5 easy steps to flying cross-border in a private plane

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

Wow , things have changed from the first time me and my brother rented a Cessna 310R and flew to Denver from Edmonton, (1980). It was so easy then. Very friendly American border people at Stapleton then Arapahoe I forget which one we cleared customs at but I recall we had a suitcase with 3 million in cash and there was no issue, can't recall if we declared it though. It was related to my brothers boss who owned many oil rigs he thought it cheaper to send my brother down in a rented 310 than use Western Union. I was 17 and my brother was 21 at the time. Good memories.

[@WingsOverTO]

Oh wow, what a terrific experience, thanks for sharing. And for watching! And yeah, things have definitely changed over the years, in so many ways.

[@jimw1615]

I like your pronunciation of the word "decal"; deck-al. That is a form I would not recognize if I were just speaking with you on the street but worked fine here in context with the subject being addressed. American "decal"; dee-cal. Thanks for the information. It was great!!

[@WingsOverTO]

Lol now I’m wondering if it’s a Canadian thing. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks for watching!

[@chriskroeker1889]

@@WingsOverTOAmericans pronounce decal differently than Canadians. Just like shone, lasso, produce, etc.

[@chrisvickers1262]

One comment coming from US to Canada. File and ACTIVATE your flight plan. Unlike Canada flight plans (VFR) are not automatically activated.

[@WingsOverTO]

Great point!

[@terrypedersen7]

Great info. I might add that even though the office hours at some of the ports of entry indicate Monday to Friday you still might get permission to land if staff is available. Today I submitted for KGSO for this Sunday afternoon but was denied due to staff shortage. KCRW are also listed as Monday to Friday, however, the agent gave his cell number and told me he would come in. I filed the process but then decided to go to KRDU instead of ruining his day. I have encountered similar a few times crossing on weekends to Rochester and Port Clinton. You have to remember to book during the week and they will provide a number locally or at a main port to call in the event of having to update the ETA or cancel.

[@WingsOverTO]

Wow, that's really good to know, thanks, Terry!

[@markp3309]

I really want to fly into the Billy Bishop downtown Toronto airport someday. Thanks for the video!

[@WingsOverTO]

That’s a really awesome airport. And for as close as it is, I’ve never actually landed there. I fly over and around it all the time, I really need to do a landing. Thanks for watching!

[@markp3309]

That' would be a great future video! @@WingsOverTO

[@areza15143]

I’ve done it several times perhaps 15 years ago. It’s an awesome little airport, so convenient to Toronto proper, and the views are spectacular. Since I last did it, I hear there’s now a tunnel under the water so you’re not required to take the ferry. I was based in Pittsburgh, and flying back I would always clear customs in Erie. Only realized later I could’ve gone all the way and cleared in Pittsburgh.

[@WingsOverTO]

I just landed at Erie yesterday, on the way home from New Orleans, after having to divert because of bad weather. What a great little airport!

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

I might have missed part of this as I was pulled away for a minute. One thing - pilots on Basic med can’t fly into Canada unless it has changed

[@WingsOverTO]

Good point! That’s still the case.

[@hamiltonmcclymont1967]

Good refresher! Maybe I’ll go to Van’s to pick up new tires. Or OSH for fun. Or the Maritimes (via the US) to see family. Lots of choices!

[@WingsOverTO]

Nice. We’ve been talking about going to the maritimes at some point, too. It’s so beautiful out there.

[@gonetoearth2588]

Great video! thanks!

[@WingsOverTO]

Glad you liked it!

[@HoundDogMech]

Long time ago on our Honeymoon (July '75) when going from Ottawa to Maseana NY I filed VFR with Advise Customes. Well got to Maseana, Landed and the Tower advised me to pull up parrele to a century fence and don't even open the doors. Then they called customes for me. About 20 minutes later 2 US costems agents showed up all pissed I didn't call them by telephone Before leaving Ottawa. Long story short the made me take every thing out of the plane but the seats. Had no back seat cause of the Luggage and to Break down Bikes. They were real aho*s

[@WingsOverTO]

Holy crap! I don't know they even have that option, because I've heard from others as well, that you should just never use it because the CBP agents don't get enough of a heads up and they don't like it.

[@amendippanesar]

Thank you for this

[@WingsOverTO]

My pleasure!

[@chrisvickers1262]

Also decal is for CBP officers, I don’t believe for ATC fees…

[@WingsOverTO]

Oh really? I always thought it was to cover ATC fees.

[@chrisvickers1262]

@@WingsOverTO I believe if you don’t have decal they can charge you the CBP fee….its actually one of the few things in flyin* that’s “cheap” ! 😊

[@mk_adventures]

@@chrisvickers1262 lol. That's for sure!

[@WingsOverTO]

When I first called the CBP to inquire about this, they actually said you won't be given permission to land (by CBP, not ATC) without having paid the fee and gotten a decal number.

[@chrisvickers1262]

@@WingsOverTO yes correct. In over 10 years of flying in and out of US I don’t recall ever getting a bill from their equivalent of Nav Canada for ATC fees…obviously I have incurred landing fees etc.

[@n085fs]

Want to go pro? Ditch GoPro. Insta360 won't overheat and won't take any photography framing that misses things happening somewhere else.

[@WingsOverTO]

Yeah, I've wondered about that often. I started using GoPros years ago - before there was an Insta camera - and have just stuck with it out of habit. I don't really want the 360 recording though - I find that just makes the editing much longer and more laborious. I'll have to see if they have a non-360 camera.

[@n085fs]

@@WingsOverTO In the app with the 360, you can limit the degrees of view which cuts down on filesize too.

[@kyliepug753]

I started with Insta360 and had overheating problems when mounted in my windshield. I had less problems with GoPro14, but i think it still overheats occasionally.

[@highendaudio]

Great video!! Can you recommend a good GA airport for Quebec City and Montreal? We will be visiting both cities in June (from Florida).

[@WingsOverTO]

For Montreal, I’ve flown into St Hubert CYHU. The HUB FBO there is pretty good, if not cheap. They’re pretty much the only real FBO on the field though. I haven’t flown to Quebec City yet but have heard a good option is Neuville CNV9.

[@highendaudio]

@@WingsOverTOthank you! And thanks again for the video. We will visit the GTA as well to see family. I’ll attempt the 3500’ at the Brampton Airport. My SR22 sure loves to float.

[@TheBarzook]

Hello, I'm from Quebec. The best place to clear customs would be CYHU (Montreal southshore suburb) or CYQB. Both have landing fees of about 25 CAD.

[@highendaudio]

@@TheBarzook thank you!

[@chrisvickers1262]

@@highendaudio worth landing at CYTZ it’s a very unique approach coming in either way with the city right there. Brampton super busy.

[@MichaelKipper]

Interesting that CBP officers can demand to inspect your pilot's license/medical without reasonable suspicion that you have committed a crime... When crossing by land, no one has ever asked me for my driver's license - only my passport.

[@WingsOverTO]

True. I guessing crossing the border means you have to be comfortable with inspections you're not subject to within the borders! Coming into Canada, the CBSA will ask for your pilot's license number but not your medical cert.

[@chrisvickers1262]

I think when going into any foreign country you can pretty well be asked for anything (ie unlock your phone)…you don’t have the same rights as yo7 do coming home into your own country. They (CBA officer) can turn you around if they don’t like your answers. I have always been asked for Pilots licence as it’s provided on eAPis and I’m sure they are confirming who you are and if in fact you are a pilot. It’s a privilege not a right to go into their country…

[@stephenmccreery6511]

All u really gotta do is speak spanish us customs wont bother