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I am looking for a new adventure to take in my RV, and something I'd like to do this spring is take a trip over the boarder to Canada. It's relatively close to me (< 2 hours), so taking either a long day trip or an overnight sounds like fun.

I know a bunch of you have flown into Canada before, so what do I need to worry about? International Flight Plan? ATC contact? Any special paperwork for the RV? 12? numbers?

Thanks for any advice!

bullojm1 wrote:I am looking for a new adventure to take in my RV, and something I'd like to do this spring is take a trip over the boarder to Canada. It's relatively close to me (< 2 hours), so taking either a long day trip or an overnight sounds like fun.

I know a bunch of you have flown into Canada before, so what do I need to worry about? International Flight Plan? ATC contact? Any special paperwork for the RV? 12? numbers?

Thanks for any advice!

Mike you have nothing to worry about flying to Canada. Very friendly easy going customs. Give them a call at least two hours prior your arrival. File an international flight plan, open it, jump on Flight Following if VFR and enjoy the ride. No 12" numbers, no special paperwork needed. Good idea would be carrying passport with you.

You should worry coming home. You need to file electronically with CBP but it's the whole another story and deserves its own thread


When and where you plan to go? I would join schedule permitting...

I flew to Kenora some years back in my Bonanza. It was a great experience and I would do it again in a second. I need to get my -8 done

I think things have changed some since I was there. I believe a passport is required as is a radio station license. Kenora was a mandatory reporting station as I recall. I never did understand what was required if I announced my arrival and nobody talked back. Fortunately, they did. The procedures are a bit different. Before I go back I will talk to someone in Canada that routinely operates in Canadian space.

Lots of trees up there, eh

Robert

Vlad,

I'm going whenever your schedule is free! I don't have any specific reason to go to Canada, so my timing is open. I think it would be great fun to put together a group trip! Who else is interested in a trip to Canada?

I have heard absolutely fantastic things about Montreal.

Sounds like we have a destination! And I have a passenger!

If anyone is interested in flying into the greater Toronto area, there are a number of small and uncontrolled aerodromes just outside of the terminal area. I'm in Oshawa, which is controlled, but you have Peterborough, Brampton, Lindsay, and a number of private fields that I can help you with. These fields will put you within a 30-60 minute drive to the downtown Toronto area.

If anyone is interested is detailed information and sites to see, please let me know.

You can reach me at:

t6pilot at hotmail .com


Cheers,

Don

Don thanks. But if we are coming as a gaggle we need an airport of entry first. I usually fly alone and I have a CANPASS so I can go straight to those fields you have mentioned. Mike is a first timer he needs CPB.

One question for you Don as a local guru. I am planning to fly around Lake Ontario some time later this year (likely early Oct). How difficult is it to track Toronto shoreline at 1,000 feet? Is there a lot of VFR traffic like we have here in NYC? Any specific procedures/communications? Would appreciate any advice and references.

Hey Vlad,

Here is a link that will bring a .pdf up for you that describes the airspace and frequencies that are associated with Toronto Terminal area. I've flown everything from T-6's to C-150's through here without any issues. It's not congested at all.

http://soga.ca/sites/default/files/file ... %20Ops.pdf

Flying along the lake shore isn't a problem whatsoever. If you are coming from the Buffalo side, once you clear Hamilton and Toronto's airspace (flight following recommended), you briefly go through Oshawa (CYOO) (120.1) control zone and to the east of there you have Canadian Forces Base Trenton (CYTR) (military 128.7). Ask for a low and over at the 10,000 foot and they will accommodate usually. Some nice hardware there to see. If you really have time, ask them for a PAR approach. They like having the practice.

You can go through there without a problem and follow the "Consecon route" or just take the shore and skirt around to the south and fly around Prince Edward County. Picton airfield (CNT7) (uncontrolled 123.2) is an old WWII airbase that is open, but has no services. It's a beautiful area with wineries and such. If you're looking for places to stay, let me know.

Tyendinaga (CPU6) (uncontrolled 123.5) has gas, but I would go further east to Kingston (CYGK) (Controlled 122.5). Kingston is also steeped with history and has some great pubs. The flight from Kingston to Brockville is beautiful. The thousand islands are awesome along this route. Brockville (CNL3) (Unicom 123.0) is a full service airport and then you have Smith's Falls to the north a bit where Kevin Horton and some others are.

I have also attached a link of the listing for all of the Ontario aerodromes.

http://archive.copanational.org/PlacesT ... hp?pr_id=1

If there's more specifics you require, please let me know.

Cheers

DP

If you want to go north east of Toronto, that's even easier, but is a different rant!

Wow great info thanks Don. Talk to you later about the Lake Tour when I am back from AK.

Don Patrick wrote:If you want to go north east of Toronto, that's even easier, but is a different rant!

I do plan around Huron too but it's still a year or two away


Edit; oops misread east for west

When you're ready let me know. I've travelled up the Windsor route up to Sault Saint Marie, then down to Burlington, WI. Another very nice route!

Anybody wants to go to Smiths Falls (CYSH) fly-in breakfast on Sunday, June 1st, 2014? I am tentatively planning... right seat is empty as of now

http://www.smithsfallsflyingclub.com

Vlad,

We'll meet you at Smiths Falls, weather permitting.

By the way, our plane has made the front page for Peterborough's (CYPQ) Landing 27 restaurant on TripAdvisor. Very good restaurant by the way.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Re ... tario.html

Mike,

Montreal is great but not many options for airports. Nearest for GA would be St. Hubert (CYHU). You can take the bus from there to the Montreal subway, however it's almost an hour ride. There's a landing fee of $13 if i remember correctly. Trip to the old part of town is lots of fun. Forget about PET (CYUL), it's hundreds of $ if they even let you land. Very busy.

Highly Recommend: Quebec city (CYQB) is fantastic. It does have a landing fee of about $20 or so, however Enterprise car rental at the airport on the weekend is $17 taxes included. Check it out online. Cheapest car rental I have ever had. Tiedown fees were waived since we bought fuel (somewhat expensive though).

Take your car and drive towards the old city quarters for some great sites, architecture and food.

Vlad-

Need a wingman? I am definitely interested.

Vlad wrote:Anybody wants to go to Smiths Falls (CYSH) fly-in breakfast on Sunday, June 1st, 2014? I am tentatively planning... right seat is empty as of now

http://www.smithsfallsflyingclub.com

bullojm1 wrote:Vlad-

Need a wingman? I am definitely interested.

Vlad wrote:Anybody wants to go to Smiths Falls (CYSH) fly-in breakfast on Sunday, June 1st, 2014? I am tentatively planning... right seat is empty as of now

http://www.smithsfallsflyingclub.com

Mike let's do it. Canadians promised to tap a fresh maple tree. WX permitting we converge at N27 around 8 am for top off and filing. After pancakes (can't stay long) we go back via KOGS to clear. I have something scheduled in the evening...

PS Don't forget your passport and airplane paperwork CBP at Ogdensburg rarely happy on Sundays.

Vlad wrote:
Mike let's do it. Canadians promised to tap a fresh maple tree. WX permitting we converge at N27 around 8 am for top off and filing. After pancakes (can't stay long) we go back via KOGS to clear. I have something scheduled in the evening...

PS Don't forget your passport and airplane paperwork CBP at Ogdensburg rarely happy on Sundays.

Vlad-

All of this sounds good to me. Do/should I need to have any special paperwork prepared or submitted ahead of time? I will see what I can do to get my cousin Gabrielle to come with so you can make Captain John jealous!

Enroll here https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov/ and get yourself familiar how to create a manifest it's not a very user friendly website. A day before departure we submit manifests to CBP on arrival/departures time and location. Couple clicks and two phone calls (one call to Canada and one to our customs two hours prior to arrival) that's all it takes. If you bring cousin Gabrielle we might not need anything

It ain't easy being me!

CJ