Challenging the Skies: Niagara Falls & Toronto Airspace Adventure | Wings Across Canada | S4E7

[@seananderson9346]

"It's the tallest one over the downtown, the big pointy one." A rockstar with a sense of humour, too. This is spectacular! Thanks for sharing it!

[@flyingadventuresab]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@GlensHangar]

Flying over downtown Toronto is one of my favourites! Though sometimes they push you low and out over the lake - but you got lucky, right beside the CN tower. 26:55 I'm glad you were on with Toronto Centre at that point in the flight; you were right in the middle of the Lake Scugog (Oshawa) training zone. Really busy spot at times with multiple flight schools doing airwork. If I'd known you were flying by I would have come out to Lindsay for a meetup.

[@flyingadventuresab]

We were improvising every step of the way, primarily choosing our next destination the night before. Next time I'll let you know!

[@nottoolatetofly371]

Nicely done Tom and Val. Are you back from AZ? Did you make it to Marble Canyon and Sedona?

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@nottoolatetofly371 Thanks for the comment. We are back from Arizona. We were able to take a flight to Sedona, but not Marble Canyon. Next time!

[@jgill1064]

Hey Tom, you did great for someone not familiar with Toronto airspace and procedures. Don't ever be tentative checking into busy airspace with the controllers, its much better that they know definitively who you are, where your going, your confirmed altitude, and can assign a squawk code, communicate with you if needed to climb, descend or deviate from your track. If a controller is too busy to deal with you they will tell you and issue alternate instructions. Think about the number of times in this video where you were issued instructions and what would that be like for a controller who can see your radar target but is unable issue instructions because a pilot did not check in. You remained calm and did your preplanning. Great work!!! (From a now retired, 35 year controller in YYZ)

[@flyingadventuresab]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback and advice. I truly appreciate your insights, especially given your extensive experience as a controller in Toronto's bustling airspace. It means a lot coming from someone with 35 years of expertise!

[@Parr4theCourse]

You handled that well….. That tower was cool, looked like you were close to the same level as the point… Stark contrast to most of your mountainous videos!!! Loved it though!!!

[@flyingadventuresab]

It seemed pretty low to be over the Toronto downtown, but it was my assigned altitude by city tower - One of our group got assigned a route out over the water and missed Toronto altogether, so we were luck to get the route we did.

[@OntarioFirewoodResource]

I've developed a new obsession with Niagara Falls in the last few years after revisiting since childhood. Its been in my head for a couple decades since I got into fishing and outside of my yearly trips of recent, i hope to fish the mighty waters this fall. Subscribed!

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@OntarioFirewoodResource They are spectacular. This was my first time seeing them.

[@OntarioFirewoodResource]

@@flyingadventuresabexcellent first experience!

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@OntarioFirewoodResource I'd like to see them from the ground some time.

[@billbrisson]

nice little restaurant at Lyndsay but the grass strip was pretty rough! we spent a night about 2 miles away at Oakwood (COK3) as guests of the owners. Probably the highlight of our trip last summer!

[@flyingadventuresab]

It's a great area north of Toronto.

[@iaintnonerd]

I accidentally clicked on this video but I fell in love with the intro. Gained a new subscriber!

[@flyingadventuresab]

Welcome to the channel. I hope it turns out to be a good accidental click!

[@JohnHeuerYYZ]

I got my license in this area and always under appreciate how scary it can be for newcomers. Great job!

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@JohnHeuerYYZ Thanks for the comment and reassurance!

[@WingsOverTO]

Nicely done, Tom, and great video! Funny, having done all my training and flying here, I never think of Toronto airspace as being busy or intimidating, but it’s all what you’re used to. I’d be terrified the first time flying over the big rocks you fly over out west. You flew right over my house at 26:18. 😀

[@flyingadventuresab]

Thanks so much for the kind words! It's interesting how our perspectives differ based on our experiences. Toronto airspace can definitely seem busy and complex if you're not used to it, but it sounds like you've got it all figured out. Flying over the mountains out west can be daunting at first, but it's amazing once you get accustomed to it. That's so cool that I flew right over your house! Small world! Thanks for watching and for your support. Safe flying!

[@MrMikeyboy4]

Billy Bishop is slowly getting more and more busier.. would Pearson also affect the air space?

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@MrMikeyboy4 I was never handed over to Pearson, so I assume I was in Billy Bishop's airspace.

[@MrMikeyboy4]

@@flyingadventuresab that’s awesome I’ve never flown a plane. I just landed on your video and really enjoyed it. I’m from Mississauga so it’s great to see what it looks like from above.

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@MrMikeyboy4 Welcome to the channel

[@AlGaivotoPfarrhaus-Altersberg]

I flew from my flying school at "The Island airport" now Billy Bishop and got a lot of hours flying non Canadian pilots to Niagara. Niagara and the City of Toronto are unrecognisable to me....I am surprised they haven't taken down the pointy thing and place a highrise in it's place...

[@flyingadventuresab]

Things change quickly - how long ago was that?

[@williamsion3000]

very good, enjoyed that from the small plane view!!!

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@williamsion3000 Thanks, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Our goal is to share the joy of aviation with others.

[@Peacewind152]

This is my home airspace. I recognize almost every location in this video. I'm based and did all my training at CYKF, but I've flown all of this before. I remember being SO terrified going into Toronto airspace. Tbh, as you fly it more, it gets a LOT easier. I flew into Buttonville airport before it closed. THAT was the craziest flight I've been on so far as the procedures to get into the airport involved Toronto Island Airport, VFR routing and a busy uncontrolled airport. Unfortunately, city tours are no longer allowed due to staffing issues. You got in just in time!

[@flyingadventuresab]

@Peacewind152 I actually didn't even ask for a city tour. They just routed me that way.

[@Bridod]

I got my PL at Buttonville.

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@Bridod I just Google mapped it and it looks like it's closed now. It's a great benefit to get training in such busy airspace!

[@sip4751]

Nice flight cross our country. Night is even more interesting over Toronto. Try it during when there's fireworks and you get a light show too! It gets busy at night with lots of people flying city tours.

[@flyingadventuresab]

I could imagine that would be pretty spectacular!

[@tjmcguire9417]

What you do is good and obviously conscientious. Question. What was the departure airport? Where s that skinny lady?

[@flyingadventuresab]

We departed from Leamington.

[@CoolPilot71]

Oh jeez.. this is way out of my comfort zone and I'm actually terrified going into that airspace.. you handled it like a pro! I'd love to challenge the GTA as my brother-in-law lives downtown Toronto close to Billy Bishop. I'm a fairly new PPL out of the Ottawa-Gatineau area so this is giving me a very good idea of what I should expect!

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@CoolPilot71 You really just have to follow instructions, but the radio was very congested. ATC did an excellent job.

[@uhohDavinci]

Congrats! looks like an awesome run you did there. Its funny, I did my PPL out of City Center, and found flying into the smaller uncontrolled airports way more stressful, just because it wasnt what I was used to(not directing and calling out traffic). All just a matter of what you are familiar with :)

[@flyingadventuresab]

@uhohDavinci When you think about it, controlled airspace is just doing what you're told.

[@Ejb905]

I often scanner the air traffic from Hamilton all around the area you flew. Not sure you flew over Hamilton at the end of west part of the lake.

[@flyingadventuresab]

We would have flown past it over the lake shore.

[@andreiter]

How long did it take to get to Lindsay from your departure? Minus the time of the fly around Niagara Falls

[@flyingadventuresab]

I had to look it up, but our total flight time was 2 hours and 35 minutes.

[@billbrisson]

i was too chicken to challenge the GTA .... next time!

[@flyingadventuresab]

It was way outside my comfort zone as well, but I try to keep pushing myself.

[@SirJer]

Thanks for the video! I landed at City Centre 1st time a few days ago, had the same experience of questioning "north of the CN Tower" I confirmed with the controller 2 times lol. They actually directed me to fly uncomfortably close to the tower though, really surprised me.

[@flyingadventuresab]

I was pretty surprised at that as well. Where are you based out of?

[@SirJer]

@@flyingadventuresab I'm in Ottawa, CYRP

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@SirJer Nice area!

[@maxvideodrome4215]

I got scolded for going too close (still safe) to the tower once despite being vectored… “never go that close to the tower again” “Roger that” - the transmitters on the tower wiped out my comms for a few moments - so was pretty close

[@Peacewind152]

I know someone who got a call from TC about how close they flew to the CN Tower. They were told to remain north of the airport, but south of the tower. Spoiler alert, that isn't enough space to keep legal distance from the buildings.

[@billbrisson]

one day soon I will land at the Island and go see a Jay's game :)

[@flyingadventuresab]

Sounds like the makings of a great KZbin video :)

[@billbrisson]

working on episode 3 of this summer's trip, where we go to Lyndsay and beyond. @@flyingadventuresab

[@richardgreen6857]

I have to ask; what aircraft was a couple of hundred feet lower going the wrong way over the falls?!? I’m based at St Catharines and have done that sightseeing flight dozens of times…the biggest hazard is folks that don’t look at the prescribed route…

[@flyingadventuresab]

@richardgreen6857 I assumed it was a commercial sight seeing tour. We had to stay at 3500, so I assume the tours flew at a lower altitude with different rules.

[@richardgreen6857]

@@flyingadventuresab helicopter traffic is 2500 and 2000 opposite direction…I guess with the route published in our CFS it’s a little more accessible than to our US Aviating friends…. That trip from Windsor/Leamington is actually a little easier going the other way in terms of flight following as well, because you start with YYZ going west and they hand you off to Cleveland then Selfridge. I tried to get Detroit coming home from Windsor couple of weeks back and couldn’t reach them either….

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@richardgreen6857 I was a little puzzled as to why we could not raise Detroit on the radio.

[@amenhotepavoskin1307]

When flying over Niagara Falls, why don't you ask my permission to film me mowing my lawn? 😃

[@flyingadventuresab]

@amenhotepavoskin1307 Wow! What are the odds of that hey!

[@amenhotepavoskin1307]

@@flyingadventuresab I see small planes flying over me all the time. Sometimes, it's WWII fighters and bombers, too. Quite a spectacle.

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@amenhotepavoskin1307 Some would find that bothersome, but aviation enthusiasts love it!

[@amenhotepavoskin1307]

@@flyingadventuresab And so do I! :)

[@thomasleahy1472]

I am fairly sure I was in GNJ doing circuits when this was recorded, sounds a lot like me!

[@flyingadventuresab]

Wow, what are the odds?

[@carlobrigante881]

Is it flat tho? 🤷‍♂️

[@JustinHardy-xz7zk]

I'll walk thanks for the flight

[@flyingadventuresab]

@JustinHardy-xz7zk There are many who don't prefer the small aircraft.

[@johnnixon1387]

No idea where you are most of the time.

[@cherifbar]

Forty years of flying I have had to deal with some nasty controllers like this downright nasty person.

[@flyingadventuresab]

I didn't mind. She was super busy and I was a newbie to such busy space. And I didn't follow instructions very well.

[@jgill1064]

I didn't hear a nasty controller at all, just someone who was unable to accomodate a request and issued alternate and concise instructions. Traffic levels at the time must be taken into account.

[@dmack1827]

It is very busy airspace and often, VFR aircraft are too big a draw on time and attention.

[@cherifbar]

@@dmack1827 that is why they pay these folks the big bucks. Besides, in the busiest airport in the US, you can still land a Cessna 150 VFR. You can’t do that at YYZ, not for the last 35 years anyway.

[@flyingadventuresab]

@@dmack1827 I've since flown into some even busier airspace like Salt Lake City and Phoenix and the radio is wall to wall. It's often difficult to even get a call to center in.

[@peteaplin8324]

Niagra?...Viagra? yewtewb translate = piss poor.