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Flying Across a Border, Eh?

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I had the awesome opportunity to fly into Canada this last week. But, it didn’t come without it’s challenges…

Since the events on 9/11 that we are all too familiar with, there have been very tight restrictions on who comes into the US. Getting out of the US wasn’t difficult at all, but coming back in was a different story.

When getting on the ground in Canada, and after having filed an IFR flight plan and talked to their center controllers, we called up customs and we got clearance to ‘go on’ over the phone. Sometimes someone MAY meet you at the airport, but not all the time. Before we were cleared to go on, we were strongly advised to stay in the aircraft.

I had a great time in Canada and enjoyed the differences in the aviation system. It’s always cool to see and experience new things. I learned a lot too!

Coming back into the states was quite a bit different. I had to file a flightplan with the Canadian Goverment, I had to file information with the US Government (known as eAPIS) over the internet, in addition to calling ahead to the customs station and Great Falls and letting them know of our arrival.

We were to arrive after hours and the agents didn’t sound too happy about that.

But it turned out that we had much better winds than planned and we were able to get there well before closing time, which the guys loved. No overtime and more TV time at home, I guess!

It was a great trip, I learned a lot, and had fun.

Have you guys experienced any big ‘growth spurt’ lately in your aviation training, even if it’s virtual?

(If you are a part of AviatorPro, you better answer yes!)


  • http://aflightsimblog.blogspot.com Jon Monreal

    Hey Chris,

    Pretty cool stuff. Glad to hear that your arrival was (relatively) uneventful.

    For some reason it seems encouraging to me that no company (that I know of) has pushed the realism envelope so far as to include customs procedures, something I suppose is right up there with lost luggage (http://aflightsimblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/lost-luggage-simulator-x-announced.html).

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      Thanks Jon,
      It was a lot of fun. Always love new experiences and new things.

      Thanks for the link! I love that one ;)

  • Eamonn Watson

    Hey Chris,

    Glad you had fun flying in Canada. As having done all my flight training in Canada I love flying here.. However I know what u mean about the border being interesting.. While I have never done a transborder VFR flight, I have flown in US airspace. While flying up to wawa, Ontario years ago I flew about 5 miles into US airspace. Had to contact the appropriate center controller in the area to let them who I was and where I was going and assure them I was not landing in the United States. One of the good thing about filing a flight plan in Canada, if you tell them you will be flying close to us airspace they will send your flight plan to the FAA, so they don’t “freak” when a target shows on their scopes..

    Anyway, glad you made it through Canada and I wonder if NavCanada will send you a bill for air traffic services.. ;)

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      The nice thing about what I did was that it was all IFR. It makes the whole process much more simple. There are a whoooole other set of challenges when doing VFR stuff.

      But, I’m the IFR guy, right? I just love IFR (both the rules and the conditions).

      I hope NavCanada stays out of it ;)

  • Derek Anniwell

    Hi Chris,
    Congratulations on your first international flight.
    That had to be one of the shortest vids I’ve seen of your flying to date, but always a pleasure to watch.
    Was there a bit of a crosswind on landing, I noticed the slight angle of the nose to the runway?

    Keep up the brilliant work.

    Derek

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      Hey Derek,
      Yeah, just wanted to keep it short and sweet.

      There was actually a LOT of wind. Well, not a lot, but pretty extensive. It was 15 gusting 25, but it was actually really calm based on those facts.

      Usually that kind of wind will really knock me around.

      So although there was a lot of wind, it wasn’t that bad and therefore not that difficult.

  • http://ehangar.net Timothy

    I’m glad you stuck the landing on here! Thanks for the video!

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      You bet ;) Figured it would add to it a little more.

  • Tony Baldo

    Hey Chris,

    Where exactly in Canada was that??

    I tell you, with my bad eyes, I’d be lucky to see those runway numbers at all!! LOL

    Throttle On !!!!

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      The video was taken in Lefbridge, Alberta, Canada. We then continued on to Edmonton City Centre airport.

      Yeah, I’m sure you heard my comment about the runway numbers. SO TINY! I really couldn’t tell what they said. It’s really interesting to see the differences (and similarities) from one country to the next.

      THROTTLE ON!

  • bruce

    Just got back from a cruise (on the sea) from venice to the Greek islands & back. The geek that I am I toook some podcasts (FSBreak) with me to while the time away on the sun deck. On one of the podcasts you talked of an intense 25kt cross wind landing. Not sure if it was this one but enjoyed the video. Runway numbers? What runway numbers?

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      No, this particular landing was very easy. The landing I was talking about took place in Denver. It got pretty hairy.

      yeah, those runway numbers are REALLY small!

  • Charles Earl

    A very belated welcome to Canada Chris! Congradulations on your first international flight! Impressive. I was watching the video and when you panned to the map, was excited to see you were on V21 to Lethbridge! The Chris Palmer. Imagine that. Hahaha. I am from Calgary Alberta just north of there. You flew through us on your way to Edmonton. What were you up to in Edmonton? If you ever get up this way again, I’d love to meet you for a coffee if you come to Calgary. A good one might be the Calgary Stampede. Good times. Thanks for the video.

    Cheers,
    Charles.

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      Hey Charles,
      My wife and I are driving through on our way to Alaska. Maybe that would be a good time? We’ll be there in the first part of August, maybe a little sooner.

      It was a really fun trip and I could tell the Canadians were a bit more laid back, which I like. Of course I missed my red white and blue but it was a lot of fun.

      I saw Calgary from the air and it was a beautiful city. Seems pretty clean from my view.

  • Charles Earl

    People often say it’s a clean looking city. I guess so. I am not as travelled as some so I don’t know any better. Ha. Mid July is always a good time in Calgary. http://cs.calgarystampede.com/ Edmonton is not as awesome asz Calgary. Just FYI. ;) Kidding. Really though. If you are stopping along the way, Banff hotsprings is nice. You should check it out. It is just over an hour west of Calgary and into the Rockies. Very nice there if you like hiking or scenery or whatever. Take the gondola up Sulphur Mountain.

    I will be away July 19th through Aug 9th on holidays so I will probably miss you. No problem. You land an aviation job up there in the pan handle? Or you going even further NW of there? I am betting your next plane will be a super cub.

    Charles.

    • http://www.flyaoamedia.com/ Chris Palmer

      We are a bit further Northwest, just under Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula at a town called Homer.

      From there I’ll be doing AOA full time and I won’t be seeking employment for a flying job. My plan is to get AOA to a point where I can start paying for my own flying and doing it for fun again (something I want to get back to). I plan on getting my float plane rating while there in addition to getting other bush experience.

      I will most likely miss you. We plan on being in Homer somewhere from July 29th to August 6th, depending on when I can leave.

      The sooner the better!

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