Transborder Operations Procedure Question

[CFWGF]

Looking for some inquest on a flight from Charlottetown to Oshawa. I am a fresh CPL with no transborder experience. I will be flying direct from Charlottetown to Cornwall in a cherokee and im just curious about the procedure when flying over american airspace. I know a flight plan is required from a transborder sqwauk, but what next.

Any advice and tips would be great!

[Oxi]

If you are not planning on a stop in the states, file your flight plan as you want. You will be on a flight plan and flying over the states with no issue. If you were to land at a point during the states, file a flight plan, eapis and check with customs they will be there to meet you. Do your stuff and continue on, making sure when you return to canada that you are on a flight plan and have opened by contacting a radio or auto open when filing it. Fly fly fly, land and talk to customs.

[Colonel Sanders]

You must file a flight plan whenever you
cross an international border.

In addition, the FAA has a long-standing
and nearly incomprehensible NOTAM that
requires you to contact ATC and get a
squawk code for border crossing.

Now, you're going to ask, what freq do
I do that on? Easy. At the US border,
look for a nearby airport that has an
instrument approach. Google it, and
write down the center or approach freq.

[FOD_Vacuum]

By the looks of it you will be flying across Maine and Vermont, assuming you will be flying the most direct track. In case of mechanical problems over these two states, I would bring my passport just in case you have to make an emergency landing somewhere-you never know.

[it'sme]

requires you to contact ATC and get a
squawk code for border crossing.

At the US border,
look for a nearby airport that has an
instrument approach. Google it, and
write down the center or approach freq.

Contact Moncton Centre when in the vicinity of Fredericton on 124.3 and advise you need a squawk code for trans-border. But make sure you get one before crossing the border otherwise you will find yourself suddenly being accompanied by a Homeland Security aircraft and you will have some 'slpaining to do

[photofly]

The guy who filed Windsor to Pelee island but crashed in Nashville, TN didn't have to any 'splaining to anyone. If he'd been accompanied by a Homeland Security aircraft he might not now be dead.

[KnownIce]

I have made a flight along the similar track before - nice scenery, lakes and small mountains/hills. If I recall correctly I tried getting flight following the whole way but was ultimately dumped mid way for whatever reason -- if this happens to you make sure you re-establish radio/radar contact with someone prior to reaching the border again. ie. copy down a couple Centre freq's at *both* border crossings so if the same happens you not left searching for it in flight.

Have fun!

Oh also if you haven't already read up on MOA's in the US do so before going - in most cases you can fly through them, potentially even when active but that requires knowledge of the specific MOA. This has surely been discussed here before or on american message boards.

[pelmet]

Contact Moncton Centre when in the vicinity of Fredericton on 124.3 and advise you need a squawk code for trans-border. But make sure you get one before crossing the border otherwise you will find yourself suddenly being accompanied by a Homeland Security aircraft and you will have some 'slpaining to do

Plus they give you the most appropriate ATC frequency to contact in the US.

[Rookie50]

It's a nice flight, I've done almost the exact flight a couple of times. Be aware of the reasonable sized hills in NH / VT. Couple of pretty good peaks. Cornwall is a good stop, self serve fuel.

Be sure and verify no TFR,s by phone only, with lockeed Martin 1800 wx brief. If you do by phone, it's recorded -- so if someone makes a mistake, you are covered.

Ive always flown IFR in the US, for TFR and Moa reasons, and (simpler) cross border handoff of the flight plan.

[Colonel Sanders]

http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/index.html

Beware of elections (visiting politicians) and
sporting events.

PS Although there are people here who tell you
that you can "take it to the bank" from them that
the FAA will accept a foreign squawk code, I prefer
to get the NOTAM-required squawk code from US ATC.

[Rookie50]

Read a story about a guy, got a briefing from from Lockheed, no TFR's, takes off VFR. You guessed it, flys right through a pop up TFR, intercepted. They let him off because they pulled the briefers tapes. That's why I check on the phone -- just ask for an "adverse conditions report".

[pelmet]

http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/index.html

Beware of elections (visiting politicians) and
sporting events.

Something to remember about sports TFR's. I have been flying in several American cities in the past year and while FSS will know about major sporting events TFR's such as Superbowl and similar for TFR's, they have no idea about TFR's for most events which are outdoor events with more than 30,000 people which have TFR's of 3000 AGL and 3 miles radius(I think). Remember this can include stuff like NASCAR. So when flying in LA, you are talking to a briefer in a different state and if you ask about Sports TFR's, they don't know. In reality, you end up getting the Notam info by reading USA Today to see where games are being played and having to figure out where stadiums are located and if they are open air. At least, that is my experience. Not sure what the deal is with retractable roof stadiums. And some places like LA can have lots of events.

[AuxBatOn]

Please don't fly through MOAs... It could be dangerous for you..

[Colonel Sanders]

With all due respect, P, it's perfectly safe to
fly through MOA's. They are not Prohibited
or Restricted airspace, which have different rules.

If you want to fly through a MOA - which often
have vertical floors and ceilings as well as lateral
dimensions - just phone FSS before the VFR
flight and they will tell you if they are "hot" or
not.

The US is so broke these days, the military doesn't
have any money to fly, so most MOA's are cold
all the time, these days.

A good example is the "MISTY 3" MOA on the southeast
shore of Lake Ontario, which I frequently transit
without talking to anyone, flying VFR along the shoreline.

Just north of it, over Lake Ontario is R-5203 which if
you look at the New York Sectional says:

to FL500
By NOTAM 24 hrs in advance
Cleveland Ctr 127.47

[AuxBatOn]

I shoul have said active MOAs... You should at the very least ask ATC before venturing through... Some people fly through them.. I have conducted many intercepts during training on low contacts only to find out that it was a civilian airplane flying through the CYA...

[2R]

Requesting transit through a MOA is easy if you are talking to the agency controlling the MOA.
Get the clearance to transit before you get to close and it is a piece of cake.
They will even let you transit 934 (area 51) if you ask ahead of time and establish communications with the controlling agency. The area north west of Vegas is worth looking at the big craters from the tests done in the fifties .The frequencies are on the charts .Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of some of those painted mountain ranges in that area. Awsome. I only got to fly the grand canyon twice before all the new regs kicked in about flying through the canyon effectively banning small aircraft from scaring the donkies with tourists on the narrow trails around the canyon.
And the charts are cheap in the US some are even FREE.

[CFWGF]

Had a great flight with no issues.

Thanks for the advice!!

[J31]

If you do not have a transponder a waver can be applied for.

http://www.tsa.gov/stakeholders/airspace-waivers-0