flight planning cyul to cyvr

[dom6946]

hey folks, well i am planning a flight from montreal to the vancouver area. now i'm not asking how do i plan it, or which way is vancouver all i'm asking is for some info on should i cross the country via the canadian side or do i go via the usa side. i appriciate the feedback. cheers!!!

[Hawkeye4077]

USA!!!! cheaper fuel!!! and a lot of the smaller airport have nice little restaurants/cafes. Most place in the states are proud / like general aviation. Here well not so much...

[skat0r]

take a heading of 270

[ScudRunner]

See the real Canada hit up places like Kashechewan, Shamattawa, Thompson, Stony Rapids, Winnipeg and other hot spots of culture and enlightenment.

[Heliian]

Avoiding the u.s. will save you all the customs hassles but as said above, fuel can be cheaper. IMO there is nothing wrong with touring through canada, visiting some spots you've never been and the fact you don't have to deal with customs seals it for me. Most of the time U.S. customs won't bother checking your a/c but i've heard of some long wait times coming back through if you haven't scheduled ahead. Make sure all your passports are in order and you're not on the no-fly list if you decide to go there.

Either way, enjoy the ride and take lots of pictures.

[cessnafloatflyer]

PM me if you like.
It all depends on what time of year you plan on going. Crossing over the top of Superior in a single in the dead of winter is stupid if you can go South of it through Sioux St Marie. Lots of airports all the way along that part of the US route with fuel, hangars and towns. Not much of there in an emergency if you go North.

[Hawkeye4077]

Oh yeah... Stony Rapids!

[Old Dog Flying]

And the best advice...get a mountain training course before leaving Calgary...It just might save your butt. The Rocks are no place to be for a "flat lander" particularly in the winter..and don't forget to bring a good survival kit!

[dom6946]

hey thanks for all the reply's. little heads up, its a cessna 340a, pressurized. i like the idea of via the state for exactly the fact of cheap fuel, proud fbo's lots of smaller airports, and i am not on the no fly list. i plan on leaving before december. the crossing of the rockies does kind of put a thought on my mind. seeing that all i've done was eastern board. north to south. basically flat land. any heads up on the mountain crossing. even tought i should be at about fl160.

[trey kule]

check the iccg and turb charts, and look at wind...over the rockies in a 340 in a piece of cake 95% of the time. Preferred route from Calgary to Vancouver.

The great lakes in winter, as someone mentioned is not always a great place to be.
I always found the winds in the US a little lighter and you will most likely be pushing wind westbound. Have a look at the jetstreams.

I am assuming this is a one or two day trip.

[flying4dollars]

Just curious, what kind of aircraft will you be flying this trip in? Sounds neat.

[RVgrin]

I have soloed my RV across both the Canadian and US routes, and would suggest you fly through the USA. Why?

- fuel is very much cheaper (particularly now that our dollar is basically on par).
- hotels are cheaper, and you are more likely to find courtesy cars and free beds at small town FBOs. Beer is cheaper too.
- more airports = more emergency landing places, more efficient route planning, more options for weather avoidance, etc.
- ATC service is better. VFR flight following in US is like having a co-pilot. ("C-GABC, are you still heading to Smallville? I see you are about 15 degrees off course").
- International flying adds to the adventure and sense of accomplishment.
- Another friendly ambassador of Canada doesn't hurt!

Did I mention that fuel is a lot cheaper?

There are a few things to learn, but this makes the trip all the more fulfilling. Customs is not something to be feared if you do your homework.

Read the COPA/AOPA manual on cross border flights, register early for eAPIS and your US Customs decal, and have a great trip!