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

"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 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.

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
You should inform her that its not desolate...its populated...there are
about 20,000 grizzley bears in BC.

Well, I told her that.

She asked me if I still had my old .44 Magnum and a lot of ammo. :~(




Mike
MU-2


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.

In article , Tom Sixkiller
wrote:

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
You should inform her that its not desolate...its populated...there are
about 20,000 grizzley bears in BC.

Well, I told her that.
She asked me if I still had my old .44 Magnum and a lot of ammo. :~(

Interesting... how does one get a handgun through Canadian Customs? ;-)

FYI According to a friends wife who is an ER doctor, everyone who has shot
a grizzley bear in self defense in Wyoming with a handgun has been mauled.

Mike
MU-2


"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
You should inform her that its not desolate...its populated...there are
about 20,000 grizzley bears in BC.

Well, I told her that.

She asked me if I still had my old .44 Magnum and a lot of ammo. :~(




Mike
MU-2


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.

in article . net, Mike
Rapoport at wrote on 6/22/04 9:05 PM:

The only difference seems to be that they say "radar identified" instead of
"radar contact".

They also say "aboot" instead of "about".

And "eh" at the end of every sentence.

Mike
MU-2


"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message
...
in article . net, Mike
Rapoport at wrote on 6/22/04 9:05 PM:

The only difference seems to be that they say "radar identified" instead
of
"radar contact".

They also say "aboot" instead of "about".

"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