Shafted by the Transport Canada?

wrote:

So, basically Canada says I didn't file a flight plan and I don't have
any way of proving that I did. Anybody have any ideas on how to
dispute this or had a similar experience? (AOPA Legal was no help.
Their only suggestion was the FOIA request.)

I would tackle as a customer/vendor relationship.

Write to this agency requesting that they wave the penalty, which will
encourage you to again fly into Canada and spend your money in their
country for more enjoyable services such as hotels, restaurants, and
entertainment. Send a copy to the Canadian aircraft owners & pilots
organization and the Canadian tourist board/agency.

Inform this group that you did file a VFR flight plan and that you
performed extensive research of the requirements of flying into Canadian
airspace before taking the flight. Let them know that flying into Canada
is a method of transportation that allows you to take more vacations into
their country than you would otherwise.

Conclude with the fact that if they continue to insist on penalizing you,
you will never again take another vacation into Canada and the $250 you
send them will be the last dollar you spend in their country ever.
Furthermore, you will spread the word via the Internet that Canada is not a
GA-friendly country and you will encourage every pilot you know to avoid
Canadian airspace and the businesses that thrive from this mode of
transportation.

Living in New York state, I used to drive over the border to buy Canadian
beer when I was in college (back before the days of good micro-breweries
here in the US). One time while eating at a small Canadian city
restaurant, our parking meter ran out before we could refill it.

Upon returning to the car, we spotted what looked to be a parking ticket
under the wiper. This is roughly what the ticket read (no lie): "This
paper is to inform you that your meter has run out. However, because you
are from a different country, we are not penalizing you. Instead, we are
thanking you for your business in our country."

I thought that was pretty classy.

--
Peter

I don't know if this will help you, but if you file an itinerary with a
responsible person, then you don't have to file a flight plan. An
itinerary is just a record of your trip. A lot of pilots file with
their wife, but it could be anybody.

In case anyone's interested, here's the relevant Canadian regulations.
They claim I busted (4).

Requirement to File a Flight Plan or a Flight Itinerary

602.73 (1) Subject to subsection (3), no pilot-in-command shall operate
an aircraft in IFR flight unless an IFR flight plan has been filed.

(2) No pilot-in-command shall operate an aircraft in VFR flight unless
a VFR flight plan or a VFR flight itinerary has been filed, except
where the flight is conducted within 25 nautical miles of the departure
aerodrome.

(3) A pilot-in-command may file an IFR flight itinerary instead of an
IFR flight plan where

(a) the flight is conducted in part or in whole outside controlled
airspace; or

(b) facilities are inadequate to permit the communication of flight
plan information to an air traffic control unit, a flight service
station or a community aerodrome radio station.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Division, no pilot-in-command
shall, unless a flight plan has been filed, operate an aircraft between
Canada and a foreign state.

Recently, posted:

In case anyone's interested, here's the relevant Canadian regulations.
They claim I busted (4).

Requirement to File a Flight Plan or a Flight Itinerary

Didn't you have to notify Canadian Customs prior to your arrival? At I
know for a fact that customs keeps records for a *very* long time. It may
not prove that you filed your flight plan, but it might help to support
your claim that you did so.

Regards,

Neil

Don't pay-em. The *******s got off easy not standing next to us in
Iraq.
God Bless the Brit's and Australians. ( and all the allied countries)

"MaulePilot" wrote:

Don't pay-em. The *******s got off easy not standing next to us in
Iraq.
God Bless the Brit's and Australians. ( and all the allied countries)

Actually, the Canadians have one of the largest military groups now serving
in the middle east. You are unfairly criticizing them.

Just yesterday, one of their soldiers was killed in an ambush in
Afghanistan, alongside a US soldier.

The reason they have a large presence is that not only did they send
soldiers to support the fighting in Afghanistan, they also sent warships to
the Gulf to support the blockade, and I believe they are still there
supporting continuing Naval operations. They also have a base in
Afghanistan, and their officers have a presence in Iraq through the
military officer exchange programs with the US.

Overall, numerically they are one of the larger coalition military groups
in the area.

"James Robinson" wrote in message
. 97.142...
"MaulePilot" wrote:

Don't pay-em. The *******s got off easy not standing next to us in
Iraq.
God Bless the Brit's and Australians. ( and all the allied countries)

Actually, the Canadians have one of the largest military groups now
serving
in the middle east. You are unfairly criticizing them.

Just yesterday, one of their soldiers was killed in an ambush in
Afghanistan, alongside a US soldier.

The reason they have a large presence is that not only did they send
soldiers to support the fighting in Afghanistan, they also sent warships
to
the Gulf to support the blockade, and I believe they are still there
supporting continuing Naval operations. They also have a base in
Afghanistan, and their officers have a presence in Iraq through the
military officer exchange programs with the US.

Overall, numerically they are one of the larger coalition military groups
in the area.

Got some numbers?

writes:


(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Division, no pilot-in-command
shall, unless a flight plan has been filed, operate an aircraft between
Canada and a foreign state.


Point out you didn't...you operated an aircraft between a foreign state and
Canada.

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

"Doug" wrote in message
oups.com...
I don't know if this will help you, but if you file an itinerary with a
responsible person, then you don't have to file a flight plan. An
itinerary is just a record of your trip. A lot of pilots file with
their wife, but it could be anybody.

No a flight plan must be filed when crossing an international border.

"Chris" wrote in message
...
No a flight plan must be filed when crossing an international border.

Not always... Was flying back to Houston from SoCal a few years ago and
landing in El Paso for the night and and to refuel... I was routed well
across the border by ATC and asked them about it... They said that they
controlled the Mexican airspace, so it wouldn't be a problem... I have to
think that if I had needed to make an emergency landing while south of the
border, it defintely would have been a problem since Mexico tends to take a
dim view of us bringing firearms into their country... And, of course, since
I'm a Texan, I *always* have a gun or two in my plane...