DO NOT Depend on US FSS to Advise Customs

[randallg]

I flew Regina to Grand Forks ND today IFR, planning to clear customs in KGFK. Having read the COPA guide to cross border operations, I found the US Customs and Border Patrol page for KGFK and gave them a call. Their hours are 4pm to midnight local, so I got a detailed recorded message for pilots coming from Canada. They say to call FSS (and give the number) or leave a message on a number of their own. I don't trust messages much so I called FSS and spoke to ER (they tell you initials only not names) at the Fort Worth office of my intent to arrive at KGFK to clear customs at 2305Z. No problem he said, I will send the appropriate email right away, mentioning as an aside that CBP, since three weeks ago, no longer takes phone calls for this but insists on an email notification instead. This worried me which is why I asked for the agent's name, and got his initials because they don't divulge names (fair enough).

I filed my flight plan with Edmonton FSS. They asked if they should insert ADCUS. I said sure, why not. Turns out this is useless just like the COPA guide says. No CUS's will ever be AD'd.

So here I am flying the airways CYQR to KGFK via YWG. Winnipeg Centre eventually cleared me direct Humboldt VOR and saved me some time, but due to a late departure my arrival at 2250Z was still within 15 minutes of my notification. Great. I taxied to customs and shut down, and the agent on duty came out to meet me. What do you know, I was unexpected. They didn't get the memo from FSS. I explained that I had TRIED to notify customs via the usual channels and gave him the details. The agent was very understanding, saying that this had happened before, and after a cursory inspection I was cleared into the US without having to pay a $5000 fine. He pointed out that in the event that the CBS agent has any suspicion, the recorded message you SHOULD HAVE left on their machine is valuable. I did not know how important this might be, and suggested they might emphasize the unreliability of FSS on their message. After all was said and done, no mention was made of the $27.50 entry fee and decal which I thought was mandatory. Woohoo!

The lesson is this. Research your entry into the US. Look up the airport's page at http://www.customs.gov and contact them directly. Don't assume Canadian or US FSS will successfully advise customs for you. Use every channel of communication that is available. If they suggest something, consider it MANDATORY. Leave no stone unturned. This could have been a LOT more hassle for me than it was.

[Axial Flow]

Before i would go I would send a CBP 178 Form (Private Aircraft) with all my information, call during the day to confirm the receipt and talk with the local agent and record his or her badge number, then update just before departure. I don't think I would go unless I talked to someone from customs.

They want the e-mail notification from FSS now ?

[Hedley]

I am amazed that Canadian pilots have no clue
how to cross the border. Here ya go:

Canada to USA, VFR:

1) get a decal from US customs (online)

2) call US customs for your US airport,
you must give them 2 hrs notice.

3) fill out your 178 form

4) file a Canuck flight plan, automatic open

5) contact US ATC for squawk code for
border crossing (re: FAA NOTAM)

6) land, try to close Canuck flight plan, it will
almost certainly be lost

7) stay in/at aircraft, US customs always
shows up

8) give US customs your 178 form,
and passports for everyone on board,
you're done.

9) check TFR's!! Frigging elections are
coming up.

US to Canada, VFR:

1) call 888 CANPASS 2 hrs ahead of time

2) file flight plan with 800 WX BRIEF, auto open

3) land at Canuck airport. If no one is
around, call 888 CANPASS for your
number, write it in the journey log

4) try to close USA flight plan. It
will almost certainly be lost.

It's incredible that the above isn't
written down anywhere. I guess
everyone thinks that it's a good
idea to keep everyone guessing
about how to do this.

P.S. You think this is bad, try the
paperwork for Mexico sometime!

[randallg]

Hedley not only is that stuff written down (I have the extensive COPA guide), I did it all with these exceptions:

2) I called them three times and got a recorded message telling me to call FSS and inform them. OR they said you could call this other number and leave a message but they didn't say it was mandatory. That is what I should have done as it turns out. This isn't written down anywhere and is possibly peculiar to the Grand Forks office. There apparently is no way to speak to a human at Grand Forks customs before they open at 4pm local.

6) I didn't call Canadian FSS to close my IFR flight plan. They didn't call me so I guess it worked out.

[youngtimer]

Now imagine that the phone numbers given on the voicemail are actually for a toyota dealership. In my experience, if you actually get to speak to a customs official, you will be ok but this may have to be done a week or more in advance, as some stations want at least 48 hours notice while others won't accept any info more than 24 hours ahead of time. If you don't talk to someone, clear customs somewhere else where you have spoken to someone. FSS may be kind enough to update customs of your arrival, but that's about it. And every customs stop/official wants different paperwork in the commercial world, it's not quite so bad privately-passports and maybe a declaration form + any local airport required documents for fees.

[Hedley]

I thought this was obvious, but ...

If you don't get through on the phone to a person at
US Customs, don't go to that airport. Try another,
with longer hours.

Leaving a message on an answering machine, then
flying in assuming that it will be processed before
you get there, is insane, regardless of whether or
not the odd lads at COPA think it's a good idea.

P.S. It is a CARs contravention to not close your
flight plan.

[Lurch]

P.S. You think this is bad, try the
paperwork for Mexico sometime!

What? I find flying into Mexico easier then flying into the States, not as easy as Canada with a CANPASS. You just need to land at one of the nicer FBOs and they do all the work for you, if not just bring cash.

[Hedley]

You just need to land at one of the nicer FBOs and they do all the work for you

yeah, for $200! I guess if your company is paying for it,
price is no object, eh?

Personally, I'll push my own paper, and keep the US$200
in my pocket.

[Thomas Magnum]

I usually fly down to the states once or twice a month and (as Hedley mentioned) I only land at the airport when I've spoken to a customs official who is based there. I've never had any problems. With regards to the 178 form, they really appreciate it when you fax it down a couple hours before you arrive. It's pretty much a rule to never depend on FSS (in Canada or the USA) to advise customs.

[silentivan]

Wonderful. And here I am hoping to use Grand Forks as my AOE on Friday going to Oshkosh....

Havre it is then!


Oh, is there any way that I can actually learn which MOA's are active, instead of calling various towers on the phone? (Apparently 800-wxbrief doesn't work in Canada. )

[tonyhunt]

P.S. You think this is bad, try the paperwork for Mexico sometime!

Mexico now has more stringent ELT requirements too. The following was published by Baja Bush Pilots
http://www.bajabushpilots.com/
---------------------------------------------------------

That in order for an aircraft to fly in Mexican Airspace after July 1, 2008, the aircraft must have a 406MHz ELT installed in the aircraft.

For aircraft that do not have a 406MHz ELT, Mexico is making an allowance for continued use of existing 121.5 ELTs to July 1, 2009 or, when the battery on the existing 121.5 ELT is due to be replaced, which ever comes first.

This "Card of Policy" is going through the process of becoming an integral part of the PIA in which the obligatory date declared is July 1, 2008, but stating the allowance as indicated above.

The PIA is Mexico's Publicacion de Informacion Aeronautica or, the official manual containing the rules and regulations for flying in Mexico as well as contains a listing of all International Airports. It is much like the Jeppesen except it is an official government publication.

In a follow-up conversation with Captain Gomez, we confirmed the following:

That this allowance is for all aircraft, private (not for hire) and commercial (for hire). That this Card of Policy is still being generated and will be circulated to all airport Commanders within the next several days.

------------------------------------------------------------

[SkyWolfe]

Yahoo!

In my experience... Basically what Hedley says is the best...

I have filed with FSS in the states, asked about 10 times along my 4 hour journey if my flight plan was opened... every time I was told it wasn't and that they would open it now... I think they have some Flight Planning issues. And for whatever reason, while in the states, the Canadian FSS number doesn't like to work.

AND NEVER EVER trust the US tower guy/gal to close your Canadian flight plan.

Just my .2cents

Wolfie

[randallg]

Wonderful. And here I am hoping to use Grand Forks as my AOE on Friday going to Oshkosh....

Their hours are 4pm - midnight Central Time. I'll bet you could call the day before during those hours and speak to a human. Then if you need to update your ETA the next day, leave a message on their voice mail line. The agent who processed me was relatively unconcerned about the timing, but he did indicate that even if they don't check their voice mail messages on time, the fact that your message exists will keep you out of any trouble.

[Apache64_]

On the note of talking to a Customs agent prior to entering, this is a very good idea. On the flight plan note, VFR has to be opened through FSS in US (tower will not touch em), Canada will do it automatically, as well only FSS in US will close it. IFR on the other hand, in my experience, automatically opened and closed by tower or FSS in either country. Though it has been 6 months since I have flown to the states so things may have changed since then.

Cheers

Apache

[randallg]

P.S. It is a CARs contravention to not close your flight plan.

602.77 (3) A pilot-in-command who terminates an IFR flight at an aerodrome where there is an operating air traffic control unit or flight service station is not required to file an arrival report unless requested to do so by the appropriate air traffic control unit.

[randallg]

I thought this was obvious, but ...
Leaving a message on an answering machine, then
flying in assuming that it will be processed before
you get there, is insane, regardless of whether or
not the odd lads at COPA think it's a good idea.

Actually this is EXACTLY what the Grand Forks customs says you should do on their recorded message, it is not something suggested by the odd lads at COPA. If I had done that there would have been no problem at all. Like I said this is probably peculiar to the Grand Forks office.

[wallypilot]

Oh, is there any way that I can actually learn which MOA's are active, instead of calling various towers on the phone? (Apparently 800-wxbrief doesn't work in Canada. )

This doesn't work in most places any more, since Lockheed Martin took over the US FSS system.

Note the new numbers that took effect OVER A YEAR AGO:

WEATHER (US FSS) 1-877-4TIBSWX (Terminal Information Briefing Service)
NOTAMS: 1-877-4USNTMS (MOA info, TFR's, etc)

Also remember, you can always check http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/ online before you leave for not only US metars and TAFS, but also worldwide, any ICAO airport code.

[Freddy_Francis]

In regards to the decal, is this something you have to wait a couple days for, or is it given to you when you arrive and you pay the fee? Planning on going down to Eugene soon. Would be using Bellingham as the AOE.

[Hedley]

You can buy decals online. They will be mailed to
you in a week or so. If you go south before then,
bring proof of payment from your online purchase
showing the aircraft registration, in lieu of a
decal number.

Ah, for the old days when you could buy a decal
after you landed.

[pelmet]

It is a regulation to have a flightplan when crossing the border. I read about pilots being violated and fined on occasion in the COPA magazine.
Recently I flew VFR from the U.S. to Canada. I have done it many times before with no problem but not a lot recently. I opened my flightplan with FSS by radio after departure. Because I have read about so many FSS problems since Lockheed took over running them, I decided to call a Canadian FSS before I crossed the border to confirm an active flight plan. No flight plan was on file. I asked the Canadian FSS open my flightplan but they are unable to do so for a flight from the U.S. so I called an American FSS to open my flightplan and confirmed with the Canadian FSS that it was open. Lucky.

[Cat Driver]

Anyone have the web site address for buying the USA customs sticker online?

[Hedley]

BUYING CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION DECALS/TRANSPONDERS

Now that you have registered, you can purchase decals/transponders online.
Follow these steps to purchase decals/transponders:
Go to www.cbp.gov from any PC with a browser (website is not compatible with Macintosh).
Click on the "Travel" tab, at top of screen.
Click on "User Fee Decals and Transponders" link, in the Quicklinks section, right side of screen.
Click on "Apply Online for User Fee Decals and Transponders" link, on right side of screen, under "On the Web".
Login using your User ID and Password in the Login Section.
From the "Welcome Page", add a payment account by selecting "Payment Accounts". After a payment account is established, then select "New Purchases" in the left margin.

You will then be presented with a form where you can enter the required information to purchase a decal/transponder. Just follow the instructions provided on the screen to purchase a decal/transponder. You can either save the order form for a later time or pay for the order immediately. If you save the order form, you can access it via the "Renewals or Saved Purchases" button. If you click "Proceed to Check Out", just follow the instructions to complete your order.

Changing Account Information

You can make changes to account information by following the steps above for purchasing decals/transponders. Select "Update Profile" located along the top of the screen. You will see the current information we have on file and can make changes.

Need Help?

If you have any questions, please call (317) 298-1245 or send e-mail to decals@dhs.gov.

[210Pilot]

... It works with my Mac (safari).

[goingmach_1]

Be advised that you need permission to enter into the United States prior to entering into thier territory. That is what happens when you call US Customs prior to departing. This call is your permission slip so to speak. In my opinion it is MANDATORY to talk to someone in person from US Customs, ask for the name and badge number. Write this down! If you land and they say, 'never heard of you" produce this information and your gold. Without it, your ass is grass.

FSS, answering machines or whatever, but without speaking to an officer first and personally you are not recieving permission to enter into their territory.

Be warned.

[silentivan]

So, on my trip to OShkosh, I did the border crossing in Williston, ND. Easy, enough actually. Just called the office after I faxed in my sheet of info about 4 hours before my eta. No issues there. Called up Slat Lake Center about 10 minutes before crossing the border to get my tx code. Took a while to bring them up, but from what I understand, the coverage in the northern states can be patchy at times. Got into Williston at 2100 or so, went through the motions and we were out of there in about a half hour.

The only issue that I came across was getting back into Canada. Apparently we need a Tx code to get back in? Is this a new change in Canadian immigrations?

All in all, it could have been much much MUCH worse.