Trip Report: Toronto

I recently did a trip to Canada, and wanted to summarize it for the
benefit of others.

Flight was from Dayton, OH to Toronto Buttonville Airport (CYKZ).
Realizing that I will inevitably be radar vectored around Toronto, I
filed for GPS direct with only one intermediate waypoint (CYPT) to keep
me close to the Lake Erie shoreline. I was cleared as filed. Then
called 1-888-CANPASS just before engine start. Canada customs asked for
information about pilot and passengers and ETA. Then we were off. About
50 miles out I got vectored to the south of Toronto, over the lake,
for an approach into Buttonville. After landing we called CANPASS
again, and were given an arrival record number. We never saw a customs
officer. It was as painless as it could be. Buttonville has great
service, but fuel prices were out of this world.

On the way back, we filed for a direct route to Sandusky, OH because US
customs requires landing at the first airport of entry. I called the
customs office (from AOPA directory) and gave them an ETA. I was
vectored to the south of Toronto and then set free for a direct
navigation. U.S Customs was painless, although I understand that that
is not always the case. We had to buy a $25 annual decal, and had to
show the pilot certificate, medical and aircraft registration. It would
have been easier if I had the forms filled out ahead of time.

I wish Canadian charts were available for online downloading, even as a
paid service.

I have some photos of the flight if anyone is interested. The scenic
flight I took around downtown Toronto was fantastic.
http://www.sarangan.org/aviation/