Flying Near the Border

[Ceòl Beag]

Thus far in my flying I have always just avoided flying near the border.
Now, I'm trying to learn more about flying around it.

Say if I wanted to fly between these two imaginary Canadian water aerodromes. Crossing the border on the way there.

Is a flight plan required when only transitioning through the border?
Do I just file the flight plan like normal with Navcanada?
Do I have to notify US customs or call a US ATC unit?
Is there anything else I have to do legally?



Thank you!

[AirFrame]

Based on a similar situation here in the BC Lower Mainland, for a flight from Langley (CYNJ) to Victoria (CYYJ):

No flight plan required.
No talking to US ATC required if you don't enter ATC airspace.
No talking to Canadian ATC required if you don't enter ATC airspace.

That being said, we usually do talk to ATC out here just to try and get a safe crossing altitude (up into ATC airspace) as the US portion is largely over water.

[Broken Slinky]

Ditto what AirFrame said. We do it all the time in the Windsor area. Talking to US ATC is a benefit. Why we practice IFR approaches we pick US airfields occasionally. If they have a control tower you have to talk to them. Don't need to contact US Customs unless you plan on setting down. Then you need to file eAPIS and all that fun stuff.

[CpnCrunch]

You have to file a flight plan, have a transponder code, and be communicating with ATC:

http://copanational.org/files/AOPACOPAC ... Manual.pdf

("Overflights" section).

I'm not sure if a flight plan is technically required, at least in BC where Victoria/Vancouver ATC control the US airspace. I think as long as you have a transponder code they will probably be happy.

[PilotDAR]

I have been happily pleased that in BC as mentioned, casual border crossing is tolerated. I suspect that is a local courtesy, which enables shorter routing, and keeps planes farther from YVR. I have been told off by ATC for accidentally cutting the corner near Sault Ste. Marie. I suggest that if you think that you are going to do this, you let FSS know in advance, and follow whatever advice they provide.

[Ceòl Beag]

Thanks for the replies!

You have to file a flight plan, have a transponder code, and be communicating with ATC:

http://copanational.org/files/AOPACOPAC ... Manual.pdf

("Overflights" section).

I'm not sure if a flight plan is technically required, at least in BC where Victoria/Vancouver ATC control the US airspace. I think as long as you have a transponder code they will probably be happy.

Hmmm, so I suppose calling a U.S. FSS for a squawk code should satisfy the ATS contact requirement.

I also found that there is an FAA NOTAM regarding this:

https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/n ... tType=ICAO

AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN MEXICO, CANADA, BAHAMAS, BERMUDA, CAYMAN
ISLANDS, AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ARE AUTHORIZED TO TRANSIT THE
TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE OF THE U.S., IF IN COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS 1
THROUGH 3

1. FILE AND ARE ON AN ACTIVE DIRECT FLIGHT PLAN (DVFR INCLUDED) THAT
ENTERS U.S. TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE DIRECTLY FROM ANY OF THE COUNTRIES
LISTED IN THIS PARAGRAPH. FLIGHTS THAT INCLUDE ANY STOP IN A
NON-LISTED COUNTRY MUST COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR OTHER
FOREIGN REGISTERED AIRCRAFT IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH L OF THIS
NOTICE;

2. ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERATIONAL MODE C OR S TRANSPONDER
AND CONTINUOUSLY SQUAWK AN ATC ISSUED TRANSPONDER CODE;

3. MAINTAIN TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS WITH ATC.

[AirFrame]

The area between YVR and YYJ may be an anomaly in the system, as YVR and YYJ control the airspace despite it being over US territory. But there is Class E space below the controlled zones, that NORDO aircraft use regularly when transiting from the lower mainland to Vancouver Island. I guess they could file flight plans, but they won't have transponders or radios to talk to ATC with in any case. Never heard of one being intercepted...

[Redneck_pilot86]

I quite often delve WELL into Alaska doing VFR 702 work, as long as I am not landing nothing needs done. Mind you, it is all class G and I couldn't talk to anyone even if I wanted to.

[ahramin]

There definitely seems to be a disconnect between the current rules and what people are actually doing. I was wondering about this the other day as you used to be able to disregard the border completely as long as you had a private licence or better and weren't landing.

So just to make sure I have the current rules correct, I can fly out to Mount Baker in the US, circle it a couple times and come back as long as I don't land, have filed a flight plan, have a transponder code, and am talking to ATC as I cross the border. Is that it?