pi...nswer0107.html

I am making a similiar flight on Friday from Sandpoint, ID to Ketchikan,
AK.

Have Fun!

Mike
MU-2


"Ross Oliver" wrote in message
...

I am planning my first international flight from the Seattle area to
Port Hardy, BC, Canada during the week of July 4th. I have bought all
the relavent Canadian charts (VFR and IFR), and have Googled for previous
discussions on flying in Canada. However, I would appreciate any
tips on the actual USA - Canada transition with regard to ATC. Will
US ATC hand off VFR to Canada at the border, or will I need to
call up on my own? "Knock, knock, can I come in, eh?" Same question
for returning to the USA.

Any suggestions on routing? Is it advisable to fly over top of
Widbey Island NAS, or better to remain east and cross to the north?
What is the best route past Victoria heading up Vancouver Island's
east coast?


Thanks,
Ross Oliver

"Ross Oliver" wrote in message
...
[...] Will
US ATC hand off VFR to Canada at the border, or will I need to
call up on my own? "Knock, knock, can I come in, eh?" Same question
for returning to the USA.

IFR should be seamless. If I recall, I have been handed off VFR when I've
had VFR flight following, but only if I've specifically asked for it all the
way to my destination. Seems like when I've simply been in contact with
Whidbey for the purpose of transiting the Class C, they simply dropped me
when I left their airspace.

So, if you want ATC handoffs all the way, get flight following right off the
bat, with your destination, and make it clear you want flight following all
the way. That's your best bet for getting proper handoffs. That said, I'm
not aware of any requirement that ATC handle VFR aircraft with handoffs to
the next facility, so you may still find yourself cold-calling the next
facility.

It has been a few years since I crossed that border, and things do change,
so the above could be hopelessly out of date information.

Any suggestions on routing? Is it advisable to fly over top of
Widbey Island NAS, or better to remain east and cross to the north?
What is the best route past Victoria heading up Vancouver Island's
east coast?

Personally, I'd fly up the west side of Whidbey, cut across going over Smith
Island, then over San Juan Island and on over to Vancouver Island. More
scenic that way and more direct, at least from Seattle. Of course, if
you're really daring, just fly direct to Victoria from Seattle; especially
this time of year there will probably be a boat near enough to fish you out
should you have to ditch. (Just don't forget how cold the water is).

If you want to go over Whidbey NAS, keep in mind that they'll probably want
you at least at 2500'. I'm guessing that's fine for your cruising altitude
going over the water anyway and in fact you'll probably be even higher
(maybe even above the Class C), but just thought I'd mention that. I can't
say that there's really any benefit to going over the Navy base versus the
more direct routing. Obviously if you're comparing that to flying up I-5
and crossing over at or around the Anacortes/Burlington area, going over the
Navy base is shorter.

I haven't flown beyond the southeastern end of Vancouver Island, so I can't
advise you on your route to Port Hardy. However, I would think that
following the coast would be your best bet. It will be scenic, reasonably
direct, and will have the best chance of keeping you near reasonably settled
areas.

Pete

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
link.net...
US ATC will hand you off to Canadian ATC. The only difference seems to be
that they say "radar identified" instead of "radar contact". You should
file an ICAO flight plan instead of an FAA one. Flight Service will help
you with this one.. AOPA has a booklet about flying to Canada. You have
to
enter at an approved airport both entering Canada and re-entering the US.
Be sure you understand and comply with the customs requirements in both
directions! These Airports of Entry are listed in the AOPA guide.

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pi...nswer0107.html

I am making a similiar flight on Friday from Sandpoint, ID to Ketchikan,
AK.

Have Fun!


Let us know how that one goes. If things work out as
hoped/planned/fantasized, the family will make a journey from COS to COE
(fuel stop...on our line of travel) to JNU next summer. You'll be covering
roughly the same route as we will and my wife is "wondering" about crossing
all that desolate territory in BC.

I am planning a similar flight, and from what I understand so far
returning back into the US is the stickiest part. You have to call the
customs agent ahead of time and arrive within 15 minutes of your ETA, and
not even one minute too early. The penalty for arriving without notice is
severe. It is best to make a stop at an airport near the border, call
customs again and depart for a more precise arrival.




(Ross Oliver) wrote in
:


I am planning my first international flight from the Seattle area to
Port Hardy, BC, Canada during the week of July 4th. I have bought all
the relavent Canadian charts (VFR and IFR), and have Googled for
previous
discussions on flying in Canada. However, I would appreciate any
tips on the actual USA - Canada transition with regard to ATC. Will
US ATC hand off VFR to Canada at the border, or will I need to
call up on my own? "Knock, knock, can I come in, eh?" Same question
for returning to the USA.

Any suggestions on routing? Is it advisable to fly over top of
Widbey Island NAS, or better to remain east and cross to the north?
What is the best route past Victoria heading up Vancouver Island's
east coast?


Thanks,
Ross Oliver

You should inform her that its not desolate...its populated...there are
about 20,000 grizzley bears in BC.

Mike
MU-2


"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
link.net...
US ATC will hand you off to Canadian ATC. The only difference seems to
be
that they say "radar identified" instead of "radar contact". You should
file an ICAO flight plan instead of an FAA one. Flight Service will
help
you with this one.. AOPA has a booklet about flying to Canada. You
have
to
enter at an approved airport both entering Canada and re-entering the
US.
Be sure you understand and comply with the customs requirements in both
directions! These Airports of Entry are listed in the AOPA guide.

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pi...nswer0107.html

I am making a similiar flight on Friday from Sandpoint, ID to
Ketchikan,
AK.

Have Fun!


Let us know how that one goes. If things work out as
hoped/planned/fantasized, the family will make a journey from COS to COE
(fuel stop...on our line of travel) to JNU next summer. You'll be covering
roughly the same route as we will and my wife is "wondering" about
crossing
all that desolate territory in BC.

You are usually handed off to Canadian ATC well before entering Canadian
airspace.

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in message
. 158...
I am planning a similar flight, and from what I understand so far
returning back into the US is the stickiest part. You have to call the
customs agent ahead of time and arrive within 15 minutes of your ETA, and
not even one minute too early. The penalty for arriving without notice is
severe. It is best to make a stop at an airport near the border, call
customs again and depart for a more precise arrival.


I believe the penalty for arriving early is having to wait in your plane
with the doors closed until the Customs Agent arrives. Also, IIUC, you can
contact the FBO by Unicom and have them update the agent on your arrival
ETA. This assumes, too, that you're arriving "off hours".

Here is the checklist that I have used to fly to and fro Canada. Best viewed
with a fixed width font.

YMMV - check the procedure for yourself as things may have changed in the last
year.

Cell phones in Canada may or may not work. Always have a land line back up
plan.

======================
From U.S. into Canada:

1. File a flight plan with U.S. FSS at 1-800-WX-Brief (1-800-992-7433)

* File ONLY for the border-crossing leg.

* Ask about your border-crossing squawk-code. This code will
probably not be available until you take off and open your flight
plan, but ask them anyway. DO NOT CROSS THE BORDER WITHOUT
SQUAWKING THIS CODE.

2. Contact Canadian Customs at 1-888-CAN-PASS (1-888-226-7277) at least two
hours and no more than 24 hours before arrival

* When you first phone and they ask you a bunch of questions, you
are actually making a CUSTOMS DECLARATION. Be sure to ask them for
their name, station, and the declaration report number. They will
not offer this information unless you ask, but it may come in handy
for the next step.

3. Take off, and IMMEDIATELY open your flight plan with the U.S. FSS.

* The FSS operator will give you a border-crossing squawk-code.
If they do not - ASK!

4. Set your border-crossing squawk-code.

5. If possible, close your flight plan when you have the Airport Of Entry
(AOE) in sight.

* Canadian FSS frequency is 126.7
* Canadian FSS Kamloops 1-866-WX-Brief (1-866-992-7433)

6. Land at the AOE and taxi to Canadian Customs

* If your flight plan is still open, ask the tower if they can
close it for you. If not: call Canadian FSS Kamloops
1-866-WX-Brief (1-866-992-7433).

* Call 1-888-CAN-PASS (1-888-226-7277) and inform them of your
arrival.

* Get your Customs Report Number from the agent(s). Write it down!

* If you are continuing your flight, then ground control or the
control tower of the AOE will assign your in-country squawk-code.
Do not take-off without an in-country squawk-code.


=====================
From Canada into U.S.

1. File your flight plan with Canadian FSS Kamloops 1-866-WX-BRIEF
(1-866-992-7433). Land lines may be necessary.

* File ONLY for the border-crossing leg.

Ask about your border-crossing squawk-code. You probably can't
get this squawk code from this facility so see #3 below. DO NOT
CROSS THE BORDER WITHOUT SQUAWKING THIS CODE.

2. Contact U.S. Customs at your chosen AOE and make an appointment.

* Bellingham : 1-360-734-5463

* Do not be more than 15 minutes early or late. Update your
arrival time by contacting an FSS, either by phone or radio.

3. Set your border-crossing squawk-code.

* If you haven't gotten your border-crossing squawk-code call
Canadian ATC IFR Flight Planning at 1-888-987-2633 and request
one. Even if you are flying VFR.

4. Take off, and IMMEDIATELY open your flight plan if necessary. Canadian
flight plans seem to assume takeoff times, and will be opened automatically.

5. If possible, close your flight plan when you have the AOE in sight.

* U.S. FSS for Bellingham frequency is 122.15

6. Land at your AOE (Airport of Entry) and taxi to U.S. Customs

* If your flight plan is still open, ask the tower if they can
close it for you. If not, close it by FSS radio or call
1-800-WX-Brief (1-800-992-7433) and close it.

* If you are more than 15 minutes late or early, gingerly call
local U.S. Customs:

* Bellingham : 1-360-734-5463

wrote:
[original post snipped]

Wow! What an awesome post. Thanks for the great information. I'm
planning a trip to San Juan Island this summer, but I may just extend it
in to Canada, now that I have this great border crossing checklist.

Thanks again!
DanH